Centurion ?'s

roybotto · Newbie Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 26

For the centurion guys out there: How much do you think is fair for a 04 lightning(storm series 1), tandem-matched trailer, brand new? I am in the process of negotiating for one and would like some previous buyers input. Thanks.

NHeckerson · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 104 City: Manhattan

What engine and are there any options outside the Storm package?

oshensurfer · Posted: Feb 08, 2004 8:15 pm Post subject:

NHeckerson is asking good ?'s. Are they offering a bimini, cover, any others? You should be in the $32-35k range probably though with a 350MPI engine... I've heard people getting better deals though buying a current year in Oct or Nov right before or during the next years model release.. The options are a factor because depending on the dealer, they'll pull out various items and offer it as a storm series I and say they'll make it a II or III by adding options themselves and it ends up costing you more. Try to work it as an out the door number. Good luck

hamkj · Soul Rider Joined: 19 Dec 2003 Posts: 303 City: City

I dont know where you are located. But the dealer I bought a boat from has the following:
2004 Lightning - 5.7 MAG MPI 315hp, heater, shower, tandem, trim tab, perfect pass, faria 1, basically loaded. $52,000 CDN.

the next one is a good deal (i think)
they got in a brand new 2003 - Hurricane - as above except shower - $46,000 CDN

they also have a demo Avalanche - Loaded $56,000 CDN.

all of the above have the wakeboard package etc..

Covert to US Funds minus some duties and it will give you an idea what they should be selling for in the US. Also check out the classifieds...

lanceuga33 · Outlaw Joined: 16 Oct 2003 Posts: 143 City: McDonough

This is what I paid for my 2002 Hurricane.

Full Boat Cover
Bimini
Board Racks
Pilot 1
350 MPI 315hp
Bow Cover
Trailer
Tower

$31,900

and I added Perfect Pass myself for 1,000.00

lanceuga33 · Outlaw Joined: 16 Oct 2003 Posts: 143 City: McDonough

It also came with a Bennett trim tab.

oshensurfer · Posted: Feb 09, 2004 1:52 pm Post subject:

lanceuga33,
You were the guy I had heard of... or read about. That's an incredible deal. Even better than mine. Who do you know and what did you do for him/her? HA!! I paid just about $36K out the door including tax, title , and accessories etc. Here's my set up, see my profile for pic.

2002 Huricane
350 MPI
Pilot 1
Triple Ballast
Dual Axle Matched Trailer
Tower

Accessories:
AM/FM CD Stereo
4 speakers, 6CH amp, and sub.
Full custom boat cover
Bimini
Lightning board racks (not the cheapo one's Centurion used to put on the boats)
Full on USCG setup
2 neoprene ski vests
New Tow Rope and Handle
Anchor
150ft of anchor line
2 long bumpers
Misc. ropes and clips

Added spare battery and isolator switch for $150. Still need to add PP and I did not get the bennet trim. Mine is manual.

NHeckerson · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 104 City: Manhattan

hamkj, I would not consider the options you listed LOADED. Centurion has a lot more offerings. Those are both smokin deals you guys got.

What do you guys think of Pilot 1? After two boats I think I am for it, but ours never reads the Ballast level and the temp is always about +10F. I like have all those guages in a compact one piece unit, though the PP tells you half the info. To tell you the truth, ours never really leaves the Water Temp/Depth selections.

How does the Merc 350 MAG MPI push your boats?

lanceuga33 · Outlaw Joined: 16 Oct 2003 Posts: 143 City: McDonough

Oshensurfer,

I think I caught the dealer at a desperate time. I'm the guy that the dealer sold the boat with a cracked block. When I noticed block the dealer had went out of business and Centurion took care of the problem and plus some. They have just been great to deal with. I'm sure everyone sick of hearing me being an advocate for Centurion, but I just feel they have trashed on this site and WW and should not have been. I just can't wait to get in an Avalanche.

Your price sounds good as well. I id not get near the accessories you got. I'm adding accessories as I go. I'm almost done with the stereo and next is the dual rear ballast. To be honest I think the center ballast is plenty for me, but I just got to have the rear bags.

I'm supposed to go to their plant in North Carolina to pick up my boat and go for a plant tour. I'm pretty excited about it.

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

I had no idea that you could get new Centurions for so little. I just picked up a 2000 Eclipse V-drive (pre '03 Cyclone) used for $20K with EFI PP tower/rack with 275hours. So how are the wakes behind your boats?

I posted this earlier but does the trim tab make a big difference in wake size or shape? I have a cavitation plate that could be adjusted a little but there is no hinge to so you could only adjust it by flexing and bending the plate. Worht fooling around with?

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

One more thing, where is the plant in NC?

oshensurfer · Posted: Feb 10, 2004 8:25 am Post subject:

bmartin,
Yeah, crank that plate down and you'll get a more rampy wake, pull it up for a steep wake. The wake on the Hurricane/Lightning is already pretty steep at 21-22. Messing with the plate made a nice difference for me.

NHeckerson,
The Pilot 1 is just "ok". It only reads the center ballast up to 80% when the tank is overflowing out the overflow drain, which I think is stupid and I visually check the tank and sacs every time any way, so I never use that function. I like water temp gauge but mine started reading wrong last season and I just had the paddle wheel sensor replaced. The depth gauge works good. The hour meter runs when the boat key is turned so it's not accurate...stoopid. The display I use all the time is Depth and Digital Speedo. I do like the digital speedo so I can compare the analog with it and adjust as neccessary without having to find super smooth water and run the boat WOT.

If Pilot 1 wasn't already on the boat I would have just added PP and a depth finder. The two of those would give me all the readings I need. If you have it as an option (not on the boat already), I wouldn't get it.

lanceuga33 · Outlaw Joined: 16 Oct 2003 Posts: 143 City: McDonough

Bmartin, their plant is Woodland, NC about 1 hour northeast of Rocky Mount.

The only time I use my trim tab is when I have 5 to 8 people in the boat. I'm sure if I added two rear bags I would need it alot more. It is also good for crusing at high speeds to keep the boat from propoising(spelling).

Ohsensurfer the more I think you got alot better deal than I did because my out the door price was right at 35,000.00.

lanceuga33 · Outlaw Joined: 16 Oct 2003 Posts: 143 City: McDonough

Bmartin the wake my boat puts out I think is almost perfect. I have friend that does all the inverts and spins behind it and that is just with center ballast. The wake is not huge but it is solid as a rock and Oshensurfer is right about it being steep.

I'm not trying to cause a big rucus here. I have pulled people that have been behind Bu's, Mc's, and CC's and they perferred to be pulled behind my Centurion.

oshensurfer · Posted: Feb 10, 2004 8:38 am Post subject:

As far as the power with the 350 MPI goes. It's adequate. I wouldn't say it is under powered if you don't add tons and tons of weight. You only notice a slight drag (with 8 people and all ballasts full) if you're driving. Being towed you wouldn't notice so it pulls out of the hole fine. You can get more out of the hole with a different pitched prop also. I would probably upgrade to one of the Scorpion engines if I could do it over again, though. $1500 or so is worth it to me.

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

Oshensurfer - Is your plate/tab a cavitation plate? Just a single piece of stainless that has 2 screw type rods to the transom? It just looks like the plate on mine wouldn't adjust much - but I just picked up my boat and haven't really tried to torque the screws.

oshensurfer · Posted: Feb 10, 2004 11:35 am Post subject:

Yep. It's a cav plate. You can really crank it down or up if you want to...within reason. It works pretty good for adjusting the wake. Not as easy as the bennet though.

healing · Newbie Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 9 City: Montrose

I bought my 2002 elite-v "hurricane" in november of 2002 I paid $30,000 out the door.
Tandem trailer
Pro flight Tower
bimini
boat cover
center ballast
350MPI 315hp

Mine has the air warrior decals, and talking with the dealer this year at the boat show the air warrior decals saved me a little money. I have about 80 hours on it's first season and it has been a great boat. Plus I have had fun installing the extra's, stereo, tower speakers. more ballast, perfect pass and heater to follow soon. As a matter of fact the dealer at the boat show said he would give me the 30K I have in it for trade on a new one. I know you might be saying yeah he'll give you the 30k but just want more for the new one. But he already had the price tag on the new 2004 at 35K. $5000 depreciation for a 2 year old boat not to bad I guess. That's my 2 cents

lanceuga33 · Outlaw Joined: 16 Oct 2003 Posts: 143 City: McDonough

Healing, you got a hell of a deal. I'm starting to feel bad. I'm sure it has something with me being on the east coast.

I forgot to mention my price included a five year extended warranty on my Merc.

It does feel good that if I ever have a motor problem the next five years it is covered. I hope to have an Avalanche by then anyway.

toolman25 · Newbie Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Posts: 2 City: portland

hey guys, I too am a proud centurion owner.

Bought 2003 hurricane from new dealer in Maine, real good guys. Payed like 31,500 out the door tax and all for.
tandem trailer
full boat cover
pilot one
bimini
3 tank ballast
pull-up cleats

Only things I still want to add are 2nd battery and switch, board rack and amp

Question on the cav plate? Do you guys notice the boat porpoising when you get above like 25 mph? Wat effect does adjusting the plate up or down do to the wake and/or fixing the porpoising issue.

What are the opinions out there on the MERC extended warranty on the 315HP 350 motor, everyone says they are bulletproof so is it worth the $ to buy the factory warranty. Murphy's law says whatever might break won't be covered by the warranty anyways.

krbaugh · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 758 City: Edwardsville

As far as I am concerned the Elite V/Hurricane/Lightning should always
be ordered with the bennett trim tab. The hull has no hook and needs
the tab down when running fast and up for boarding sounds kinda like taps huh Smile

lanceuga33 · Outlaw Joined: 16 Oct 2003 Posts: 143 City: McDonough

Toolman, you got a hell of deal too. I wonder why I paid 3,000 more than you and Ohsensurfer.

My Bennett trim tab keeps my boat as smooth as silk when running over 25mph. It does not propoise at all.

I like the extended warranty because it cover starters, alternators, almost everything.