Maxum 1900 SR

The Maxum 1900 SR is a mid-size bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Maxum of United States, a builder trading since 1988. On our measurements it works out at roughly 19 ft 0 in (5.79 m) of hull with a beam near 8 ft 2 in (2.50 m), which places it squarely in the trailerable family bowrider class: one vehicle, one trailer, one afternoon of prep, and the boat is in the water. Discontinued Brunswick brand that remains one of the best-value used bowriders anywhere.

Layout is classic bowrider and that is the whole point of the boat. Twin lounges run forward of the windscreen with a walk-through to the anchor well, the helm and companion seats sit amidships behind a wrap screen, and a full-width lounge spans the transom for sunbathing and socialising. Around 10 people fit aboard comfortably in sheltered water. Cushions lift out, backrests fold and filler pads convert the cockpit from a conversation pit into one long sun bed in a couple of minutes.

The ride is what most owners talk about first. Deadrise through the forward sections knocks the top off bay chop, the running surface aft keeps the boat stable at rest, and the hull sits level when six people crowd one side to watch a skier. Inside the bay it feels planted and predictable, which is exactly what a family boat needs.

Power is a 130-195 hp petrol stern drive package, and that suits both the hull and the way these boats are used. A stern drive keeps the transom clean and the engine low in the hull, which lowers the centre of gravity and gives that quiet, torquey feel off the mark that skiers appreciate.

Watersports are well covered. A tow point is standard on almost every boat in this class, and Maxum owners regularly add a pylon or a folding tower for wakeboarding. A healthy stern drive package pulls a slalom skier out of the water cleanly and tows children on an inflatable biscuit all day without protest. Skis, ropes and vests live in the under-floor and under-seat lockers so nothing sits underfoot while the boat is loaded.

Anglers do well out of the 1900 SR. The bow converts to a casting deck once the cushions are stowed, there is room to swing a rod without hitting the screen, and lockers swallow tackle, nets and a cooler. It is not a dedicated fishing boat, but it catches fish and it still takes the family out the next morning — which is the entire argument for owning a bowrider.

Build and finish sit where you would expect for a budget used boat from United States. Maxum was Brunswick's mid-market sport boat brand, sitting between Bayliner and Sea Ray, and although production ended in 2009 the boats remain everywhere on the used market. That makes Maxum one of the cheapest routes into a well-equipped fibreglass bowrider. Models such as the 1800 SR, 1900 SR and 2100 SR3 offered wide beams, deep cockpits, decent upholstery and mainstream MerCruiser stern drive power, and they shared much of their engineering with Sea Ray hulls of the same era. Because the brand no longer exists, badge value is low, which is exactly why buyers get so much boat for the money — but parts are not a problem, since the engines, drives, hardware and trim were common Brunswick components still supported today. Condition is everything: check stringers, transom and floor for moisture, and budget for bellows and gimbal service. Get a sound one and a Maxum delivers 90 percent of the family boating experience for half the price of a current model.

Options worth having on the 1900 SR are the practical ones: a bimini for shade, a decent bow and cockpit cover so the upholstery survives being stored outside, an upgraded sounder if you fish, and a stereo package that can be heard over the engine. On fibreglass, a ceramic coat or a good polish once a season keeps the gelcoat looking new and protects resale.

As a used buy, check the same things you would on any bowrider in this size band: transom firmness, stringer and floor soundness, hours and service history on the engine, steering and trim function, and the state of the upholstery seams, which are the first thing to fail on a boat that lives uncovered. At this end of the market condition matters far more than model year — a well-kept older boat beats a neglected newer one every time.

Our price guide for the 1900 SR is US$30,000 - US$40,000 used, which moves with engine choice, trailer, tower and how recently the boat was refreshed. Judged as a whole, it does what people buy a bowrider for: cruise, tow, swim, fish and entertain in one boat, without asking the family to compromise on any of them. Maxum has been refining that formula since 1988, and the 1900 SR is a straightforward, well-judged expression of it.