Not to be a Debbie Downer, but the sooner you retire, the sooner you die.

My oldest patients are the ones who work (for money or pleasure) well into their twilight years.

There know way it cost that much to make a boat even 90% is motor and you know it dont cost 30k 20k to built a motor and no telling how much the dealer mark up is.Ive been waiting for consumer reports to do something on boat like the do cars and trucks

I would like to know true cost as well, I don`t think we ever will, but would be very interested to see the profit made on a 50-60k boat. That being said, I will buy a new boat before I die, just because I have always wanted a nice new boat.

I do know from working for a big marine dealer for several years that they don't make the markup you would think. The manufacturers are the one's making the money. Back before the package boats started being the only way to buy a boat the dealers bought all of the componets seperatly and rigged the boats. I think when that started going away and the manufactures were controlling basically all of the cost is when the prices started going up. When I worked for the dealer he made anywhere from 105 to 17% on a boat rig and that was before floorplan cost. But we sold a ton of boats back then.

Yeah, boat prices are pretty bad. I want new boat but I try to avoid financing anything, especially a toy. I know the deals are better on used boats but I prefer to buy new and keep it. Plus the deals on used, late model boats are getting worse and worse because the prices of new ones are keeping the used ones high too.

Back when I was in college I drempt about getting a new Ranger and decided when I got out of school and had the money I'd buy it. I have the money (plus putting away retirement, no debt besides my house, etc) but I don't know if I can stand to write the check. I can do alot of other stuff with 40 grand. I can't wrap my head around spending that much or more on a toy that will be worth half in 4 years. I'm trying to retrain my boat wants to better fit my needs.

I've always done the same thing with cars. I've never needed a loaded 4x4 1 ton dually but it'd be nice to have. Like everyone said, a beat up 15 year old boat or 17ft aluminum catches fish too. I really don't need a 21 footer but even if you go above 18ft your talking $35000 minimum. Just trying to find the sweet spot of what I'll pay versus what I want versus what I need. And the honest truth is I don't much if anything.

I do know that my wife is sick of hearing about boats.

Man some of you guys need to think about what you are saying. You keep telling everyone they are a fool to buy new becuase its not worth it or it you will lose your shorts on it? Now if every body buys used there will be no 1-3 year steals out there? So everyone go sign that note for that new boat so i can by yours in 2 years at a price i can afford.

Some of you guys are assuming too much, if you can afford to buy a new boat and want a new boat then get a new boat. I bought my first boat in 1986, it was a Ranger Bass Master's Classic, I had a 3 year note on that boat, since then I have purchased 11 new boats, not one of them was financed for more than 18 months and the last 3 were paid for when I left the dealership. Hopefully the economy will get better and more folks will be able to buy new boats so other folks will be able to buy nice used boats. I do agree that boats are overpriced but what are we going to do about that, there are a lot of things that seem to be overpriced but we still buy them, how and the heck can a can of snuff cost more than 5 dollars ?

You sir are a wise grasshopper....


TFP

I agree, never buy a new boat unless your loaded and can afford it. A used boat is like a car when it leaves the showroom floor it loses close to $8,000. I'm about to purchase a new (used boat) and it might not be new but it looks and runs like new for half of what the boat cost. There are tons and tons of used boats loaded down with extras for great prices!

When I see these 19-20 year old kids in these 50,000 dollar rigs , i think how did they afford that and i think of two words---Thanks Dad!

My Skeeter Starfire 175 pay 2500 with repiars to it when I got it gets me on the water and runs 60+ with 150 and I can put gas in it with a little TLC every month I go fishing 2 to 3 times a month. Yes I lost some stroage that the new boat have but its payed for. I will get a newer boat but it will be a good used on. There is no way I'll pay 40,000+ for a boat my kids are worth more to me and they like fishing out of the boat we have now. They just have to take turns going.

It's what you can afford.

what if they fgured out how to produce a boat that created good demand for 25K? then you might sell more

There are boats in all different prices available. As for Boat dealers, in most cases they don't make enough money to stay in business off their new boat sales. It is their service department that pays the freight. That said, I believe that there is a business that could be fairly successful, and that is leasing, just like car leasing. Most young guys that want to run $50K+ boats could and would do it that way. I know there are so many good deals out there on 2-3 year old high quality Bass Boats at 30% less than new prices, that one is crazy to buy a new boat.

Never finance a rapidly depreciating asset. As you get older you realize how important this is. I learned it early and retired early and fish all I want. Your money will do a lot better in a 401K or IRA than in an asset you know will lose your money at a very very fast rate.

Also, the American dollar declines as we print more and more to pay for government programs. The price of oil will go up again - and soon. When this happens, that boat will become an expensive yard ornament.

Buy a good used boat and take the money you save and use it to buy fuel and go fishing....My $.02 worth anyway.