Larson 274 VS Monterey 250

bdkkennedy · 04-17-2005, 09:21 AM

Does anyone have any experience they would share whith either of these boats. I am buying one or the other but just cant make up my mind. I think the quality of the Montery is better but there is more bang for the buck, bells and whistles, with the Larson. I know people dont generally like to express opinions on the forum, but any help would be appreciated.

jrc · 04-18-2005, 10:09 AM

a guy in my condo complex bought a red Monterrey 248 last season. It's a gorgeous boat in that color. It really stands out. He got it at Shep Browns and seemed happy with the price and service.

codeman671 · 04-18-2005, 08:32 PM

You really can't go wrong either way. The Larson is probably a bit cheaper in price and probably a bit more mass-produced than the Monterey but by no means a bad boat or line. The Monterey is definitely what I think to be a higher end boat, a bit heavier and probably better in the rough stuff. I think that residual value is better with the Monterey. As far as dealers go you cannot go wrong with Gillan or Shep Browns. I went Monterey and am happy with the quality of the boat and the service/friendliness of Bill Littlefield Jr. and Bob McDermott. It is not all the time when the owner himself will sit down with you personally and talk things through with you in an unbiased manner giving the pluses and minuses of their boats and others. Most dealers just put down the other brands as I found with another dealer on the lake.

You might be able to get a good deal on a leftover Monterey at Sheps, they have a few. Ask for Bob!

Mee-n-Mac · 04-19-2005, 12:42 AM

We looked at a Monterey (same size, different design from the 2005's) and Larson (smaller size) some years ago. Superficially they appeared about equal in construction though the Monty was a bit more "polished" than the plainer Larson. For other reasons I didn't dig too deep to find out construction details (stringers, layup, gelcoating, bonding) though I suspect both are adequate for lake usage. How are you going to use your boat ? You'll find a big difference in cabin size between the 2. At <25' the Monty is too small for my tastes to be a live-aboard boat. Certainly OK for weekending for 2 people but I wouldn't summer in a marina in it. The Larson is better in this respect. Deck layouts are very similar btw the two, you'll have to decide on the details yourself. Look at the helm seat, does it flip up, have adequate range of motion up/down and fore/aft ? Is the throttle/shift positioned where you can easily use it ? Is the instrumentation complete and easy to see in the sun ? Does the windsheild frame block your view ? What things are optional and what's included in the price ? Do you get full canvas, bimini or camper canvas ? How about carpet, above and below deck ? Is the head large enough, can you sit and have knee room ? Does it have a porta potty or flush (pump or vacumm) toilet ? Do you have adequate ventilation in the cabin, what ports open and are they screened ? Sit around the table and see if the seating forward is adequate for adults or kids only ? Does this matter to you ? Lie down in the assembled V-berth, they're not all the same length. Check for storage above and below decks. Where are you going to put the dock lines, bumpers, PFDs, etc ? Are you going to use the galley ? Where will you store plates, glasses, pots&pans, cooking utensils, food ? Again so much depends on how you're going to use you boat it's hard to advise you. Given the weights and power options are similar, only a test drive will tell if the ride and time-to-plane are adequate (and stay adequate under full personnel loading). At 27' and a single outdrive the Larson is probably more difficult to handle around the dock in a wind.

We ended up with a small "pocket" cruiser, a Martinque 2400 (24') similar to the Monterey in size (though the Monty is more richly finished). Our final list got narrowed down to 2 as well, it and a Rinker FiestaVee 270. The Rinker was a lot bigger and gave a lot more room below decks. We liked the deck layout of the Martinque better and given our usage (not so much time below decks) went with that boat, YMMV.

robmac · 04-20-2005, 07:31 AM

I looked at both and found fit and finish on the monty to be much better,but the larson is still a good boat

Dave R · 04-20-2005, 02:49 PM

Wife and I had it narrowed down to those two brands last year too. Then we bought a used Regal in "cream puff" condition for a little over half the price of the new Monterey. Seems at least as well made and polished as the Monterey and has a stepped hull like the Larson so it's good on gas. No regrets... yet.

BroadHopper · 04-20-2005, 04:26 PM

Take a look at the Chaparal 255. It is loaded and Powerboat magazine gave it the thumbs up!

04-17-2005, 09:21 AM	#1
bdkkennedy Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Larson 274 VS Monterey 250 Does anyone have any experience they would share whith either of these boats. I am buying one or the other but just cant make up my mind. I think the quality of the Montery is better but there is more bang for the buck, bells and whistles, with the Larson. I know people dont generally like to express opinions on the forum, but any help would be appreciated.

04-18-2005, 10:09 AM	#2
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	I've never seen the Lason but... a guy in my condo complex bought a red Monterrey 248 last season. It's a gorgeous boat in that color. It really stands out. He got it at Shep Browns and seemed happy with the price and service.

04-19-2005, 12:42 AM	#4
Mee-n-Mac Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,943 Thanks: 23 Thanked 111 Times in 51 Posts	What are you using it for We looked at a Monterey (same size, different design from the 2005's) and Larson (smaller size) some years ago. Superficially they appeared about equal in construction though the Monty was a bit more "polished" than the plainer Larson. For other reasons I didn't dig too deep to find out construction details (stringers, layup, gelcoating, bonding) though I suspect both are adequate for lake usage. How are you going to use your boat ? You'll find a big difference in cabin size between the 2. At <25' the Monty is too small for my tastes to be a live-aboard boat. Certainly OK for weekending for 2 people but I wouldn't summer in a marina in it. The Larson is better in this respect. Deck layouts are very similar btw the two, you'll have to decide on the details yourself. Look at the helm seat, does it flip up, have adequate range of motion up/down and fore/aft ? Is the throttle/shift positioned where you can easily use it ? Is the instrumentation complete and easy to see in the sun ? Does the windsheild frame block your view ? What things are optional and what's included in the price ? Do you get full canvas, bimini or camper canvas ? How about carpet, above and below deck ? Is the head large enough, can you sit and have knee room ? Does it have a porta potty or flush (pump or vacumm) toilet ? Do you have adequate ventilation in the cabin, what ports open and are they screened ? Sit around the table and see if the seating forward is adequate for adults or kids only ? Does this matter to you ? Lie down in the assembled V-berth, they're not all the same length. Check for storage above and below decks. Where are you going to put the dock lines, bumpers, PFDs, etc ? Are you going to use the galley ? Where will you store plates, glasses, pots&pans, cooking utensils, food ? Again so much depends on how you're going to use you boat it's hard to advise you. Given the weights and power options are similar, only a test drive will tell if the ride and time-to-plane are adequate (and stay adequate under full personnel loading). At 27' and a single outdrive the Larson is probably more difficult to handle around the dock in a wind. We ended up with a small "pocket" cruiser, a Martinque 2400 (24') similar to the Monterey in size (though the Monty is more richly finished). Our final list got narrowed down to 2 as well, it and a Rinker FiestaVee 270. The Rinker was a lot bigger and gave a lot more room below decks. We liked the deck layout of the Martinque better and given our usage (not so much time below decks) went with that boat, YMMV. __________________ Mee'n'Mac "Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by simple stupidity or ignorance. The latter are a lot more common than the former." - RAH

04-20-2005, 04:26 PM	#7
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,570 Thanks: 3,205 Thanked 1,101 Times in 793 Posts	Chapparal 255 Take a look at the Chaparal 255. It is loaded and Powerboat magazine gave it the thumbs up! __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

04-18-2005, 08:32 PM	#3
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,486 Thanks: 221 Thanked 810 Times in 486 Posts	You really can't go wrong either way. The Larson is probably a bit cheaper in price and probably a bit more mass-produced than the Monterey but by no means a bad boat or line. The Monterey is definitely what I think to be a higher end boat, a bit heavier and probably better in the rough stuff. I think that residual value is better with the Monterey. As far as dealers go you cannot go wrong with Gillan or Shep Browns. I went Monterey and am happy with the quality of the boat and the service/friendliness of Bill Littlefield Jr. and Bob McDermott. It is not all the time when the owner himself will sit down with you personally and talk things through with you in an unbiased manner giving the pluses and minuses of their boats and others. Most dealers just put down the other brands as I found with another dealer on the lake. You might be able to get a good deal on a leftover Monterey at Sheps, they have a few. Ask for Bob!

04-20-2005, 07:31 AM	#5
robmac Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashua,Meredith Posts: 951 Thanks: 213 Thanked 106 Times in 81 Posts	I looked at both and found fit and finish on the monty to be much better,but the larson is still a good boat

04-20-2005, 02:49 PM	#6
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,984 Thanks: 246 Thanked 743 Times in 443 Posts	Wife and I had it narrowed down to those two brands last year too. Then we bought a used Regal in "cream puff" condition for a little over half the price of the new Monterey. Seems at least as well made and polished as the Monterey and has a stepped hull like the Larson so it's good on gas. No regrets... yet.