Should I buy Mariah
 

Hello all. I'm coming from the Offshore world and I just sold my 33ft offshore boat. I'm moving by a lake and decided to get a lake boat. While I am very experienced with offshore boats, i know little about lake boats.

I stumbled across a 2000 Mariah 222 Shabah with a Mercruiser 350 Mag that looks awesome.
I'm kind of stumped. Now coming from the offshore world I see some brands that cross over like sea ray..ect. Some people seem to love the older Mariahs and some say they are the worst boat ever.

My questions I guess are this:
1. Is it a quality boat?
2. This boat is wide, which appeals to me, but wonder how the performance is.
3. Can this boat handle chop good?

Any information would be helpful.

Re: Should I buy Mariah
 

Welcome! A 2000 z222 will be a fun lake boat. Big enough to handle lake chop yet still nimble. As for the 33' off shore boat comparison they may not compare. I don't know if you're referring to a 33' gofast or a 33' cabin cruiser. Either way pre 2001 Mariah boats were very well built boats with quality parts. By today's standards one might be looking into a Cobalt for a similar boat in this day and age.

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Re: Should I buy Mariah
 

1. Quality is very good. Mariah's were built using top quality materials and they were ahead of many of their competitors in build quality, especially in the interiors. They were also "equipped like no other boat in the world". This means the boats cost a lot more than the others initially, so the owners are usually much more into to taking care of them.

2. Wide is a good thing for stability on lakes. However mentioning the word "performance", (especially coming from an offshore boating world) you'll likely not be happy with the performance of the boat. Many people expect these boats to look great, have great amenities, and be fast as hell. There's always a compromise. Mariah's compromise is the speed. They look great, and have great amenities, but they are not speed boats, so if you're expecting 60+ speeds, a Mariah isn't for you. They're luxury boats.

3. Chop is really on a case-by-case basis. Provided you're taking it easy and not flying WOT across the lake in chop, it will likely stand up to anything an inland lake will throw at it, but if you're planning on taking 5-10ft waves on the Great Lakes, then it won't be a comfy ride. Trust me on this one...

You'll have to make your own judgement if a Mariah will be right for you, but you'll never hear a negative out of anyone here. I've seen the Mariah comments on the offshore boards, and no one can ever justify their claims with any solid evidence. You'll find that the '89-'01 Mariahs are highly regarded for their build quality and craftsmanship. They were an expensive boat back in the day, and nearly all of our members here take incredible pride in our boats to keep them looking showroom quality, and maintaining them meticulously. I'd suggest asking for a sea trial of the 222 Shabah and see how it feels to you on the lake. If you like how it rides, and the price is right, I'd say go for it. You definitely won't regret owning a Mariah. :wink_thumbup: