Seeking comments on buying used R7.

[AsLan7]

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Sounds like your off to a good start Bratcho with the information here. So glad you found us. Welcome aboard mate!

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[Luv2HuntAR]

Bratcho, welcome to the group. The Cobalt R7 is a fantastic boat. I’m not shopping, but when I bought mine last year, the first thing I did was establish a budget, and I stuck to it. Then I decided how I was going to use the boat - Wake Surf and ski? Ski and tube? Tube and cruise? If i wanted to wake surf, I had to have the tower, ballast system and forward drive. Ski and tube .... no surf, but may or not need a tower. Tube and cruise .... no tower - just bimini. For an R7, I would not want anything less than a 380 for propulsion, and I would not want a salty boat. I’ve seen really crappy, poorly maintained 4 year old boats with minimal hours, and I’ve seen the same 4 year old model exquisitely maintained with double the hours of the other. Read through the threads on this forum; they will turn on some lights and help narrow your decision. My point, you’re spending a lot of money, you should get want you want. Patience is key in this environment. My favorite example is the guy who scored a unicorn, low hour R5 with a blue/racing 525 on Lake Lanier this Fall. Come back to this thread if you have questions. Opinions are not difficult to obtain here. Good luck.

[Norris_Boating]

.....the first thing I did was establish a budget, and I stuck to it....

Crappy advice.....

[tgrace98]

.....the first thing I did was establish a budget, and I stuck to it....

Crappy advice.....

Haha truth! I had a budget in mind when I went shopping. Let’s just say I went a smidge over

[TruckerTim]

Hello. I am seriously considering buying a used R7 for use on a large lake. Looking at 380 engine. I have always admired the look of cobalt boats, but have never owned one: As I look at used market - it is fairly thin given COVID - so I am trying to boil down key considerations. My attention is on balancing hours used and maintenance, fresh water use vs salt. I don’t get too hung up in the options/frills - but are there a few “great to have features .” Any thoughts on this decision process ? I appreciate your time.

Bratcho- Just sent you a PM. I'm going to list mine in a few weeks, (moving to a liveaboard). Not sure what your budget is, but like I tell my wife.... "It's just a number!"

[dustinm]

Here you go, looks like a very clean unit. I only charge a 20% finders fee....

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=4950

[Big Block Power]

Here you go, looks like a very clean unit. I only charge a 20% finders fee....

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=4950

Do it!

[Luv2HuntAR]

.....the first thing I did was establish a budget, and I stuck to it....

Crappy advice.....

Haha truth! I had a budget in mind when I went shopping. Let’s just say I went a smidge over

I know. I know. My budget is the reason I’m in an R5, not an R7.

[Luv2HuntAR]

Here you go, looks like a very clean unit. I only charge a 20% finders fee....

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=4950

Very, very nice boat.

[tgrace98]

Crappy advice.....

Haha truth! I had a budget in mind when I went shopping. Let’s just say I went a smidge over

I know. I know. My budget is the reason I’m in an R5, not an R7.

My wife kept on saying R5 R5 R5 just because of the budget. I said you know once they get in the water they shrink (seinfeld reference? ). As soon as we went and looked at an R5 on the water she said yeah R7. We had a 262 prior so the R7 felt more like the suitable replacement.

[TruckerTim]

Haha truth! I had a budget in mind when I went shopping. Let’s just say I went a smidge over

I know. I know. My budget is the reason I’m in an R5, not an R7.

My wife kept on saying R5 R5 R5 just because of the budget. I said you know once they get in the water they shrink (seinfeld reference? ). As soon as we went and looked at an R5 on the water she said yeah R7. We had a 262 prior so the R7 felt more like the suitable replacement.

I have the opposite problem. Last two boats, (in 17 years) I wanted a used boat and lower budget, but wife saw new ones and jumped the budget substantially!! However I don't think that will be the case on the next one, given the price of new vs used 45 to 50' motor yachts.

[Luv2HuntAR]

I know. I know. My budget is the reason I’m in an R5, not an R7.

My wife kept on saying R5 R5 R5 just because of the budget. I said you know once they get in the water they shrink (seinfeld reference? ). As soon as we went and looked at an R5 on the water she said yeah R7. We had a 262 prior so the R7 felt more like the suitable replacement.

I have the opposite problem. Last two boats, (in 17 years) I wanted a used boat and lower budget, but wife saw new ones and jumped the budget substantially!! However I don't think that will be the case on the next one, given the price of new vs used 45 to 50' motor yachts.

I told my wife I’m going to the boat show next week. She gave me the stink eye and rattled off 10 reasons we don’t need a new, bigger boat. I told her just because I’m on a diet doesn’t mean I can’t lookin at the menu. I hope they have an R8 there.