Ahoy,
First off, I would like to thank everyone who responded to my post prior to making purchase.
This post will include subject matter consisting of fact and opinions leading up to the final purchase of a brand new used boat, and will be followed by a review of the final vessel purchased.
Over a 3-4 mnth period, I looked at a lot of used boats and checked out a few new before purchasing.
I originally got an eye shot of the Sea Hunt at
www.edsmarinesuperstore.com and a quote for the 186 was 17,990
with a 90hp yamaha 4 stroke and galvanized trailer at that time. To upgrade to a 115 f-stroke would be $1000 dollars more. Phoned a dealer in sarasota by phone and they quoted a price over $20,000, the only difference was it came equipped with yamaha digital gauges. I stopped by to take a look at the boat, just to check it out up close, with no intention of purchasing a new boat, especially at this price, and thought it to be one of the most functional layouts for any of the 17-19 ft vessels looked at, including the mako 17 and parker 18.
. As to not stir up any loyal lable fanatics, I would also like to add the mako and parker are a better built boat.
Furthermore, our budget was $15,000, and knew I could find a decent used boat for this price if I was patient.
Here are some of my opinions on purchasing a new boat vs used.
Don't by a new boat unless you have the money up front and can get the boat packaged exactly the way you want it. Most prepackaged deals are usually underpowered for the size of the boat and come with a budget trailer. Underpowered means you will have to run the motor harder to get the same results or less than if you have optimum hp.
Don't believe the salesman when he says this is more than enough. A harder run engine wont last as long as one you have some headroom between keeping on plane and wot. So in the long run your motor will last hopefully as long as you own the vessel. When water testing a boat this size it should be loaded with four adults , a full tank of gas, and then add an extra person just to make up for the wgt of gear.
A cheap galvanized trailer might be ok if you run the boat in fresh water only.
Never buy a custom painted steel trailer.
Aluminum is the way to go! you'll always have the frame and can replace hardware as necessary with new galvanized or stainless if you prefer.
Most production boats are pretty much constructed the same way and used ones are a dime a dozen. These include hydra sports, proline, welcraft, cobia, sea hunt, angler, and aquasport to name a few. Some may skimp on fiberglass mat and hardware, but you can be sure a 10 year structural hull warranty will last 10 years.
Gel coat is not part of the structural hull warranty and stress cracks do not fit the description of a structural defect. These should be covered the first year. If you pound a boat in heavy seas alot youll probably get them eventually, fiberglass and composites are not flex free but more layers can help.
Grady White still uses a wooden structured grid system.
New boats are way over priced for what you get.
You have to look at a lot of used boats to find one over 5 years old that looks like new. This is also a good way to determine how well a new boat will stand the test of time, but the amount of hrs and the type of seas it was run in play just as big a part.
Often a used boat comes with all your accessories.
Unless the owner recently repowered, its no tellin' what kind of problems you may run into with the motor, maintenance records aside. Has the computer been replaced if fuel injected, last new impellor replaced, severity of corrosion around the heads, these are all costs to consider on top of purchase price.
How good is the condition of trailer. What will it cost to have it refurbed with new components.
A lot of the boats I looked at all needed some kind of work to be done.
If you have to or want to repower, you could be better off purchasing new.
Most of the used boats I looked at were the prepackaged ones so all the cons about buying new need to be taken into consideration.
A bimini top should not be considered as an option in a fishing boat, you wont even want it on there, they just get in the way, a Tee Top yes, by all means consider this.
Never buy a boat you plan to use offshore with a 20" transom. The further you can keep it away from the salt the better.
Example: I looked at an immaculate condition 1999 hydra sports 180. Less than 100hrs on a 115hp evinrude ficht which I've heard was okay compared to the 150s 175s & 200 hp's. Stopped at a dealer to get price on computer and a refurb cost was $650 and new injectors about $200. I automatically deducted this from the asking price of $12500. The trailer was not in bad condition, but it still looked like it needed new hubs and leafsprings. I may of trusted it to the local boat ramp, but would not of towed it over 20 miles without worrying about it. I estimated the cost to get the trailer refurbed , if someone else did it, to be around $300. It was also galv. with no rust on frame. Then I deducted another $200 for any other what knots it may need or I may want and I was looking at an offer of around $10,500. I found out the guy still owed $10,200 and was considering to offer him what he owed, but was leary of the ficht. The dealers wont even take them on trade. The boat was nice, but to repower with new motor would of put me a $1000 away from new. I was considering this risk
seriously until the Sea Hunt triton 186 appeared in the paper.
By the way bombardier, glastron, and hydra sports 18' cc's are the same boat.
Now the 2003 Sea Hunt triton 186 with Yamaha 115hp 4-stroke and 42hrs of operation purchase.
Asking price: $16,900
Got it price: $15,500
Like brand new, aluminum magic tilt drive on trailer and half a tank of petrol.
No !, I mean no accessories!, not even a thread to tie it off with or a bobber to float on for a near drowning
About 4500 less than new and their covering my butt on the sales tax.
Construction: about the same as most production models and has coosa composite transom.
Pros: 18gal oval stand up transom livewell, removables jumpseats so you can stand in the back corners and hulker down on a big grouper when you can find them, 58gal fuel tank, 72qt front cc removeable igloo cushioned seat with backrest, 94qt removeable igloo cooler cushioned seat with flip flop backrest at the helm. Eurostyle transom swim platform with ladder, Large cc door for easy access and storage, Dry storage compartment in front of bow deck seperate from anchor locker and fish/storage compartment, saltwater wash down if you have to.
Cons: 20" transom hgt, not so bad if you tilt up when coming off plane as far as back wash around the motor goe, if there are passengers in the jumpseats and two at the helm the tilt does not help at all, I'll never buy another boat with a 20" transom for saltwater use, rigging hatch in splash well in front of motor leaks a little, always find a little water in the bilge, all hatches do not seal up tight to gaskets, why even bother with a gasket when your latch wont even seal snug, the dry storage in front of bow deck is always a little wet, no thru hull fitting in front/fishbox storage locker, they just drilled straight through the liner; flotation; and hull; and put a flimsy splash guard on the outside hull. I noticed their larger models have a thru hull fitting, I know it's important to cut production costs, but my god how much could a 5/8" brass nipple cost to seal in there, I'm gonna find out because thats what I plan to do to be on the safe side, self draining deck doesn't full drain, leave about a 1/2" of standing water at the transom, again how hard could it be to recess then deck in front of drains to prevent this, all the sediment settles here, so I just sponge it out to compromise, cheap gauges fog, oh well what else is new
Havent been able to figure out how to remove the padded rail around live well, the rear seat backrests cant be completely removed , they snaps come off ok but the slider track is to close to the live well and gunwale to completely slide it out, maybe if I force it, but my rule is never force anything or it will cause you more troubles.
Other than those few gripes, it planes out well, wot 42mph by idiot gauge @ 5500rpms, cruises around 35mph @ 4000rpms. Most important my wife loves the boat and so does the dog.
We took some friends out for a night cruise and stopped at a intracoastal restaurant and got some wings to go. The 4 of us and 2 dogs sat at the baitwell and ate em up. Also, when the girls had to wee wee I just pulled the drain pipe from the livewell after filling it up 1/4 of the way and they could sit on top of the opening while we all looked the other way, ok I looked back by mistake to see what was taking so long, but it does make a great porta potty.
I love that livewell! all and all I guess I'm happy until we kick it up a knotch or two down the road.
Peace on and offshore,
Grouperface
My Sea Hunt triton 186 Review and other opinions. 
