2020 Monterey 238 Super Sport — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $38,000–$55,000. There are 2 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
Monterey builds well-appointed recreational boats with good value and solid construction. The 238 Super Sport is a capable sport boat with MerCruiser stern drive power. Same stern drive maintenance requirements as other fiberglass boats: bellows, impeller, zincs.
What we checked
No public record to reconcile against
We don't yet have a public record to check this one against. Boats and personal watercraft are not in NHTSA’s database — that is the Coast Guard, which publishes recalls but no owner-complaint record. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.
Known Issues for the 2020 Monterey 238 Super Sport
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
Standard MerCruiser maintenance item — bellows must be inspected and replaced when cracking or stiff.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$700
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Raw water impeller replacement every 1-2 seasons prevents overheating.
Repair cost (estimate): $100-$300
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Bellows showing cracks or milky appearance
- ✗Any overheating history
- ✗No service records
Good Signs
- ✓Annual marine dealer service
- ✓Bellows inspected or replaced recently
- ✓Freshwater use with clean maintenance history
Found a specific Monterey 238 Super Sport?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2020 Monterey 238 Super Sport in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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