[grommett]

Hi. I am new to boating (although my teanage sons have experience through the Navy Cadets and Sea Scouts and have RYA tickets). I am considering the purchase of a Mariah Shabah Z202 with Mercruiser Magnum 350 V8 5.7ltr engine at £7,000. It looks lovely from the photo's and is claimed at 147 hours. Can anyone give me any advice?

Many thanks

[Z 202]

Well as you might have picked up by reading some of the articles here, the original Mariah Boats Inc. is no longer in business, and they made a lot of the interior parts in house. So you will want have a good look over the seats, dash and upholstery to see if it's in good shape. The 5.7L in a 202 is a great power package, I'd get a qualified merc. service person to check it over before you pull the trigger though. Your local market will dictate price, but a well kept "Z" model with a trailer should fall into that ballpark.

These are really well built boats, and the ride and performance are truly awesome. Good Luck with it.

[All In]

I have a 96 20' Shabah, It only has a 6 in it but it is still fast on the water. I can pull about 53 with my wife and 2 kids in the boat as well as all the gear. I can't tell you how many people want to come up to me on the lake and take a look at her. No not my wife, the boat. You will just love owning a Mariah, I know I do. Now that I found this site it just makes it that much better. depending on where you live 7000 might be a little on the high side. I bought mine for about that 3 years ago. By the way, I have had very little problems out of the boat and everything that I have had was just things that happen with boats. A starter here, a stereo there, just that kind of minor thing. Trust me you will love that boat

[grommett]

Hi All In. Thanks for the replay, so you wouldnt suggest a bayliner then?!

This looks like a great site, love the enthusiasm. Regarding the price, boats in England go for a lot more than in the USA. We have people advertising some real rubbish for top money, even with a very wet summer and the season coming to the end, having looked at boats in the USA on ebay I can see why so many English people pay a small fortune to have used boats imported.

[Z 202]

Originally Posted by grommett

Hi All In. Thanks for the replay, so you wouldnt suggest a bayliner then?!

Friends don't let friends buy Bayliner...

If a decent trailer is included in the price, I think the asking price isn't outrageous. By the sounds of it you could sink the same amount of dough into a lesser boat, and that just wouldn't be right. If it's been well maintained on the inside, and the mechanics check out, you should be all over it.

[grommett]

Done the deal, picking it up on Saturday! How excited am I?

[ShabahZ280]

Congrats!!! You made the right choice!

[JohnZ202]

Congrats Grommet .... you won't be disappointed. I bought my Z202 new in '98 and have been extremely pleased with it. It's one of the best looking boats on our lake and we keep getting the "can't believe that boat is 10 years old" comments. We routinely pull 4 tubes as well as the kneeboards and skiers. Been the best boat I've ever owned.

Stay safe and have fun ... John