If you're shopping for boats personal watercraft in the $2,000 to $4,000 range, the first fork in the road is usually whether you want a complete package or a lower entry price. One of these used boats gives you a trailer, a cockpit cover, and a retro hull for $4,000. The other drops the price to $2,000 but leaves you with a hull and motor parts rather than a running engine.
Quick Verdict
The 1985 Double Haul Sunrunner Boat is the more complete, ready-to-tow choice, while the 1999 Malibu Boat is the lower-priced project for buyers who can solve the power situation. If you want to spend your first day on the water instead of in the driveway, the Sunrunner is the easier call. If you already have an engine or want a repower project, the Malibu leaves more room in your budget.
At a Glance
| 1985 Double Haul Sunrunner Boat | 1999 Malibu Boat | |
|---|---|---|
| Listed Price | USD 4,000.00 | USD 2,000.00 |
| Price Bar | ||
| Condition | Used | Used |
| Key Details | Trailer included, cockpit cover, fiberglass bowrider | Fiberglass hull, single inboard/outboard, 11-20 gal fuel, gas, fresh-water use |
Where Each Boat Wins
- 1985 Double Haul Sunrunner Boat wins for a buyer who wants a more complete, ready-to-tow package.
- 1999 Malibu Boat wins for a buyer who wants the lowest possible entry price and is comfortable handling the motor situation themselves.
Product Notes
1985 Double Haul Sunrunner Boat
This 1985 Sunrunner is the more complete package of the two. It's a bowrider with a cream hull and retro brown graphics, and it comes with a white canvas bimini/cockpit cover plus a single-axle roller trailer with a spare tire on the tongue. For someone who wants to tow, cover, and launch in one trip, that included trailer is a concrete advantage. The condition is used and it's a private-sale boat, so the main trade-off is the higher listed price and the fact that you're relying on the seller's description of a 1980s boat. If the trailer and cover alone save you from buying or renting one separately, the higher listed price becomes easier to justify.
1999 Malibu Boat
The 1999 Malibu boat takes the opposite approach. It's a fiberglass hull with a single inboard/outboard layout, gas fuel, a listed capacity of 11 to 20 gallons, and a fresh-water use history. It's the lower-priced way into this comparison, but the trade-off is spelled out: the seller is keeping the motor for a pickup and is selling water-cooled headers and other motor parts. That makes this a repower or project boat rather than a turnkey cruiser. If you have a suitable engine waiting, or enjoy sourcing parts, this Malibu leaves a substantial amount of budget left for motor work. If you need something that runs immediately, the power situation means you'll need to plan for that cost.
Final Choice by Use Case
Choose the 1985 Double Haul Sunrunner Boat if your priority is a complete package: you can head to the ramp with everything you need and focus on the boat rather than the extras. Choose the 1999 Malibu Boat if you already have an engine or want a hands-on repower project and you're willing to invest time and money after the purchase. For a first-time buyer who wants fewer moving parts, the Sunrunner is the more turnkey pick; for a seasoned boater with a motor waiting, the Malibu is the lower-stakes project.
