R5 Used or New?

[andymoler58]

Hi,

I had a prior post on debating between the R5 and the R7.

I think the R5 works better for me. It seems a little but more fuel efficient and easier to tow if I see the need.

Now, I am debating whether to go new or used. I found a used 2018 R5 with 138 hours on it for 81k. The new R5 is right around 100k.

The features on the 2018 and the 2020 look exactly the same. The 2018 looks like it was kept in top shape too.

Do you think it's worth saving around 20k for the used boat? Or would you go new?

[tgrace98]

Link to said boat? 81k for an r5 seems really cheap

[andymoler58]

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/bod/ ... 49227.html

[tgrace98]

Looks well optioned. 134hrs is quite a bit but I’ll be there on mine by the end of 2020. If you can get that for 81k I say go for it. Still have 3 years left of warranties depending on purchase date.

[Big Block Power]

Nice boat. What engine would you plan on putting in your boat? As soon as I saw the 300 I closed the page. Way to small for that boat. Sorry that's myself. Depending on how you plan on using it that might work for you. Or go water test it but full the gas tank up and throw 8 adults on it and see how she performs. Even pull a skier up with her. More r5 guys will come in.

[Motex2011]

Love the colors. So, I guess you called to get the $81K price for just the boat? Add another $3K to $5K for a trailer and you are at $85K give or take then?

My initial thought is that $81K is low for that boat based on my never ending research, but I think it has to be partly due to time of year and partly due the 300HP and apparent lack of other common options that I've seen in my research. I bought a 2014 last July (which was a better time for the marina than the buyer) and it was $74K with the matching heritage trailer and the 380 Merc 8.2 Big Block. It had a 130 hours and was in very good condition. I'm not sure how much that 80hp difference will matter, but my boat will hit 50 with 2 people and full tank of gas and it only drops to about 48mph when I had 6 adults and all of our stuff. So, I can say that I've been very pleased with the speed and it has always jumped out of the hole and planed out fast without trim tabs.

Questions for you to consider:

What did the person trade for? I would be especially interested to know if they went up in HP on the engine?

Does it have good service records? Mine was so so, but we were able to call the Cobalt dealer who serviced it and got good information. I still had the 100 hour service done at the end of the season when I winterized it to the tune of about $1,800 because I wanted a fresh start with my own people because I didn't completely trust the dealer that I bought it from.

Where was it used? Atlanta is close enough to salt water. I would want to know if it ever made it out into that. Look it over carefully and don't trust the dealer.

What is the cost of a good trailer that you would want? Generic aluminum or matching?

What would a better stereo system cost? I noticed that it doesn't have speakers in the rear or on the tower, so I'm guessing that it has the basic system. Do you like your tunes loud and clear? If so, you will probably need to budget for that.

I also noticed that it appears to be missing a few other things like the transom radio controls and tilt/trim switch. Those are things that I think a lot of people like. Mine has both, but I never adjust the radio from the transom. Mine also has a transom shower that we never use, but it is still a feature that might indicate how optioned up the boat was. Based on what I'm seeing, engine, stereo, transom controls, this looks like it may have been a fairly basic Cobalt which is still a great boat. Of course, you can add a lot of the features for a reasonable amount except the HP and that may be enough to make you want to trade the boat within 2 years.

If you get all of your questions answered and you're happy, then I would go over the boat closely. Open and close everything with a hinge and/or latch. Flip every switch. My boat with 130 hours had loose screws and some odd things like the panel on the starboard side passenger seat that has the armrest was loose. The nuts had worked loose and the whole panel would move. I had to remove a panel in the bathroom area and reach in and tighten it.
Of course, I added a second locking nut to make it better and it was an easy fix, but a good reminder that you need to check things periodically to keep things tight and aligned.

Hope this helps.

[tgrace98]

So the listing says 380 but it’s got the 300hp. That’s a hard pass for me. That’s under powered for an r5. I’d want 380 min

[Big Block Power]

Motex nice write up. Your extra 80hp is huge. Small block to big block. That's huge. Yes that looks to be a dealer stock unit for price only. Very common. I use my transom switch all the time. The transom remote also all the time. If you want to drive to Minnesota there is a r5 trailer for sale by a great member on here. Maybe he will give you his 2 cents on this as he's moving up in size also. If the new owner moves up engine size now you know why.

[andymoler58]

I think the ad says it's a 380 hp engine.

Also, is 137 hours quite a bit on a boat? The manager made it sound like that was only about 14k equivalent to a car?

[Big Block Power]

I think the ad says it's a 380 hp engine.

Also, is 137 hours quite a bit on a boat? The manager made it sound like that was only about 14k equivalent to a car?

Ad may say 380 picture shows 300.
No that's not very many hours. It's a 2 year old boat so it was used pretty good in 2 years. That's 70 hours a year. Mine has 270 in 17 years so that's what 15 hours a year in the garage. Sometimes it's better to used a nice maintained high hit boat then one that never gets used.

[Snowman8]

I’m the Minnnesotan... I wouldn’t consider an R5 with a 300hp engine but that’s just me. I am the guy who had a SEA RAT 210SLX with a Merc 350 mag (300hp) with DTS and a Bravo III! I never want to own an under powered boat. If your boat mainly going to get used at a cabin on the same smaller lake to just cruise around with a few people it would most likely be fine. But if you want to throw 8 people in it and try to pull a tube or a couple tubes that’s not the engine and boat combination for that!

What boat did you have previously?

Now I have a 2014 R5 with a 380VP, if I had a choice at the time I would have the 430. I would also say that this R5 will get out of the hole and up on plane faster than my old 210 SLX. My 210 would run about 52 WOT with a light load and loaded with people it would slow to 46-47. My R5 will run the same speed WOT with a light load and run about 48 with 8 people. Some will say that I never want or need to go that fast and that’s fine but try to get an under powered boat with a bunch of people and while pulling tubes isn’t any fun at all. An R5 is a heavy boat for only a 300hp engine. It’s hard to understand how much of a difference 80hp, or sometimes only 30 hp make in a boat but the difference is huge!

BTW. As of right now my trailer is sold. Myself and the buyer are just working out some of the details. If something changes I will let you guys know. Thanks for remembering BBP!

[MnLakeBum]

I think the ad says it's a 380 hp engine.

Also, is 137 hours quite a bit on a boat? The manager made it sound like that was only about 14k equivalent to a car?

Ad may say 380 picture shows 300.
No that's not very many hours. It's a 2 year old boat so it was used pretty good in 2 years. That's 70 hours a year. Mine has 270 in 17 years so that's what 15 hours a year in the garage. Sometimes it's better to used a nice maintained high hit boat then one that never gets used.

Agreed. My R5 is two years old and has more than 137 hours on it and I put 120 hours last summer on the 350 Verado on our Marker One.

[Motex2011]

Lastly, if that new R5 for $100K has less than 380hp, just keep looking.

[BobRae99]

If you aren’t in a hurry, I’m betting when the R6 comes out there will be great deals on new R5s. I’d echo other who have posted about the boats power. While the base 300 HP engine would be adequate, I think you might be less than satisfied once you have a boat full of people and gear.

[cmattj]

Hi,

I had a prior post on debating between the R5 and the R7.

I think the R5 works better for me. It seems a little but more fuel efficient and easier to tow if I see the need.

Now, I am debating whether to go new or used. I found a used 2018 R5 with 138 hours on it for 81k. The new R5 is right around 100k.

The features on the 2018 and the 2020 look exactly the same. The 2018 looks like it was kept in top shape too.

Do you think it's worth saving around 20k for the used boat? Or would you go new?

All good points here on why you should stay excited but keep shopping. Oh she’s got a special look but it’s priced with base options.

The price will be forgotten after the Cobalt is remembered so spend the extra.

And the trailers available?.. are they kidding.
It’s resting on the front brace and fender well on the starboard side. Geeeze