Best Monterey Boat Models (Ranked) in 2027

1. Monterey 258SS Super Sport

It ranks first because it scores well across all five criteria at once: build, ride, layout, power options, and resale. The hull runs roughly 25 feet 8 inches on an 8-foot-6 beam with about 21 degrees of transom deadrise, which keeps it dry and planted when a bay turns choppy after 2 p.m. A single MerCruiser 6.2L at 300 to 350 horsepower delivers mid-50s top end and effortless high-30s cruising.

This fits a group entertainer on a large lake or coastal bay who owns a real tow vehicle and can spend $95,000 to $135,000 on a 2018 to 2023 example. You trade away deck square footage against the 224FS below, plus sterndrive maintenance and a trailer footprint that rules out most garages. The cockpit converts from lounge to tow platform without disassembly, and the extended swim platform is worth the option money.

2. Monterey 224FS Deck Boat

Second place is a value verdict: it delivers roughly 30% more usable deck area than a same-length bowrider at a third of the 258SS price. About 24 feet on an 8-foot-6 beam, the near-vertical bow converts length into seating rather than hull shape. A MerCruiser 5.0L or 5.7L at 260 to 300 horsepower reaches the mid-40s while sipping fuel at cruise. Clean 2008 to 2014 boats trade $22,000 to $34,000.

Buy this if you boat a protected lake under 800 acres and want maximum space for eight people and a cooler. The flat hull pounds in two-foot chop, which is exactly what the 258SS above buys you out of, and deck boats depreciate faster industry-wide. Inspect the cockpit sole and stringers for soft spots — clogged drains trap water and moisture intrusion is the expensive failure.

3. Monterey 298SS Super Sport

Third because it delivers yacht-like day capability without stepping into a full cruiser. Nearly 30 feet on a 9-foot beam, it seats well over a dozen and puts a cabin-quality enclosed head under the console. Power is either twin MerCruiser 6.2L sterndrives or a single big block, with top speed landing in the mid-to-high 50s. Used pricing runs $120,000 to $185,000, twin-engine boats carrying a premium for handling and redundancy.

This suits open-water groups too large for the 258SS who already have dry-stack or slip storage arranged. What you give up is trailerability entirely, plus fuel burn and dual-outdrive service that should be budgeted honestly rather than discovered. Against the 258SS it buys composure and headcount; against a 268SC it buys speed and deck space but no berth and no overnight capability whatsoever.

4. Monterey 268SC Sport Cruiser

Fourth because it makes weekend overnighting realistic rather than aspirational at a dayboat-adjacent price. The 27-foot sport cruiser carries a V-berth, a galley with a sink, and an enclosed marine head with a holding tank. The deep-V tracks well at cruise behind a single MerCruiser 350 MAG at roughly 300 horsepower, comfortable in the 30s. Clean 2005 to 2012 boats trade $28,000 to $45,000.

The buyer is a couple with a slip and a budget under $45,000 who wants occasional nights aboard. You trade away the deck space and speed of the 298SS above, and you inherit cruiser systems: canvas, shore power, and the transom assembly are the age-driven cost centers to inspect closely. A survey is mandatory at this size and age, not optional economizing.

5. Monterey 218SS Super Sport

Fifth on the strength of one number that never appears on a spec sheet: storage cost of zero. At roughly 21 feet 8 inches on an 8-foot-3 beam, seating about 10, it tows behind most midsize SUVs and half-ton pickups and fits a deep garage. A MerCruiser 4.5L at 250 horsepower is standard, with a 6.2L upgrade reaching the high 40s. Used 2016 to 2022 boats run $38,000 to $58,000.

This is the pick for someone who wants a modern Monterey kept at home and launched themselves, sidestepping slip fees that commonly run $100 to $250 per foot per season. Against the 258SS you lose deadrise, capacity, and chop composure; against the 224FS you gain a drier ride but lose deck area. Buy it with a matching road-worthy trailer, never separately afterward.

6. Monterey 320 Sport Yacht

Sixth because the purchase price is genuinely misleading. The 32-footer sleeps four with a separate head compartment, galley, and mid-cabin berth, and 2007 to 2013 examples sell for $45,000 to $78,000 — a fraction of original MSRP. Twin MerCruiser 350 MAG or 8.1L sterndrives give a high-30s top end and a relaxed upper-20s cruise. A survey runs $800 to $1,000 at $20 to $30 per foot.

This works only for a weekend liveaboard buyer with a slip and a real maintenance budget. Twin engines, gen-set, and air conditioning all demand upkeep, and slip fees priced per foot scale brutally at 32 feet. Twin 8.1Ls at a 25-mph cruise is why so many clean 320s show low annual hours. The 268SC above delivers overnighting at a fraction of the recurring cost.

7. Monterey 278SS Super Sport

Seventh because it duplicates the 258SS mission at higher cost rather than adding a distinct capability. The 27-foot bowrider adds an enclosed head and handles two-to-three-foot chop with composure, finishing a step above the smaller Super Sports. Power is a MerCruiser 8.2L or twin 6.2L sterndrives with a mid-50s top end. Used examples run $85,000 to $135,000, overlapping the 258SS band almost entirely at equivalent condition.

The buyer is someone whose group outgrew the 258SS but does not need the 298SS's nine-foot beam and dual-outdrive service bill. You pay more for length and an enclosed head while the ride advantage over the 258SS is modest. Given overlapping asking prices, condition and documented service history should decide between the two far more than the model designation does.

8. Monterey 250CR Cruiser

Eighth because it delivers a real cabin at a dayboat price while showing its age everywhere else. The 25-foot express carries a V-berth, a small galley, and an enclosed head — porta-potti or holding tank depending on year. A single MerCruiser 5.7L or 350 MAG around 300 horsepower cruises in the upper 20s. Used pricing sits at $24,000 to $40,000, the cheapest genuine overnighter in the Monterey catalog.

This fits a couple whose slip is short or whose budget is tighter than the 268SC above demands. You accept tight quarters, dated styling, and aging systems: shore power, freshwater plumbing, holding tanks, and canvas are where the failures come from, not the hull. Confirm every system runs during the sea trial — an AC that "needs a charge" is an unknown-cost repair.

9. Monterey 204FS Deck Boat

Ninth as the honest entry point: deck-boat roominess in a light, easy-tow package at the lowest price in the lineup. About 20 feet 4 inches long, it launches behind a midsize SUV and stores in a garage. Low freeboard makes boarding from the water simple for kids and dogs. A MerCruiser 4.3L at 190 to 220 horsepower tops out high-30s to low-40s, and clean examples trade at $18,000 to $30,000.

This is a calm-water boat, described honestly — a protected inland lake under 800 acres, not a coastal bay. It ranks below the 224FS because four fewer feet costs real seating and lounge space, and the smaller 4.3L limits watersports pull. It is the fallback when the garage is too short for the 224FS, and it is a legitimate one at that price.

10. Monterey M22 Surf Boat

Tenth because the mission is narrow, not because the execution is weak. The 22-foot M-Series boat carries factory ballast, a tower, and a surf-shaped hull, powered by a MerCruiser 6.2L paired with the Bravo Three dual-prop outdrive for the low-speed grunt surf boats need. Used pricing runs $60,000 to $90,000 — a real premium over the 218SS at similar length and comparable to a well-optioned bowrider.

Buy it only if wakesurfing is the primary activity, and do not compromise: a bowrider with a ballast bag added is not the same boat. Dedicated surf builders offer more sophisticated wake-shaping and deeper aftermarket support; Monterey's counter is finish quality and versatility at a lower entry price. Every other model on this list does day-boating better for the money.

How we ranked these

Five weighted criteria were scored identically across every hull: build quality (lamination schedule, hardware grade, gelcoat durability), ride and dryness measured by transom deadrise and bow flare in real chop, layout versatility including convertible seating and honest storage volume, engine option breadth with real service cost, and resale strength. Used-market pricing was pulled from recent 2018-2023 and 8-to-15-year-old listing bands, with trailer inclusion and tower options treated as price variables rather than noise.

Deliberately ignored: top speed as a ranking input, since a mid-50s bowrider and a high-40s deck boat are indistinguishable in actual weekend use. Also ignored were length-based comparisons, because a 224FS and a 250CR sit within a foot of each other and share almost nothing. Original MSRP was excluded too — depreciation already flattened it, and paying attention to sticker produces the wrong boat cheaply.

What to look for

Water conditions decide the boat before budget does. A protected lake under 800 acres rarely builds more than a one-foot chop, so the 224FS or 204FS wins outright on usable deck area. A large lake, bay, or intracoastal run means routine two-to-three-foot wind chop, and only the deep-V hulls — the 258SS at roughly 21 degrees of transom deadrise, or the 278SS and 298SS — stay comfortable.

Storage format is the second fork, because slip fees scale per foot.

The common mistake is ranking by sticker price and skipping the survey on smaller boats. Stringer moisture and transom rot turn a $28,000 hull into a $12,000 hull with a $16,000 repair bill, and neither is visible on a walkthrough. Second mistake: ignoring the outdrive. Milky or coffee-colored outdrive oil means water intrusion and a rebuild conversation — a five-minute check that reshapes the negotiation entirely.

Related questions

Is the 258SS worth the premium over the 224FS?

Only if your water justifies it. The 258SS carries roughly 21 degrees of transom deadrise and stays dry when afternoon wind builds chop, while the 224FS pounds in a two-foot slop. On a small protected lake the deck boat delivers about 30% more usable deck area at the same length for roughly a third of the price. Buy the deadrise only if you actually need it.

Why do Monterey deck boats depreciate faster than the bowriders?

Deck boats depreciate faster across the entire industry, not just at Monterey — the segment simply has a shorter demand tail on the used market. That is not a knock on the 224FS; it is precisely why it is the value pick. You are buying somebody else's depreciation rather than absorbing it yourself. The 258SS, by contrast, holds value well enough that clean used examples approach thin new-market pricing.

What does a marine survey actually cost on these boats?

Roughly $20 to $30 per foot in most markets. That puts a 24-footer around $500 to $700 and the 320 Sport Yacht closer to $800 to $1,000. Surveys are mandatory on any cruiser over 25 feet and strongly advised on anything past ten years old regardless of size. Scheduling typically adds one to three weeks, longest in spring when surveyor calendars fill.

Which Monterey models can a half-ton truck realistically tow?

Anything up to about 22 feet — the 218SS at roughly 21 feet 8 inches and the 204FS at 20 feet 4 inches — trailers behind a competent midsize SUV or half-ton and fits a deep garage. The 224FS and 258SS need a real tow vehicle plus outdoor or covered storage. From the 268SC up you are effectively a slip or dry-stack owner, and the 320 is a slip boat, full stop.

How much does the 320 Sport Yacht really cost to own?

The $45,000 to $78,000 purchase price is the misleading part. Twin MerCruiser 350 MAG or 8.1L sterndrives at a 25-mph cruise burn seriously, and gen-set plus air conditioning add their own upkeep. Slip fees in mid-cost markets run $100 to $250 per foot per season. That is why so many clean 320s show low annual hours — owners price a summer of fuel and use them less.

Should I shop in spring or wait until fall?

Wait if your timeline allows. Listing activity and asking prices peak in spring, and the same boat is measurably softer in late fall in cold-weather markets. Surveyor calendars are also longest in spring, stretching the survey and sea-trial window. Budget four to twelve weeks from serious search to closing, plus another one to three weeks for registration, insurance binding, and any survey-driven repairs.

Does chartering the boat change which model I should buy?

Substantially. Peer-to-peer rental platforms have made partial-offset ownership common, and if that is the plan, capacity, novice-friendly operation, and durable interior surfaces outrank top speed and ride refinement. That pushes the 224FS and 258SS up the list and drops the 320 down. It also changes your insurance conversation — a standard recreational policy typically will not cover commercial use at all.

Is the M22 worth it if I only surf occasionally?

Probably not. At $60,000 to $90,000 used it is a narrow mission executed well — ballast, tower, surf-shaped hull, and a MerCruiser 6.2L with the Bravo Three dual-prop outdrive for low-speed grunt. If wakesurfing is a few weekends a year rather than the point of ownership, the 258SS converts from lounge to tow platform without disassembly and does everything else better.

FAQ

What is the single best Monterey model overall?

The 258SS Super Sport. At roughly 25 feet 8 inches on an 8-foot-6 beam with about 21 degrees of transom deadrise, it scores well across all five ranking criteria for the broadest set of use cases. Typical power is a single MerCruiser 6.2L at 300 to 350 horsepower, good for a mid-50s top end. Recent 2018-2023 examples trade roughly $95,000 to $135,000.

Which Monterey gives the most boat for the money?

The 224FS deck boat. About 24 feet on an 8-foot-6 beam, its near-vertical bow and full-width deck create seating a same-length bowrider cannot match. A MerCruiser 5.0L or 5.7L at 260 to 300 horsepower pushes it into the mid-40s. Clean 2008 to 2014 examples sell for roughly $22,000 to $34,000 — the cheapest entry into a well-built Monterey with real space.

How does Monterey compare to Sea Ray or Chaparral?

Monterey Boats, built in Williston, Florida, uses hand-laid fiberglass construction with finish quality that reads close to Sea Ray or Chaparral, sold at a price a tier below. That positioning is why a ranked list is worth writing at all. You are ranking value curves — where a specific model-year and layout combination delivers disproportionately more boat than the depreciation schedule suggests you paid for.

What should I inspect first on an older 224FS?

The cockpit sole and stringers, checking for soft spots. A flat deck traps water when drains clog, and moisture intrusion is the most expensive failure mode on any older fiberglass boat. Tap-testing the sole and transom is a reasonable screen, but a moisture meter in trained hands is what actually finds it. Stringer moisture and transom rot are both invisible to a walkthrough.

Are engine hours or service records more important?

Records, clearly. A 300-hour engine with no service history is a worse bet than a 600-hour engine with a documented annual log — marine gas engines fail from neglect and sitting far more often than from use. The target is a gas sterndrive under 500 documented hours with annual service. Request a compression test on anything over 400 hours before traveling to see the boat.

Which Monterey works for weekend overnighting on a budget?

The 268SC. A 27-foot sport cruiser with a V-berth, a galley with a sink, and an enclosed marine head with holding tank, it makes weekend trips realistic for a couple rather than aspirational. Usually a single MerCruiser 350 MAG around 300 horsepower cruising comfortably in the 30s. Clean 2005 to 2012 boats trade $28,000 to $45,000. Inspect canvas, shore power, and transom assembly closely.

What does annual sterndrive maintenance actually run?

Oil, filters, impeller, outdrive lube, and a bellows inspection is a predictable few hundred dollars annually if you do it — and a multi-thousand-dollar failure if you skip it. Bellows are the classic deferred-maintenance trap: a $200 part whose failure sinks boats. Outdrive rebuild territory starts in the low thousands per drive. Canvas and upholstery on an older cruiser commonly runs $3,000 to $8,000.

Why buy an 8-to-15-year-old boat instead of new?

New boats take their sharpest depreciation hit in the first three years. By years eight through fifteen the curve has flattened and you are paying closer to utility value than to newness — which is exactly where the value picks in this ranking cluster. The trade-off is that survey discipline becomes non-negotiable, since the same age band is where stringer moisture and transom rot start appearing.

Is the 218SS a better buy than the 204FS?

They answer different questions. The 218SS runs about 21 feet 8 inches on an 8-foot-3 beam, seats roughly 10, and takes a MerCruiser 4.5L at 250 horsepower or a 6.2L upgrade reaching the high 40s, at $38,000 to $58,000 for 2016-2022 boats. The 204FS is the calm-water entry point — deck-boat roominess, low freeboard for easy boarding, $18,000 to $30,000.

Should I buy the trailer with the boat?

Yes, when one is available. A matching, road-worthy trailer adds real value, and buying one separately afterward costs more than the price bump on the original transaction. It also determines whether you can haul for service instead of paying for in-water work. On trailerable models like the 218SS and 204FS, home storage converts your recurring storage cost to effectively zero.

Sources

• https://www.montereyboats.com/
• https://www.boattest.com/boat-brand/monterey
• https://www.nadaguides.com/Boats
• https://www.boats.com/reviews/monterey-boats/
• https://www.discoverboating.com/buying/boat-types
• https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2018/june/boat-buying-tips
• https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/engines/sterndrive/
• https://www.marinesurvey.org/
• https://www.yachtworld.com/boats-for-sale/make-monterey/
• https://www.boatingmag.com/boat-reviews/

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