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
Not checked against public records
Boats are the Coast Guard’s, not NHTSA’s. It publishes a Cases and Campaigns file, but its model and year fields are free text and the recent entries are mostly hull-ID and capacity-label paperwork, so we have not been able to join it to a specific boat honestly yet. 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. How we decide that.
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
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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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