Is everyone in here that wealthy or that much in debt? haha. Bass boat prices are crazy high. I know I have wanted one for a while, and even a used one is expensive. So how do you afford them on an average salary. I'm a teacher here so obviously my finds are limited haha. Are the payment periods longer and cheaper? Just curious here.

I have never bought a new one if you look there is always a deal on one somewhere. A friend of mine just ordered a new one and I think it is on a 15 year note.

I know a some people buy used and work their way up by trading in the used ones.

yeah I figured the notes could be put out pretty far. I think used is the way to go if you can find a good one that isn't priced so high still.

This has been my method. Bought one for 4000 (financed, I know, I suck), and sold it two years later for 4000. Put that money down on one that was 17000. Will finish paying it off and put it down on one for about 30k.

Don't buy new... that boat on a 15 year note would end up costing DOUBLE the sticker price by the time its paid off. You can find quality used boats in just about any price range.

I fished with buddies for 4 years while I saved enough to buy what I needed. I paid cash for the boat in my sig for 23k from a TFF"er. That was 4 years ago. I personally do not need a new boat. These cat's will last a lifetime.

I don't. Bought a inboard fish and ski. work my way up from there.

It cost some money to fish, no doubt about it.

Start with what you can afford... any boat is better than no boat at all.

Work hard, save your money and pay cash for what you can afford, pre-owned. Take care of that one and trade up after saving and earning more. You should never finance a toy and, since I'd imagine you won't be making a living with your boat, it's a toy.

Buy a used solid boat, take care of it and in a few sell it/ trade up. You do this couple times and in a decade you in a couple years old rig that will last another decade+

lots of good used boats out there. Some priced right, all depends on what you want.

Yup. Mine is paid off and I can afford to upgrade add-on toys once a year.

Last year was an 1199 plus a 360 and this year was an Ultrex.

I was buying new or relatively new boats every couple of years and carrying notes. A couple of years ago, I sold my 21i Skeeter and used the money to partially fund a duplex. The duplex makes 3X what my monthly payment is so I now have enough cash flow to go get anything I want. I like have the money instead so I down-graded to a 2004 Ranger that I paid cash for (and still have the duplex money coming in at a rate I will have the property paid off in 5 years). I have found I like having cash flow more than I like having brand new boats.

I can't justify to my kids that I am spending money on a boat so that they will have to foot their entire bill for college. But everyone else can do what he/she wants.