Any thoughts about a 2007 South Bay

[woolznaz]

I've been lurking around here a while and have really enjoyed the great information shared on this forum. I am considering getting my first toon after having a small cruiser in the past. I wondered if anyone could share some thoughts on a South Bay I have been watching.

It's a 25' 2007 925 "Black Pearl" (that's what South Bay called it -- I didn't come up with that). It has 3 logs and lifting strakes, underskin, very sharp interior, and about 75 hours on a 5.7 Volvo I/O. It has been kept in a slip so the toons are a little grungy, but they are supposed to be cleaned up and polished. It also has 2 bimini tops and a full cover as well. It is sitting on what appears to be a very nice trailer by Extreme Custom Trailers with dual axles and brakes of course. I guess the 900 series South Bays were all kind of "loaded" so this one has lots of little extras like a very nice helm, water wash down, nice stereo with several factory speakers (probably not enough for some of you guys!), docking lights, rope lighting under the seating, sculpted carpet and all that "cute" stuff that I don't really care that much about in a 3 year old boat. Being an I/O, it also has a very nice swim platform and stainless ski pole, ladder, etc.

Overall, it's in very nice shape cosmetically and you can tell it has been covered rather than left out in the elements as the interior is nearly perfect. I have not been in the water on it yet, but it is interesting and I can't seem to get it off my mind. I think it would be a good boat for Lake of the Ozarks where I spend some time.

This is a LOT more pontoon than I thought I would buy. It can be bought in the low 30's with trailer. I know the same dealer sold it new for $59,900 and then it was repossessed by a bank and the same dealer bought it back from the bank and are now selling it again. I have looked at some Benningtons and Manitou, but I have just been slow to spend the $$$.

Any thoughts on the South Bay? Thanks for your thoughts and thanks for great forum.

[HandymanHerb]

Welcome I think that would be a good deal but I let the guys with newer toons fill you in

[trott46]

min value is 35000 without trailer sounds like a deal to me start adding features and trailer im sure it would be around 40000 good luck hope you get it youll enjoy it

[dockholiday]

The dealer probably threw in a low offer and they took it, which could be a deal for you, since he can sell it at a deal an still make some money. Sound like a really nice boat. Seen a few of the black pearls an they look sharp. Don't let it get away. If it doesn't already have a ss prop bargain for that at a reduced price, or get him to throw it in. Not sure of the actual worth of the boat but it does sound like a pretty good deal in the low 30's.
doc

[woolznaz]

Thanks for the quick thoughts. I appreciate the responses. Great suggestion on the SS prop, too. Now, will I be brave, crazy, quick enough to do it?????

Any other thoughts on South Bay in general or this particular deal are welcome. Thanks again!

[woolznaz]

Update: OK, we have done a little more negotiating and here is where we are:
$34,000 -- out the door. That includes sales tax and registration which total around 9% here. Stainless steel prop will be included and I keep the current prop as a spare. All subject to a test drive. Any thoughts on how that boat should perform would also be appreciated.

I owe them an answer by Monday. Thank you for any replies.

[cwag911]

As LR would say, "Buy the damn boat"! It's a great deal.

[badmoonrising]

Buy it, you'll love it.

[lakerunner]

What Carl said

[curtiscapk]

Holy shit jump all over that!!! 30 + mph I would think, but just guessin

[dockholiday]

Not sure of the hp on that 5.7 volvo but my 5.0 ford is 225 so I would say 35 to 40mph. Like they said I would go for it. The dealer is making some but he probably got a fantastic deal on the boat from the bank. Bet it is really quiet. Since you said it has been on your mind since you saw it, that's a good indication it the right boat for you. Don't end up kicking your self for the next years saying damn wish I had bought that boat.

doc

[stickman]

We just bought a 2010 Premier in the middle of last year's season. It was down to a 2008 South Bay 800 series (I think it may have been an 822) or a 2009 Premier built for us (because of the time of year they built it, they end up titling it a 2010 ).

I absolutely loved the South Bay, and to this day ask myself if I was wrong to pick the Premier over the South Bay. Both had the 4.3L MPI Mercruiser, both were 3 log. The South Bay had a GREAT helm with built in GPS and freshwater sink, but the Premier had the PTX performance package and since I was trading in a bowrider ski boat for it, I wanted to keep the performance.

All-in-all, I would agree. The South Bays are beautiful boats and I doubt you would go wrong with it. (Just don't buy it and then come on here and tell me what a fool I was for going with the Premier.)

[woolznaz]

Wow! Thank you for all of the responses, folks. I really appreciate it. Although I have to say, you aren't giving me much of a choice! Today's the day I need to let him know if I'm buying it. It's funny, 2 years ago I would have never even looked twice at a pontoon. Then a guy took us for a ride on a Bennington with ESP and I was hooked. I seriously doubt if this South Bay will handle anything like that, but with the 3 toons, strakes, the 5.7, it should still perform OK. I just don't expect it to bank in the corners and turn like the ESP, or the Premier Stickman bought, or certainly not like a Manitou with SHP. However, at 34K out the door I figure I'm paying around $27-$28K for the boat, another $3-4 for the trailer, and then tax (yeah!) to get to the $34. At that price, I feel confident the deal is decent. It is subject to a test run so if the performance really disappoints me we can scrap the deal.

It's still a big decision for me so thanks again for your thoughts -- I'll let you know if I do it and, I know, I know,....... you guys like pictures.

Thanks again.
Mike

[woolznaz]

OK, here is an update. First, I do realize I am the only one replying to my own thread right now. It's OK, I talk to myself a lot. Since several of you did reply before, I wanted to let you know what happened. We are now under contract on the South Bay! They have some clean up/touch up/replacement/service work to do and then we'll take it out for a sea trial sometime around the end of the month. If it performs well, then we'll go through with the purchase. Thanks a lot for your thoughts and opinions. I'll post again after the test run and let you know if we go through with it. Between now and then, I'll do some research and try to figure out what the 5.7 Volvo should do on that boat.

Hopefully it will go well and then I can join the rest of you as a pontoon owner. Maybe I will learn enough as time goes on to contribute to your group.

Thank again!

[curtiscapk]

Sweet!! Congrats!