[ShabahZ280]

It is a pretty good looking boat! It's either a 96 or 97 Z275. I'm guessing a 96 based on the decal package on the trailer. Boat graphics have obviously been removed, but in 97 Mariah went with a new design (the more common "swoosh" design). What's on the trailer looks like the previous graphics package. Someone should email the seller and get the HIN/model year!

The Z278 came out in 1999, but it was a very similar design to this Z275.

I beg to differ on the green. My boat's got dark green canvas and everyone is still surprised when they find out it's a 99 and not something much newer. Mariah's are classy boats that don't show signs of their age that much because they stuck with colors that wouldn't be out of date in a few years. Nowadays, the main accent colors for just about every manufacturer are blue, tan, and black. The colors that would "date" and "hurt the sale" are the light green/turquoise, gray, and pink combos that were so incredibly popular during the mid 90's, such as Sea Rays, Four Winns, Baja, and lots of the performance boats from that era. I always look as they pass by just to see if I can see Sonny Crockett & Tubbs onboard.

[johnnymo]

Post # 4 as I thought it was a 1996 also and heck I never worked at the plant
How much wood is in a 1996 Z275. Is the floor glass over wood ? what about the seats and engine hatch - wood base or composite ? I know the transom and stringers are wood.

Believe it or not for the last 2 years orange is the new fad color before that was yellow. A lot of sportboats used Purple back in the day. Red has always been a good seller as we call it retail red. Red and black do well also like on crownlines and a lot of wakeboard boats - Mastercraft especially.

My point to the story was too many retail boat buyers never have a pre purchase inspection done beforehand so after the fact they find out the problems with their newly purchased boat instead of beforehand. Examples old fuel in the gas tank lifting off debrie, rotted wood areas, improper winterization or none at all, one or more cylinders out of spec with compression and so on and so on.