I bought a 2000 F250 7.3 two years ago with 94K on her. I paid her off this spring and now have a boat for the first time in my life. Not a new one (the boat is a 2003) with 150 VMAX Yamaha. I took it into the shop to have the impeller changed, lower end serviced, compression checked, etc. My wife asked me the 2nd time we went fishing in it, "Remind me why I didn't want you to have a boat before now!"
My boat is not perfect, but it is the apple of my eye!

There are a lot of people who can afford a new truck and boat. Just don't get caught up in it if you can't. The boat is nice but then you will want the next big thing. Wait till you go tag that thing! My new boat/motor tag usually runs close to $2k. Don't even get me started on electronics, rods, tackle, BFL's, insurance..... and the constant little nagging repairs.

This topic comes up about once a month... Don't worry about what everyone else has and what they can or cannot afford. Live within your means & be thankful. These shiny things will eventually rot and wither.

I am a Millionaire. I do not fish tournaments.I fish out of a 94 Champion anytime or anywhere I want. Buy what you like and can afford. DO NOT BURY YOURSELF IN DEBT.

I went fishing last weekend with a good friend who has an old Tracker boat and we caught plenty of fish.

But like MANY others have said I am with you. I couldn't imagine taking on a $600/mo boat payment with my income. That's why I got a kayak!

I bought a new boat once. I had hell with the motor off and on throughout the 6 years I had it. Looking back I could have and should have gotten a bad arse used boat for less than what I paid for that new one

I alter back and fourth. I had a '95 Silverado that I paid off 10 years ago, saved enough money and paid cash for my '94 Javelin. Traded my truck in 5 years ago on my used Tundra, have a year to go. Once that is paid off I will get a bigger boat (only complaint about my 17'6" Javelin is not enough room for stuff). This is all while paying child support, ended last year but now I have two kids in college.

Many years ago, I sold my big (to me) Hydrasport and bought a Bass Buster. I've never regretted it. With the money saved by not buying new boats, motors, trailers, etc, my wife and I have enjoyed taking more than 60 international vacations and cruises. Do I ever miss my bigger, faster rig? Sure I do, but I also still consistently catch more and bigger fish from the little 'boat.' Each to his own.

In 2001 I bought a 95 pro craft 21' with a 200 xri merc. The original owner put it on Texoma twice. It had 12 hours on it. He stored it with a cover on it. The boat was literally brand new. I paid $15,500 for it. I just sold it 3 years ago. The only thing it was ever in the shop for was to remove the oil injection system. It was a 65 mph boat and road like a caddy. I sold it to one of my best friends who enjoys it almost every weekend. I sold it to buy a 4 year old voyager super fish pontoon boat with a 115 4 stroke Honda. This boat had not been ran in two years and had 40 hours on it. I paid $18 for this boat. New it was a $30000 boat. It's reliable and never been in the shop.

Just helping make the point you can buy very very nice boats used and save plenty of money. I just can't see buying new with today's new boat prices.

I sacrificed and saved until I had enough cash to buy the best boat I could. My first boat was $6000.00. Then I saved some more and sold that boat and paid cash fort he next one.. and then saved some more and sold that boat and paid cash for the next one. I did that 5 times and finally I ended up in a 2014 21' that's paid for.

The problem is everyone wants what they want and they want it now. Most don't have the patience or discipline to save.

It's common knowledge that financing a brand new bass boat for 12 years is a horrible decision. If you can afford a $600/mo payment that included interest then you can save $7200/yr. In 3 years... $20k bass boat paid for. Problem is folks don't wanna wait.

And then rationalize the mistake.

I'm no better than anyone else though, I've financed some stoopid sh!t in my life but I learned from the mistake. Aint nothing worse then owing money on something you don't like but you owe more than it's worth. Stuck with it. Or roll the inequity into the next one only to kick the can down the road a few years...with interest.

I'm a slightly different case than everyone else in that my first boat is/was my dad's. It isn't new but was still in good shape when I got it. I put $3k of my own money into fixing it back up along with sweat and effort sanding and polishing the gelcoat back to new.
At 18.5' with a 150 it isn't big and there are times I wish I had a bigger boat. But I'm not paying a dang thing for it. Once my truck is paid off or sold and my suburban is paid off I keep threatening to go and buy a new boat. In reality I probably won't. IF I do, it will be a well taken care of used boat. But I fall more in love with the boat every trip out and I think of all the money I save, helps me pay for those custom painted lures from Brad Shuflin!
Plus I can use the money I'm saving to buy the thing my family really wants which is a travel trailer. Point being said, I would buy a good used one for cash or short term loan. Don't need a big one or expensive one. If you can do the work on it then it helps even more. I'll still tourney fish out of mine starting next year. I ain't afraid of a bigger boat!

Same here

No offense meant: but why are you asking how others afford the price of new boats? Buy what you want AND can afford. "Keeping up with the Jones" is a mistake in general, twice as much a mistake for recreational purchases! It gets laughed and ridiculed here when I mention it but I personally think it's foolish to borrow long term(or at all) for recreational purchases. They are not necessary items like a house or transportation. Heck, people finance their television sets! Just my opinion but save and buy fun things when you can pay for them, not sign for them. Bet you will like that 10 year old boat a lot more if you are not 10 years into the payments...with more to go. :-)

Some of you would died from laughter if you could have seen some of the old sh*t boxes I used to own when I was in my early 20's. We would fish 1 hour and work on them 5 hours. Finally things started to improve and I bought a new Skeeter. Start slow.

I've spent the last few years chasing whitetail and Mule deer all over New Mexico and Texas. I thought that was an expensive hobby, but it doesn't hold a candle to bass fishing.
I had a real nice 60 hr 5 yr old Ranger picked out when I bought my boat last year, but ended up instead buying a new Skeeter with the 250 SHO. You guys know what I paid. I'm 69 yrs old and am in a position to afford it. However, in a few years went my health slips, I'll sell it. I am anal about taking care of my boat. Just taking care of it has given me more to do to stay active.
I've got to say, while your health is good, enjoy life and buy what you can afford within reason. Take care of your family first, then get your boat. So many young guys get more than they can afford and put it on a long term note. That's insane.