Help with deciding between two 2855 Ciera Sunbridges-gctid386059

[Guest]

1. 1996 2855 asking 19,900 comes with trailer and photos look great. Talked on the phone for almost an hour and seems like a straight up nice guy. Agreed to have a survey and mechanic inspection and was even trying to tell me dock where he used to because the marina is so nice. Carry on ac unit. The only issue I see with this boat is that the trailer has no title. It was bought in ohio and the registration was lost. Pennsylvania will not allow you to title the trailer without the registration. I will only use this trailer once. Picking up the boat and taking it to the marina. It will be winterized at a place that pulls them out with forklift cranes and puts them indoors on racks and the reverse when going back into the water.

2. 1997 2855 asking 23,900 comes with trailer and photos look great as well. This one has a generator and built in ac/furnace. He also installed led underside docking lights. Agreed to survey and mechanical inspection as well.

I live in pittsburgh and will only be used for river use. In pittsburgh we do spend considerable time tied to other boats outside the stadiums and such during events.

I have read a lot of posts of people using the Honda EU2000i companion generator so you can just plug your shore power cable right into the generator. I found some on ebay for about $800 bucks.

Our season goes from May to October and the weather in pittsburgh can be unpredictable and start becoming cold at the end of september.

Is an onboard generator and furnace worth the extra cost? Is this something that will be used a lot in a scenario like this? I don't know anyone with an onboard generator. It would be amazing to have ac when un hooked as well but isn't necessary.

I would only need heat for staying overnight but shore power will handle that and I could always use a small portable heater.

I was also thinking the more equipment on the boat, the more that can go wrong.

Any thoughts and help from you guys would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[Guest]

Go for the 97, and negotiate down a bit the extras are worth it

[Guest]

Another vote for the boat with the installed goodies: it's a year newer, with desirable installed components, and without trailer drama.

[Guest]

97, you will never regret a boat with AC or the portable Genny. The carry on AC is a big pain too !

[Guest]

My prediction is, you won't be happy with the portable AC.

[msd58]

pghtowner wrote:
1. 1996 2855 asking 19,900 comes with trailer and photos look great. Talked on the phone for almost an hour and seems like a straight up nice guy. Agreed to have a survey and mechanic inspection and was even trying to tell me dock where he used to because the marina is so nice. Carry on ac unit. The only issue I see with this boat is that the trailer has no title. It was bought in Ohio and the registration was lost. Pennsylvania will not allow you to title the trailer without the registration. I will only use this trailer once. Picking up the boat and taking it to the marina. It will be winterized at a place that pulls them out with forklift cranes and puts them indoors on racks and the reverse when going back into the water. [COLOR]"#0000CD" wrote:
Getting trailer title can be a pain You will want to have that when you go to resell some day [/COLOR]

2. 1997 2855 asking 23,900 comes with trailer and photos look great as well. This one has a generator and built in ac/furnace. He also installed led underside docking lights. Agreed to survey and mechanical inspection as well. [COLOR]"#0000CD" wrote:
This boat have the flip back L lounge seat and aft bench seat. the '96 will not.[/COLOR]

I live in Pittsburgh and will only be used for river use. In Pittsburgh we do spend considerable time tied to other boats outside the stadiums and such during events.

I have read a lot of posts of people using the Honda EU2000i companion generator so you can just plug your shore power cable right into the generator. I found some on ebay for about $800 bucks.

Our season goes from May to October and the weather in Pittsburgh can be unpredictable and start becoming cold at the end of September.

Is an onboard generator and furnace worth the extra cost? Is this something that will be used a lot in a scenario like this? I don't know anyone with an onboard generator. It would be amazing to have ac when un hooked as well but isn't necessary.

I would only need heat for staying overnight but shore power will handle that and I could always use a small portable heater.

I was also thinking the more equipment on the boat, the more that can go wrong. [COLOR]"#0000CD" wrote:
As long as boat checks out in survey

[/COLOR]

Any thoughts and help from you guys would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

If you have sellers willing to survey boats before selling its best to compare the two them make a decision.

[Guest]

THE 97!!!!!!!!!!! I hate my CarryOn portable AC unit. It is cumbersome, takes up space in my berth, drips water into my cabin, is noisy, is ugly....should I go on.... + you get a generator....this is a no brainer if the boats are pretty much the same otherwise. Take the AC/Heat and genni package and enjoy a great boat ready for fun at the dock and at anchor because you have a genni...

Ray

[Guest]

Yeah...just a note: I would never buy a boat without a marine survey and a mechanical inspection and I'd never do business with a seller who wouldn't agree to both. Surveying and inspection is a cornerstone of the boat business and should be considered standard practice anywhere people buy and sell boats.

The buyer pays for survey and inspection. The surveyor and mechanic are hired by and work for the buyer. All deals hinge on a satisfactory survey and inspection.

A 28 footer can quickly become a soul-sucking money pit. It's best to know all the problems going in...

[706jim]

Definitely the one with the generator and A/C. An installed generator is $9k+ and is out of the way. Same with the A/C.

Just be sure all of that stuff WORKS before you put down your money!

[Guest]

pghtowner wrote:
1. 1996 2855 asking 19,900 comes with trailer and photos look great. Talked on the phone for almost an hour and seems like a straight up nice guy. Agreed to have a survey and mechanic inspection and was even trying to tell me dock where he used to because the marina is so nice. Carry on ac unit. The only issue I see with this boat is that the trailer has no title. It was bought in ohio and the registration was lost. Pennsylvania will not allow you to title the trailer without the registration. I will only use this trailer once. Picking up the boat and taking it to the marina. It will be winterized at a place that pulls them out with forklift cranes and puts them indoors on racks and the reverse when going back into the water.

2. 1997 2855 asking 23,900 comes with trailer and photos look great as well. This one has a generator and built in ac/furnace. He also installed led underside docking lights. Agreed to survey and mechanical inspection as well.

I live in pittsburgh and will only be used for river use. In pittsburgh we do spend considerable time tied to other boats outside the stadiums and such during events.

I have read a lot of posts of people using the Honda EU2000i companion generator so you can just plug your shore power cable right into the generator. I found some on ebay for about $800 bucks.

Our season goes from May to October and the weather in pittsburgh can be unpredictable and start becoming cold at the end of september.

Is an onboard generator and furnace worth the extra cost? Is this something that will be used a lot in a scenario like this? I don't know anyone with an onboard generator. It would be amazing to have ac when un hooked as well but isn't necessary.

I would only need heat for staying overnight but shore power will handle that and I could always use a small portable heater.

I was also thinking the more equipment on the boat, the more that can go wrong.

Any thoughts and help from you guys would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Get the '97! Not only is it nice to have that stuff, but when you sell, the first questions are "does it have a gen set and A/C? Good luck. Griff

[Guest]

Go with the one with the built in genny and ac. Thats an extra probably $8k in parts alone, plus its convenient and newer. And a title-able trailer woul help if you had to resell. By the way what outdrives do each have? I'd recommend a bravo 3 even though it isn't necessary. I hear they help a ton with maneuverability especially in reverse. And check your messages, btw.

Mike

[dmcb]

The '97. Use the other price to get 97 price down. Act a bit uninterested in the extras and let him know price is important to you.

Its a buyers market but let him know if the price is right you have the money ready after the survey.

That is important when you try to get a price down. It sets you apart from the tire kickers.

Doug

[Guest]

Also check out how the extra goodies were installed and wired. Most, actually all, the boats I have bought, including one I bought last week, require re-wiring and modifying accessories that were added to the boat. There are alot of boat "mechanics" out there that I would beat with a bat if they came near my boat.

So, wait on the surveys if you aren't able to ascertain the condition of the boat yourself.

[Guest]

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all of your replies and suggestions!

I thought I had my email settings to send me emails when people responded so I thought no one read my post.

This forum rocks!