Anyone have a Larson boat from late 90’s, early 2000’s?

[abalmuth]

Was thinking of getting a second Seadoo but now looking @ a 97 Larson bowrider with 5.7 I/O as it’s less $'s to buy, but guessing maintenance will be higher then the ski- silp and storage is not an issue as I have dock space for it. Think it could be great for tubing/fishing and running the creeks

So does anyone have one and what do they think of the build?

 

[alk]

I don’t know anything about Larsons, but in my opinion by the late 90’s everyone was making ok quality boats, unlike the junk of the 80’s. So the transom, stringers and deck are most likely still solid. Unless of course a previous owner hacked it up. I think you should be more concerned about that, as compared to the brand name. All it takes is one sloppy install of a depth finder transducer, and the transom core may be mulch.

twenty seven years is getting pretty old for an I/o. The drives themselves are cheap enough to replace. But when the transom &gimbal assembly starts to wear out, and leak, now you are looking at some labor to replace.

if I was going to buy a boat for running creeks, tubing, etc, I would find a small center console with an outboard, instead of a bowrider with an I/O. That being said, I have a 23’ bowrider with an i/o, going into my 26th year with this boat, and still use it almost every weekend in the summer.

 

[Bill D.]

I would find a small center console with an outboard,

Yep, Boston Whaler 15' Sport or even a 17' Montauk would be where I would look.... easy to handle, goes shallow, easy entry/exit in water, etc.

 

[boatbum]

Hmm. Tough call bow rider or CC. There isn't much difference between them IMHO and the CC might offer a better head. It's also a better bet for the Block Island run
I like the idea of an OB instead of an I/O. Much easier to replace and maintain. CC's seem to cover more bases and can carry as many people.

 

[GeeBee]

I remember an RO posting here and the title of his thread was "My Crappy Larson Boat". In it he revealed it used plywood covered with carpet for floor boards. It also had issues with the fuel tank installation. I don't remember it all, but I was not impressed.

 

[Rick_D]

I sold my 97 Larson Cabrio 310 last spring, but I found the hull was layed up solid and thick when I drilled through it for under water lights. However, Larson, at least on mine, didn't seal their limber holes. I've never been good at keeping my bilge completely dry and that moisture wicked up into the motor mount stringers and bulkhead they attach to towards the front of the bilge. I had to have the stringers and bulkhead replaced given the freeze/thaw cycle made them crack. Check your limber holes and your stringers for moisture content.

 

[PascalG]

Larson were not exactly high quality boats so after 20+ years it’s all going to be about how a specific boat was used and maintained

Then you have the dinausor stern drive… high maintenance.

I d try to find a nice CC instead either one already repowered with a 4 stroke or one with an original outboard ready to repower