Looking to buy R5-6-7. Opinions?

[Anchor86]

Buy an odd series as your upcoming grandkids will likely not surf for long time, by then surfing fad may be over or changed significantly. With that being said we surf behind my R7 and I have had several people do a variety of tricks, 360, 180s and such. It is really good for everything minus the most advanced users.
If you are likely to have more than 10 people on your boat get an R7, otherwise get an R5.
If you get a odd surf I would get an R7 as they still have the ski locker available. I have had zero issues with my twin screens and would recommend them to anybody.
Good luck!

Great advice, Thank you

[CobaltDeadHead]

Hmmm....maybe this particular dealership Goodhue's on Winnipesaukee has just had bad luck. Perhaps due to outdoor storage in very cold NH?

This conversation was also at the bar. My wife was actually sitting between us and he started up a conversation. Where you from what do you do? As soon as he said he's the finance manager at Goodhue's, my wife stood up and said, guess we're switching seats.

[stifflkd]

Regarding the reports about problems with the glass panels. I believe it is not the panels themselves but the relay that provides power to the units. The relay has been been known to fail. There are 4 on my R5. One controls the panels another powers the EasyConnect and two more (not sure what they control). Good idea to keep a spare. They are cheap, about $10.

[Cctvdc]

We were undecided on R5 and R7 when we bought our boat in 2018. We have a large family lots of grandchildren so we went with the 7. Our thought was we could always down size if the family did not show any interest. We have had 14 people on board to go anchor and swim for a short outing. Very happy with our boat, and no complaints on the glass cockpit. We also had the opportunity to visit the factory to see our boat in production very interesting !

[Anchor86]

Thanks for the responses. Searching for an R5 but still keeping option of R7 open. Hoping the right boat pops up with under 100 hours and in New England would be ideal. Apparently my wife thinks 1000 miles is too far . Survey an absolute must?

[CobaltDeadHead]

Thanks for the responses. Searching for an R5 but still keeping option of R7 open. Hoping the right boat pops up with under 100 hours and in New England would be ideal. Apparently my wife thinks 1000 miles is too far . Survey an absolute must?

Maybe contact East Coast Flight Craft and let them know what you are looking for? They may not have it, but they could help in your search.

What lake do you boat on? We are on Winnipesaukee

[Anchor86]

Thanks for the responses. Searching for an R5 but still keeping option of R7 open. Hoping the right boat pops up with under 100 hours and in New England would be ideal. Apparently my wife thinks 1000 miles is too far . Survey an absolute must?

Maybe contact East Coast Flight Craft and let them know what you are looking for? They may not have it, but they could help in your search.


What lake do you boat on? We are on Winnipesaukee

We live and boat on the St Lawrence River .

[WickedRx]

Currently selling my 2020 R5 with VP 350 due to purchase of R30. Speaking to a friend who transitioned from R5 to R6, he, in general, preferred the R5 after some time in the R6. He felt the added weight of the R6 was not offset by additional room/features that would entice someone out of a R5. Having owned only the R5, I can say it is a pleasurable boat. One comment, and it may or may not apply, I would STRONGLY recommend the VP engines Post 2017 due to the easy flush system for winterization. Its a breeze. Simply pull a pin and push a lever and you have drained everything but the heat exchanger. Put a hose end on a funnel, and you've got an easy way to put a gallon or two of pink antifreeze in to resolve the heat exchanger worries (if you have them). It is just such an easy engine and why I chose them for the R30 as well. Good luck with the hunt.

[Pete12]

We bought a 2021 R5 with a the Merc 350 hp engine back in August from the dealer you saw the R7 at. Had about 100 hours on it and been kept in a boat house during the season. Wasn't really looking at upgrading (from a Crownline E22) at the time but it popped up in late July and couldn't resist. It was the model we were looking for plus we knew who the original owners were. Don't really like the styling of the even series. Have talked to a few dealers at shows and some mechanics and all said they preferred the odd series boats. We love it. Father-in-law had a Cobalt 242 for years and loves our R5. Mainly boat the Finger Lakes but will be taking it to the 1000 islands for ten days near the end of July. That R7 you looked at was nice. Had the big block 430 with captains call. See it sold recently.

[Anchor86]

We bought a 2021 R5 with a the Merc 350 hp engine back in August from the dealer you saw the R7 at. Had about 100 hours on it and been kept in a boat house during the season. Wasn't really looking at upgrading (from a Crownline E22) at the time but it popped up in late July and couldn't resist. It was the model we were looking for plus we knew who the original owners were. Don't really like the styling of the even series. Have talked to a few dealers at shows and some mechanics and all said they preferred the odd series boats. We love it. Father-in-law had a Cobalt 242 for years and loves our R5. Mainly boat the Finger Lakes but will be taking it to the 1000 islands for ten days near the end of July. That R7 you looked at was nice. Had the big block 430 with captains call. See it sold recently.

Sent you a message!
Thanks

[Krob1114]

Simply pull a pin and push a lever and you have drained everything but the heat exchanger. Put a hose end on a funnel, and you've got an easy way to put a gallon or two of pink antifreeze in to resolve the heat exchanger worries (if you have them). It is just such an easy engine and why I chose them for the R30 as well. Good luck with the hunt.

We haven't been doing anything with pink antifreeze. Should I be worried?

[stifflkd]

Simply pull a pin and push a lever and you have drained everything but the heat exchanger. Put a hose end on a funnel, and you've got an easy way to put a gallon or two of pink antifreeze in to resolve the heat exchanger worries (if you have them). It is just such an easy engine and why I chose them for the R30 as well. Good luck with the hunt.

We haven't been doing anything with pink antifreeze. Should I be worried?

Depressing the lever will drain all the raw water in the system. If you pour the pink stuff into the flush port or pump compressed air you will remove any residual water between the intake on the outdrive and the water pump.

[Tuscany]

We own an R7 that we ordered new in 2017. Don’t be afraid of size because if I were to do it all over again, I would have ordered an R30.
My wife and I launch and retrieve every time out. It’s a breeze..honestly.it’s so routine, that it’s a five minute job from water to land. The boat may look big, but it seems to get smaller and smaller with time.
IMO, buy the interior size that fits your family comfortably.

[mdadgar]

We own an R7 that we ordered new in 2017. Don’t be afraid of size because if I were to do it all over again, I would have ordered an R30.
My wife and I launch and retrieve every time out. It’s a breeze..honestly.it’s so routine, that it’s a five minute job from water to land. The boat may look big, but it seems to get smaller and smaller with time.
IMO, buy the interior size that fits your family comfortably.

100%.

We also launch and retrieve every time we use the boat. Not a big deal and we have the process down. We spend more time waiting on the other idiots at the ramp than we do putting the boat in the water or dragging it back out.

I would LOVE an R30 but the 10' beam makes towing a touch more complicated. I'd live with it, though.

[Anchor86]

We own an R7 that we ordered new in 2017. Don’t be afraid of size because if I were to do it all over again, I would have ordered an R30.
My wife and I launch and retrieve every time out. It’s a breeze..honestly.it’s so routine, that it’s a five minute job from water to land. The boat may look big, but it seems to get smaller and smaller with time.
IMO, buy the interior size that fits your family comfortably.

Thanks,
It will be in lift all summer and towing is not a concern at all. Availability of the” right one” will be. Looked at a R5 today and R7 tomorrow.
Definitely prefer the odd series.