New engine....or a new boat?

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by Chris

Nick I am about to do exactly what you are saying.

I have a 10yr old Osprey Viper 5.25 with a 90 on the back. Both are in excellent condition.

I love this boat to bits but have always felt it could easily handle the max rated 120HP.

Having spent a lot of time getting this boat exactly as I wanted I think I am going to stick with it for a little longer.

Ultimately at the moment its probably worth 8000 and I have found a really good deal on an ex demo 115HP engine for 5k. I am fairly confident that I could then sell the boat if I chose next year for at least 12000 so If I decided I needed to get a bigger boat then I could do. I also suspect that I would find the Osprey easier to sell with a new engine hanging off the back.

Finally I would still have a tidy 90HP engine to sell on ebay and looking at what others have fetched I reckon I could get at least a thousand for it.

Chris
Been there don that, had a 5.75 Viper with old Johnson v4 100hp on changed for a 4 year old Opti very low hours! When I came to sell it I think the newer engine helped no end also got all the money back I had spent buying her & the new engine!

[Chris]

Nick what sort of increase did you see with the opti?

Chris

[Nick Hearne]

As in speed about 10 knots increase & about half the fuel when doing about 20 knots!

Nick

[genoa]

My only concern is sometimes a package that is balanced is more appealing on the resale market. Someone buying a 10 year old boat is doing so usually because they are on a budget. Therefore I would be wary of spending a lot on a new lump and expecting to sell it easily (although as Nick says, there are exceptions)
I would buy another balanced pack, maybe a 3-4 year old boat and engine, regardless of whether I am stepping up size wise or not, although alot would depend on how much you've spent on extras and whether they can easily be transferred if needed.
Tough one!

[Mugshot]

Thank you for the replies, sorry for my tardiness in answering.
The step up in size is not a necessity, although I think if the opportunity arose for the right price I would do so, the extra length does have it's advantages as has been pointed out. Genoas suggestion of the 3 - 4 year old boat is probably the way I would lean and that would potentially be regardless of size, though I wouldn't go smaller.
But the brand new engine with full warranty does appeal too, my concern with this was the possible effect it would have on resale value if it was stuck on an older hull, whether the condition is good or not.
I think maybe my best option is to wait and see what if anything is available at the time, as I said this is some months off now at least and if a real bargain appears out of season, (and considering the summer we've had it wouldn't surprise me if it did) I'd be rather foolish to pass up the opportunity, of course I may win the lottery in that time too!!
Whatever I decide, rest assured, we can all look forward to another which engine/boat is the best debate.