Boats...OMG!

[Chocaholic]

When we moved from our lake house 4 years ago, I sold our pontoon and our ski boat. Well, we’re moving back in the spring and now I’m regretting having sold them. The prices have absolutely gone insane.

A basic 22 ft pontoon boat with a 115 is now $40k+. Want a tritoon? How about $60k+! We’re talking about a board with some seats and a motor screwed to it. I’m guessing profit margin must be 80% or more. Used aren’t a whole lot cheaper.

Ski boats are worse. Just ranting. We're going to the boat show in a couple of weeks and I’m hoping the ether of beautiful boats and sky high prices aren’t overwhelming. Ya know, you look at a few Mastercrafts at $140k and all of a sudden, that Chaparral at $70k doesn’t seem so bad.

Will go back a few more years and hopefully find something reliable and in decent shape for working-stiff money. Rant over.

[kach22i]

Build your own.

Sailing Catamarans - Skoota Power Cats Introduction (includes study pack)

Not everyone can build complex shapes, but everyone can build in flat panels.

Be known on the lake as the guy that built his own boat - a living God.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

...

A basic 22 ft pontoon boat with a 115 is now $40k+. Want a tritoon? How about $60k+! We’re talking about a board with some seats and a motor screwed to it. ...

....but how much does a new 115 cost these daze? I sold my bass boat last year (150 hp) that I owned for 27 years ...purchased 1yr old, kept inside. Guy got a bargain on a fantastic old boat....which are a dime-a-dozen....gotta be...keep looking in an expanded area. Another buddy "gave" away a 30' older sailboat in great shape too last year....good luck!

[tevake]

I love the performance and fuel efficiency of power cats. But they command even higher prices than their monohull counterparts, buy quite a margin.

Cheers Richard

[JeremyD]

Look at a center console blue water boat - they are crazy too...

[VincentVega]

x2

I've been casually looking for a solid ~21' CC, some crazy prices. Forget the nice electronics, a nice hull and reasonable engine, I thought it would be simple. wrong again.

[ckelly78z]

With $100 a horsepower plus, the motor is by far the expensive part of a boat. Find a newer boat with no motor, and then mount a 10-15 year old outboard on it.

There are plenty of nice 10 year old boats that have already had the depreciation taken off by the original owners, and are now just wanting that boat out of their driveway. It may need some new carpet, or bimini top, but well worth the cheaper buying price.

[berettafan]

boat prices are just stupid any more. mfr claim oil prices are the problem. that math doesn't work. bottom line is boating is a sleazy industry.

I'm a saltwater boater and while CC's have gone nuts to the point where a new boat makes no sense I really can't believe the freshwater boat prices.

I bought a 23' Parker CC around 2007 and sold it a year or so ago for pretty much what I paid for it. wasn't even a 4 stroke motor!

IMO buy a good brand used and your total cost of ownership will be less.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

With $100 a horsepower plus, the motor is by far the expensive part of a boat. Find a newer boat with no motor, and then mount a 10-15 year old outboard on it.

There are plenty of nice 10 year old boats that have already had the depreciation taken off by the original owners, and are now just wanting that boat out of their driveway. It may need some new carpet, or bimini top, but well worth the cheaper buying price.

I would do the reverse. quality older hull with newer OB.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I can't think of another product that depreciates faster than a boat or RV. Unless I had stupid money I would never buy a brand new boat. Find something 3-4 years old that was kept inside, well maintained, and has low hours. It's like buying a new boat for 1/2 price.

I have a 2004 23' Monterey bowrider that is sold to my neighbors pending me finding something else. I want to make one final upgrade to a 25-26' and be done. I'm hoping to find a nice older Formula 260BR or Cobalt 262 but they are scarce.

[aigel]

Just wait for the next downturn. The boat payment is the first thing people will want off their back.

Boat payment ...

G

[HardDrive]

My dads hull survived the hurricane down in the keys, but his motor was a write off. New Suzuki 175 getting installed this week along with 100% new wiring. There goes $20k of my inheritance.....

[jrj3rd]

Originally Posted by berettafan

boat prices are just stupid any more. mfr claim oil prices are the problem. that math doesn't work. bottom line is boating is a sleazy industry.

I'm a saltwater boater and while CC's have gone nuts to the point where a new boat makes no sense I really can't believe the freshwater boat prices.

I bought a 23' Parker CC around 2007 and sold it a year or so ago for pretty much what I paid for it. wasn't even a 4 stroke motor!

IMO buy a good brand used and your total cost of ownership will be less.

This is the key. Buy good quality/name brands, take care of it and it will hold its value. Bought a used CC and its value has never dropped below what I paid for it. Boating is a hole to throw money in, but you can work it so the hole is smaller.

Why do boats sell for silly money..See Bob's photo. Everyone thinks that what happens when you buy a boat. In the Chesapeake those views are few and far between.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by jrj3rd

This is the key. Buy good quality/name brands, take care of it and it will hold its value. Bought a used CC and its value has never dropped below what I paid for it. Boating is a hole to throw money in, but you can work it so the hole is smaller.

Why do boats sell for silly money..See Bob's photo. Everyone thinks that what happens when you buy a boat. In the Chesapeake those views are few and far between.

On the flip side, here in Florida you can get that view wtih a canoe or just a floating raft... hell there is a bikini beach zone on UF's campus and the nearest ocean is 60 miles away!

[VincentVega]

Good stuff. Its a little tough for newbs like me. I know sailboats, when it comes to stinkpots... too many options! Then, so many names are similar its pretty confusing. I like the idea of going to lunch or down to st michaels for the day. Now its a weekend trip.

[JeremyD]

Actually have a Key West 216 Bay Reef that I could get what I paid for it 5 years ago... - so not much depreciation there...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Owning a boat is like owning a Porsche. Do your own work, and it's pretty cheap. Pay somebody else to do it, get ready to bend over frequently. These things aren't rocket science, it's a pushrod GM V8 mounted to a glorified u-joint. My first boat I owned for two years and made $3k when I sold because it was clean and well maintained, my second boat will be similar except that I've owned it three years.

[Sebscst]

Buy a yellowfin, put down a $50k deposit for a new one when you pick it up, sell it when you’re new one is ready for $50k more than you bought it for, do this 4 times and you get a paid for boat in 6 years. These boats are as crazy as the Porsche market. I miss my 34.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Red one? Is there a boat in that picture?

Right below the silicon life preservers.

[Eric Coffey]

EDIT: ^^^^beat me to the punch (no boats in that pic, only 4 aftermarket floatation devices).