[upthesaukee]

I looked long and hard at the Azure 27ft bowrider. I first saw an Azure at the Boston boat show a few years ago. This year, I saw one down in Milford at the NH boat show.

I looked at it for about a half hour before moving on to look at all the other boats. After seeing them all, the other couple we were with said "What do you want to do now" and I said I wanted to go back to the Azure. Detail work looks great. Nice spacious head area. Open seating in the back (U shaped with a walk through with removeable pads), sink, lots of storage, cooler storage under port side seating. Engine cover sundeck could lie flat or act as a recliner. Integrated swim platform. Note that the hull length is 25 feet, the swim platform adding the other two feet.

We did not go out for a ride at Channel, although Jason at Channel offered a couple of times to take us out. Boat has 22 degrees of deadrise.

My dilemma ended up being I was looking at the Azure priced in the mid-60's and the 2009 Mariah 25 ft Bowrider brand new with .4 hrs on it (yes that is point four) for almost half that price. My Mariah has 20 degrees deadrise, a smaller engine and no swim platform.

If my wife and I were still working full time, we may have been able to justify the money for the Azure, but then again how much time would we have had for the new boat. Being retired, spending the less money made sense to us, and we now have more than 45 hours on our less than two month old boat.

Never have been in a Rinker.

If I hit those numbers on the weekend or week night, I would be seriously tempted to go with the Azure. Looks great and according to reviews I have read, rides like a dream.

I guess you just need to take them for a ride and compare apples with apples. Good luck with your purchase.

One question: what models are you looking at?