How Do you Guys Afford Your Boats? 2024
Gary William reply :
This is a completely serious question.
How do you guys afford your boats?
We are a family of 4. We live in a house that cost us about half of what we were approved for. We drive economy cars, and don't spend a lot on clothing, eating out, etc. I consider us well off. We earn about 130k combined per year. Kids are 6 and 8. We're in Canada so we're taxed more heavily than Americans, but don't pay for Medical care, etc.
We have a cottage on the ocean, but have not yet made the leap to boat ownership because no matter which way I look at it (new, used, repairs, maintenance, financing, storage, etc) ... boats seem WILDLY expensive to the point at which I wonder how anyone on a normal professional income makes it work.
Would love opinions/enlightenment on how it can be done while not going into big debt or forgoing retirement contributions, etc.
I should note that I am somewhat mechanically inclined, but for any serious maintenance or repairs, I would need to pay someone with experience.
Gary William reply :
I think the best advice I read since posting this is:
QuoteThe boat you can afford is the boat you can pay cash for.
slonezp reply :
Get rid of your kids and the money starts to flow like water
Gary William reply :
That doesn't help 90% of us.
I should have specified that the kids are non-negotiable. A big part of the pleasure we would get out of a boat is the time in it together, time working on it , maintaining it, etc.
slonezp reply :
So start out small. Not everybody needs a $50k or $100k boat. Are you looking for a fishing boat or a pleasure boat? Saltwater or freshwater? Buy gently used and hope for the best.
Gary William reply :
Thanks for the response.
The way I see it, buying used is the only option unless someone has exorbitant income.
It is salt water, and we literally could be happy with a tin box with an engine on back. I can find an abundance of boats (without engines) for extremely reasonable costs. Would it be best to buy a brand new engine though?
It's the engine cost / engine maintenance cost that scares me.
I need to build/demonstrate a low-cost scenario for my own peace of mind and for my Wife to even consider it.
Goldstar225 reply :
I can't speak for others but in my case, I bought the boat(s) I could afford while providing for my family. For many years it was a very used 14' jon boat with a 9.9 or 20 horse motor. In one I had $1000.00 invested and maybe $2000.00 in the other. eight years ago I made a major leap to a 22 year old tracker with a 70 horse for $2200.00 and felt I was in heaven.
They weren't fancy, flashy or fast but they put me on the water. As a retirement gift to myself this year I bought my first new boat, a tracker PT190 that will probably be my last boat.
I never let my inability to spend $30,000 - $80,000 on a boat deter me from getting on the water and fish. I have no envy or resentment of those who can and do spend that much and I'm proud for them if they can afford to do so. Each person has to make their own decision on their financial ability but don't let the high price tag of some boats keep you on the bank. Buy what you can afford and enjoy the outdoors.
JLBBass reply :
EVERY boat I have purchased, I paid cash.
riverbasser reply :
Not sure I will ever own a new bass boat. I've had several and all were paid in full. My current boat cost me $6000 it's an 18ft bass boat and I've spent probably another 1500 on it in the 3 years I've had it. Nothing major and that includes trailer matenance/tires.
No idea what the market is like in Canada but there are plenty of really nice used boats in the 6-12k range in my area.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Figure out your price range and stick to it. I've had everything from 12' johnboats to the bass boat I have now. I had a limit on what I could spend, then spent almost 2 years searching before I found one I wanted in that range.
Oregon Native reply :
Started with a jon boat...and have moved up. Present boat is 16 years old and in good shape. Never have owned a cottage or summer home. Would assume this would be a boat payment maybe!? Considering travel time and other expenses. But...it's all good....we chose what we care to do.
Jig Man reply :
I can tell you how a lot of guys have their boats. I used to be the sales manager at a boat dealership. Many customers could ill afford what they wanted. They would not even have the money to pay sales tax and wanted it financed in the deal. They also financed for as long as any bank would take them. Many of them would finance for 15 years at interest rates over 20%. What they did not understand was it took several years before the principal on the payment was larger than the interest. All they were interested in knowing was "How much is the payment?"
Choporoz reply :
On 12/5/2018 at 9:04 AM, Gary William said:This is a completely serious question.
How do you guys afford your cottage on the ocean?
We are a family of 2. We live in a house that cost us about half of what we were approved for. We drive economy cars, and don't spend a lot on clothing, eating out, etc. I consider us well off. We earn about 130k combined per year. Kids are out if the house.
I have not yet made the leap to waterfront.....
On 12/5/2018 at 7:14 PM, Oregon Native said:But...it's all good....we chose what we care to do.
slonezp reply :
On 12/5/2018 at 7:53 PM, Jig Man said:I can tell you how a lot of guys have their boats. I used to be the sales manager at a boat dealership. Many customers could ill afford what they wanted. They would not even have the money to pay sales tax and wanted it financed in the deal. They also financed for as long as any bank would take them. Many of them would finance for 15 years at interest rates over 20%. What they did not understand was it took several years before the principal on the payment was larger than the interest. All they were interested in knowing was "How much is the payment?"
and I though 4.9% was high when I financed mine.
Selling payments makes dealerships tons of cash. Selling vehicles doesn't.
ohboyitsrobby reply :
I afford my boat because I bought one I could afford with the cash I had put back. As long as you keep what you want and can afford realistic it shouldn't be that difficult.
12poundbass reply :
I had a 14' flat bottom for around 15 years that I bought when I was 19 and that's all I used because that's all I could pay cash for. This year I finally upgraded and got a bigger newer boat with electronics.
Stick with what you can afford. Paying cash is a good idea.
Catt reply :
On 12/5/2018 at 9:04 AM, Gary William said:Kids are 6 and 8
Having raised 6 kids & currently raising 2 grandkids it's a matter of priorities!
The priority aint that I love fishing but rather cheap entertainment for kids that teaches them a lot of life's lessons.
You can throw them to the world of cell phones & social media or introduce them to the outdoors.
Ya know what this boy wants for Christmas?
A new baitcaster or a metal detector ????
Way2slow reply :
I bought my first boat when I was 16 and a senior in high school. $1,427 for a new 14' with a 65hp Mercury. Back then I had plenty of money, working after school and bootlegging moonshine three nights a week. Since then, other than the five years I spent stationed in Italy while in the Air Force, I've never been without at least one outboard powered boat, right now I have five, counting my jons. However, since getting married, I've never owned another new boat but I've probably bought, used and sold more than 100. Wheeling and dealing in them, buying the cheap, fixing them up and selling them is how I managed to pay for them and my fishing. 22 years as an enlisted man in the military, with a wife and two kids dang sure didn't provide enough income for me to have one without some way to offset the expense. I also did the same thing with cars.
My current (main boat, I still have five) is a 20' 1999 model bass boat with a 225hp Evinrude. I bought it at auction in about 2006 for $5,000 and was about a $17,000 boat had not parts of the motor been laying in one of the storage boxes. I spent approximately $1,100 on repairing the motor. That was parts only, I did all the work. Since then, the only expense has been replacing the three batteries every few years and upgrading the electronics and TM and couple of times.
My being able to fix anything about one and not having to pay for repairs, other than parts, is a huge advantage to me being able to afford them, especially now that I'm fully retired and only have my little bit of retirement income.
So, having tons of experience being a boat owner on a modest income, first you have to evaluate your income versus monthly expenses. If you don't have approximately 25% more income than you have expenses and are not investing in some type of retirement fund, you probably don't need a boat right now. Boat's can come and go, retirement and the inability to work is going come, period.
The next thing to consider is just how much boat do you feel you need and your ability to do routine maintenance. If you are the type that can't screw in a light bulb and have to pay someone to do any sort of maintenance, then you need to greatly limit the size boat you get, because there is a whole lot of truth to the old saying "the bigger the boat, the bigger the hole it makes in the water to throw money in".
You mentioned storage, if you have to pay storage, that's another huge expense I don't pay, mine are all on my property, be at the lake, my sons or in my yard. Covered, indoor storage is almost a must if you want to keep a nice boat, nice for several years. My son pays about $125 a month storage on his boat, but he has one of those fancy indoor storage places at the coast he calls and his boat is sitting at the dock gassed up, checked out, ice in the coolers and ready to go when he gets there. He parks it at their dock when done with it and they clean it, flush it and put it away inside a huge building until next time. He even has it set up so the dealer gets it every six months and does the routine maintenance on it. That's all to high class and way above my budget, but he seems to think he needs to impress his clients when he invites them for a fishing trip, but he also has a guide he pays making making one of his "entertainment" trips. I guess it's nice to have money.
Another thing you have to remember, you mentioned salt water use, that's the most expensive type of boat ownership there is. Aluminum, carbon steel and salt water just flat don't mix and the required maintenance and expense goes way up. I usually try to avoid buying anything that has been used in salt water, and used saltwater motors are only worth a fraction of what a similar fresh water motor is. I consider 10 years the max life for saltwater motors and most of the time you can only get scrap yard price for one then. Even then, if one has to be worked on within a couple of years, repair cost is usually a lot more because of the extra time and parts needed to replace the broken and corroded parts taking it apart. You can run them longer, but be prepared for the maintenance cost associated with that. Also, about every three years, you can expect to spend close to a grand just on additional maintenance for things like a new water pump and other long wear items.
Then you have to remember operating expense. At $3.00 a gallon and many motors burning 15 to 20 gallons per hour, a fun day just running around or water skiing etc, gets pretty expensive. For outboards, the newer four strokes and high tech two strokes are almost a must to offset the cost of gasoline for a days trip to the lake, and those motors are expensive.
And the list goes on, so, how do I afford a boat. I buy a used boat that needs work, usually motor work, repair it myself, however, there a number of pitfalls to buying used if you don't have one professionally check out, that can make that cheaper used boat the most expensive boat you will ever own. I don't pay storage, I do all my own routine maintenance, and done got to old to care about just joy riding and I've quite chasing bass all over the lake.
OH! One other critical thing I forgot to mention, get a large boat, and you will need a truck to tow it, and he larger the boat, the larger the truck needed.
Steveo-1969 reply :
I always wondered how people could afford nice boats too and then I went to Kentucky Lake on vacation for the first time. It seemed every house we passed was a run-down-can't-believe-someone-lives-there trailer. In the yard filled with "planters made out of toilets" and old couches and washing machines and tires was a hooptie pickup truck.
And right out front was a brand-new shined up ready to rock 'em bass boat!
And then I understood. It's all about priorities...... 
Big Rick reply :
We all afford what we deem is most important. Or what we want the worst. I have 5 boys and 3 girls. The oldest moved out a year ago. I had to prioritize. Instead of vacation we bought a boat. We decreased the eating out and things of that nature and bought a boat. We determined a boat was worth some sacrifice. Now, it's paid for. Of course, God blessed me with an increased income that helped a ton, but I didn't have that raise when I bought the boat. Ultimately, my wife and I sat down and crunched the numbers to insure we would not put ourselves in financial straits. Then, I shopped and shopped until I found a good deal. I bought it in the off season. I also bought last years model, so to speak. I got a great deal and went for it. I have NOT regretted it a single day since.
If you have no savings, no emergency fund, then you DO NOT need to purchase anything that is not absolutely necessary. Once you've got a plan to defeat Murphey THEN you can move forward with the elective purchases. That's my outlook on finances. And, as always, you can look for some side jobs and such to build a savings for a nice downpayment or even cash a boat out. As many have said already, it's about priorities. Just how bad do you want it?
Logan S reply :
If you are financially responsible and really want to make it happen it's not terribly difficult. Just make a plan and execute it. Different ways of doing it, most notably cash -vs- finance...But at the end of the day it's just a math problem.
If you have a lot of other expenses, like an extra house, it will probably be more difficult. Most of my buddies with bass boats are very similar to me...Our boats and fishing are pretty much the only things we spend disposable income on.
ratman reply :
Why sit and wonder why you cant afford a boat when you own 2 homes.trade you my boat for your summer cottage.
NYWayfarer reply :
Take your current household budget and allocate some of your discretionary income towards saving for a boat. You can always squeeze some dollars out of the budget somewhere. Stop buying coffee out, use reusable K-cups, cut back on cable or sites that charge a monthly fee, etc) You might not be able to buy a boat tomorrow, next week or even next year but when you do you will be able to "afford" it.
Once you buy the boat you should keep allocating those funds into savings for boat expenses.
Caliyak reply :
On 12/5/2018 at 9:04 AM, Gary William said:This is a completely serious question.
How do you guys afford your boats?
We are a family of 4. We live in a house that cost us about half of what we were approved for. We drive economy cars, and don't spend a lot on clothing, eating out, etc. I consider us well off. We earn about 130k combined per year. Kids are 6 and 8. We're in Canada so we're taxed more heavily than Americans, but don't pay for Medical care, etc.
We have a cottage on the ocean, but have not yet made the leap to boat ownership because no matter which way I look at it (new, used, repairs, maintenance, financing, storage, etc) ... boats seem WILDLY expensive to the point at which I wonder how anyone on a normal professional income makes it work.
Would love opinions/enlightenment on how it can be done while not going into big debt or forgoing retirement contributions, etc.
I should note that I am somewhat mechanically inclined, but for any serious maintenance or repairs, I would need to pay someone with experience.
Buy a kayak and avoid the costs of a boat.
JustALineWetter reply :
On 12/6/2018 at 12:33 AM, Caliyak said:Buy a kayak and avoid the costs of a boat.
Or a canoe in case you want to take someone with you.
padon reply :
like some others have said ,buy what you can afford and make it work.i love to fish ,but I refuse to spend a fortune to do it. could I afford to spend 20k or more on a boat?yes but I couldn't live with mu conscience. so I bought a used 18 foot john with decks front and back and a 25 hp motor. cost me $3500. then I decked it out like I wanted added trolling motors and depth finder as I could afford them. its not a sexy boat or fancy but it gets me on the water and its reliable. I don't have the nicest boat at the ramp but I don't care I enjoy the hell out of fishing catch my share of fish and I can sleep at ight because I have money in the bank retirement plans and very little debt.
Tennessee Boy reply :
On 12/5/2018 at 9:04 AM, Gary William said:How do you guys afford your boats?
The answer to your question for the great majority of people is simple. They find their dream boat, they take out a loan and they regret the decision when they get to around age 55-60. If you don't worry about financial security in your old age you can afford a lot of nice things.
Ratherbfishing reply :
What KIND of boat are you talking about? There is a huge difference between a 16 foot aluminum jon boat and a 24 foot (or whatever) cabin cruiser. Do you want to float small bodies of water or do you want to take in out on the Ocean? Do you want to putt around at a leisurely speed with a little 2-stroke motor or set the water on fire with twin-250 horse outboards?
MY experience has been this: I purchased a 17.5 foot aluminum jon boat with a 25 horse motor. It's wide and it's pretty stable and as long as I don't put it on the great lakes and I keep an eye on the weather, it will keep me safe and reasonably dry. The motor is big enough to (usually) get me on plane and since I don't fish tourneys, it gets me where I want to go fast enough. It will fit 3 people reasonably comfortably and as long as we aren't trying to cast big musky baits with 8 foot rods, we can stay out of each others way. With the swing hitch, if I park it diagonally, it fits in my garage and I all I have to do is close the door after backing it in. I don't have to unload everything after a long day and all I really have to do (if I want it to last) is plug in the charger to the trolling motor battery. I paid 3 grand for it (with a few later add-ons such as a modest trolling motor and a Helix 7 fish finder) so I never really missed the money that much. I paid cash so there were no monthly payments to compete with other expenses. I've had to buy 2 replacement tires for the trailer and do some maintenance on the motor (to replace the impeller) but I replaced the lower unit oil myself and the spark plugs (two). I feel I'm blessed with this and am very happy with it.
Yumeya reply :
I fished the bank and rivers until I was 36 years old, my first boat was a 2001 fisher 14 avenger with a 25hp.
It worked fine and got me off the shoreline.
Once I got ahead a little I sold it and added that money to a 2014 tracker and have been very happy with it.
Its also paid for.
I would love to own a new Ranger but it just not gonna happen.
I say buy used and just make sure everything is nice and working properly, nothing is wrong with fishing
on smaller aluminum boat.
My first boat-
EGbassing reply :
You can get a really nice, big kayak with a motor for a couple thousand dollars. And the only maintenance would be for the motor.
DogBone_384 reply :
No boat here, even though I make a good living. I have a Feelfree Lure 11.5 w/Overdrive. It cost me soap and water to maintain.
NHBull reply :
I am a male prostitute and use fishing to launder the money. ????
......and I will likely be dead before I retire.
Tizi reply :
It is all about priorities. I also own a 2nd home (on a lake). Because of that, I have a 14 foot aluminum V-hull boat with electric motor. I can fit 3 people in it comfortably. The boat cost me $400 used and the electric motor and battery another $250. At some point, I will get a 10 HP outboard for it and open up my range. Of course I paid cash for these items, but if I wanted a bass boat for example, I would figure out a way to get that done. What I haven't heard, and I know people do it, is take equity out of their homes to purchase expensive boats. Leverage.
Wurming67 reply :
I paid cash for mine I know guys that take out second mortgage and pay for a boat for 30 years that's insane to me,my dad told me at a young age if you can't pay cash you can't afford it.
slonezp reply :
On 12/6/2018 at 7:02 AM, NHBull said:I am a male prostitute and use fishing to launder the money. ????
......and I will likely be dead before I retire.
Business must be slow for as much time as you spend here
haggard reply :
QuoteHow do you guys afford your boats?
"Afford" says to me "saved and bought for cash." If you need go into debt to buy it, you can't afford it.
In the past I saved and paid cash for relatively cheap boats ($3,600 or less). Now I've got two boats on a home equity line of credit (HELOC) with a reasonable but climbing interest rate. Not saying that's the right way to go but not saying it's wrong either.
If you want to buy a boat that you need to borrow money for:
1) shop for a loan that will let you pay down principal each month, not just interest. My HELOC lets me "over pay" each month and the overpayment all goes towards principal. Try privately held banks or credit unions.
2) be realistic about budgeting, even if you don't have a formal budget: how much can you afford to put towards the debt each month. Don't let your desire for a nice boat cloud your judgement about how much you can realistically put towards it each month.
Janderson45 reply :
On 12/5/2018 at 10:53 PM, Logan S said:If you are financially responsible and really want to make it happen it's not terribly difficult. Just make a plan and execute it. Different ways of doing it, most notably cash -vs- finance...But at the end of the day it's just a math problem.
If you have a lot of other expenses, like an extra house, it will probably be more difficult. Most of my buddies with bass boats are very similar to me...Our boats and fishing are pretty much the only things we spend disposable income on.
This is spot on and describes my situation to a T. Being young and single with few expenses and a decent income goes a long way. I just bought a brand new boat, financed it, but with a good plan to pay it off over the next 3 years - if not sooner.
TOXIC reply :
You stated that you need a rig that will handle the Ocean. All of the small tins/jons/v-bottoms that everyone lists as their choices are more than likely out of consideration. First you need to determine what size and type of boat you need to be safe on the water you plan to boat on. Second you need to look at your finances and see what you can afford. I am not anti-financing, if I had to pay cash on everything, I would not have a nice house, newer cars/truck, boat, etc. I financed a good chunk of my 21 foot bassboat at 1.99% through my Credit union. I had the loan set up for 10 years and paid it off in 3. It was nice to know that I could make a normal payment if something else came up in my finances. Your budget is what will tell you what you can spend and factors like financing are part of your budget. I am talking about a good budget not just $$ Earned minus $$ owed = disposable income. There are a LOT of things that go into a good budget. There are a LOT of extra costs that go into boat ownership after the purchase. In the end, if owning a second home is eating a major part of your discretionary spending then you have your answer. Sometimes we just can't have it all on the amount of income we make. A financial planner can be your best friend and help you achieve your goals with money. I would suggest you get one, if you haven't already.
WVU-SCPA reply :
Being able to walk into a dealer and saying give me "X,Y, and Z" isn't in the cards for everyone, and that's OK as there are plenty of other options. Start spending an hour a week on craigslist, fbook market place, ect.. Eventually you will see something to fit your wants and possibly budget.
As for financing debate, that comes down to a decision for you and your family. 30 year old me currently hates 20 year old me for using disposable income on financing items 20 year old me thought he needed. A $550 dollar car payment could have been a double payment on student loans. Sure I could go finance a new boat today, but I know better to not disappoint 40 year old me as life can change a lot in a few years. I now see having the assets to purchase something rather then finance is very valuable.
Toxic has a good point with see a financial adviser, they can help you manage money and goals so you can get where you want to be. You can always have a 5 year plan on winning the lottery, or save that money each week (lottery, beer, eating out, new hot lure) for 5 years. It all adds up.
roadwarrior reply :
On 12/5/2018 at 12:52 PM, riverbasser said:No idea what the market is like in Canada but there are plenty of really nice used boats in the 6-12k range in my area.
I suggest renting boats for a year to find out if you really "need" one.
Tennessee Boy reply :
There are ALWAYS low cost options!
fishwizzard reply :
Forget affording a boat, I can't find an affordable indoor place to even store one! Actual storage unites are like $250 a month for one big enough for a boat and despite living in horse country, it seems like no one has a structurally sound barn sitting empty. I could afford a little jon boat and my wife is a welding wiz, so we could add a deck and all the trimmings with ease, but it has proved impossible to find a spot to park the darn thing. I know in my heart I am not the kind of guy who could keep up with storing one outside.
padon reply :
On 12/6/2018 at 11:58 PM, fishwizzard said:Forget affording a boat, I can't find an affordable indoor place to even store one! Actual storage unites are like $250 a month for one big enough for a boat and despite living in horse country, it seems like no one has a structurally sound barn sitting empty. I could afford a little jon boat and my wife is a welding wiz, so we could add a deck and all the trimmings with ease, but it has proved impossible to find a spot to park the darn thing. I know in my heart I am not the kind of guy who could keep up with storing one outside.
I don't know I live in south central pa, and I store my john outside in winter. in the summer I keep it all rigged and in the garage in the winter I just take all electronics and seats out pull the drain plug make sure it is tilted up a little and park it outside. sure it rains and snows in it bit it doesn't hurt anything. one of the things I like about owning a simple aluminum rig.
Way2slow reply :
Normally, renting seems like a large chunk of money for weekend of fun, but for most people, if they did the math for a 12 month period owning a boat and the number of times you would use it, vs what it would cost to rent a boat for those same number of times, renting it is a lot cheaper. Granted the first year of ownership, the boat gets used a lot because it's your new toy, but after about the second or third year, the new wears off and the reality of what it cost to go play sets in, the fun wears off and they sit a lot.
Then just before Christmas those people that financed them for half a life time are trying to sell them to get additional holiday money, just to find out because of the high interest and those low payments they wanted, they owe thousands more than they could every hope to sell it for.
haggard reply :
On 12/6/2018 at 11:58 PM, fishwizzard said:Forget affording a boat, I can't find an affordable indoor place to even store one! Actual storage unites are like $250 a month for one big enough for a boat and despite living in horse country, it seems like no one has a structurally sound barn sitting empty. I could afford a little jon boat and my wife is a welding wiz, so we could add a deck and all the trimmings with ease, but it has proved impossible to find a spot to park the darn thing. I know in my heart I am not the kind of guy who could keep up with storing one outside.
I had a 2016 Tracker Jon 1448 MVX that was $3,500 out the door including trailer, comes with study casting deck and front/rear pedestal seat bases. Exposure to weather didn't bother it a bit (motor may be another story but that's easier to cover). Just saying there are options. If you have no off-street parking then yeah that can be a little trickier.
18RangerZ520L reply :
My first rig, a 1989 Ford Festiva with a plastic BassTender 2 man boat with a trolling motor... I started at the bottom......
I saved money like crazy, lived well below my means and upgraded rigs over time to my current 100% paid for rig. I'd rather live in my current modest paid for home than to "keep up with the Joneses'" and live in a $500k+ house in a swanky part of Louisville that isn't paid for with a fat mortgage payment every month. I haven't been given a dime or inherited a large sum of money, all from extreme money discipline...
Keeping your debts in check or even getting 100% debt free (which is an unbelievable feeling by the way 
) opens many doors in the future and is a huge weight off of your shoulders!
Proverbs 22:7
gnappi reply :
Good question(s) OP, good answers too.
I'm on my what sixth boat and with most of them, like any financial decision I bought what I thought I could afford for the purpose I intended, and finances just merged with the cost. Much like having a second kid, the money just sorts itself out.
Of my six boats, half were new including my most recent 10' Lowe tinny, the rest were used.
A well cared for used boat for your purposes is likely a good idea, a friend who is an experienced boater / tinkerer who likes beer is invaluable ???? Learn to use google proficiently
kjfishman reply :
As others said buy what you can afford and pay cash.
Further North reply :
Tough topic, and it's awesome that it's gone this far without any lectures about "financial responsibility".
That's what makes BR great, IMO.
Here's my take: It's all about choices. Our choice, a long time ago, was to seek out gently used, two to three year old vehicles and thing like boats so that someone else took the huge depreciation hit for the first few years of ownership. We keep on eye on what's going on in those markets so we can time our buys, and make our choices quickly when opportunities present themselves. That's been important more than once. We wind up paying about half what new vehicles cost, loan terms are shorter and interest paid on those loans is a fraction of what happens if you go new.
I bought my current boat four seasons ago for a bit more than $16K. It is a 2005 Crestliner CMV 1850, and fits what I do, really, really well. Unless something bad happens, or I do something stupid, with it/to it, I'll die with this boat.
My boat was sold new as new/old stock in 2008 from a bankrupt dealer, to a guy who put less than 3 1/2 hours on the big motor over the next 6 years. The carpet still sparkled like new when I picked it up. The motor wasn't through break in yet. The motor is a Johnson branded Suzuki DF 140, the same motor I had on my old boat, but white. It was the aquatic version of the "Corvette in a barn" stories you hear now and then.
It was the right boat at the right time, so I grabbed a short term personal loan to bridge the time until I could sell the boat I had at the time because letting it go because I couldn't write a check for the full amount on the spot woulda been stupid. That personal loan cost me $67 for the short time I needed it and saved me thousands against buying a newer, more expensive boat.
I swapped my top level electronics onto the CMV, put the "Dealer Special" electronics on my old boat, priced it right and it was gone in less than a month. I'd worked my way to that boat with a series of buy-right/sell-right deals so it was paid for...so...all done.
I've worked in the corrugated business in a technical role for 35 years. Not a glamorous, high paying job, but good enough, and crazy stable...other businesses always need boxes, regardless of what the economy is doing...we've always lived within our means, and own our home at my age of 56, my wife's age of 52. We saved like crazy starting before we got married, and it's paying off: I'll retire next June a few days past my 57th birthday.
It's amazing what the cumulative impact of a few decades of good decisions can be as you're looking back at them.
Edited by Further NorthMusiałem coś dodać.
gimruis reply :
On 12/5/2018 at 9:26 AM, slonezp said:Get rid of your kids and the money starts to flow like water
LOL that was a pretty good response and there is a lot of truth to it.
I bought my first and only boat in 2015 brand new. Paid half right away, paid off the rest within a year. This was BEFORE I had any children. Buy the boat and then have a child, not vice versa. Lets be realistic: a boat is far less costly than having children.
Big Rick reply :
I have 5 boys and 3 girls AND a boat. It is doable as long as you're realistic in your choice of boat.
Further North reply :
On 12/11/2018 at 9:10 AM, gimruis said:LOL that was a pretty good response and there is a lot of truth to it.
I bought my first and only boat in 2015 brand new. Paid half right away, paid off the rest within a year. This was BEFORE I had any children. Buy the boat and then have a child, not vice versa. Lets be realistic: a boat is far less costly than having children.
A friend's wife used to try to tell me that dogs were more work than kids...because, basically, she didn't want her husband to have a hunting dog...
I finally got tired of it, and one day replied with, "Chris...I toss the dogs in a kennel when I need to take a break.You can't do that with your kids. THat's pretty much the definition of 'easier", right there."
The subject never came up again...
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
On 12/5/2018 at 9:04 AM, Gary William said:This is a completely serious question.
How do you guys afford your boats?
We are a family of 4. We live in a house that cost us about half of what we were approved for. We drive economy cars, and don't spend a lot on clothing, eating out, etc. I consider us well off. We earn about 130k combined per year. Kids are 6 and 8. We're in Canada so we're taxed more heavily than Americans, but don't pay for Medical care, etc.
We have a cottage on the ocean, but have not yet made the leap to boat ownership because no matter which way I look at it (new, used, repairs, maintenance, financing, storage, etc) ... boats seem WILDLY expensive to the point at which I wonder how anyone on a normal professional income makes it work.
Would love opinions/enlightenment on how it can be done while not going into big debt or forgoing retirement contributions, etc.
I should note that I am somewhat mechanically inclined, but for any serious maintenance or repairs, I would need to pay someone with experience.
Location location location.
In Rockford IL with $130k a year a new Ranger being pulled by a new F150 is quite doable. Plus you can have both kids in private school and house paid off in about ten years if its not a mansion. 401K funded nicely and one year of income in the bank.
BigRed1977 reply :
So you have a house and a cottage on the ocean??? Priorities. Most of us would rather have a boat than a cottage on the ocean. I know one person that has a household income of over 200K and its just him and 2 kids. they have baseball bats and gloves and bags to carry their gear. The bats average 600+ a piece. The gloves 300+ a piece. It's crazy the money they spend on baseball but that's their thing. Another guy I know has massive amounts of hiking gear. Backpacks that cost 500+, tents that cost 400+. He could outfit an expedition up Mt. Everest. I have a historic house, kick butt theater system in the house, a jon boat and enough tackle to sink the boat. Priorities... People spend money on what they care about. For you it seems to be the cottage on the beach. Who cares what others can afford. I only care about what my family or I want and how i can make it happen.
A-Jay reply :
On 12/5/2018 at 9:04 AM, Gary William said:
How do you guys afford your boats?
A-Jay
slonezp reply :
On 12/11/2018 at 9:16 AM, Big Rick said:I have 5 boys and 3 girls AND a boat. It is doable as long as you're realistic in your choice of boat.
Harold Scoggins reply :
boatinpete reply :
Sell your cottage and you can afford a boat. You don't need a 21 foot rocket. Last year I was at your Spring Sportsman Show off of Airport Rd, they were selling a 17.5 foot G3 with a Yamaha 90 SHO for 23000 Canadian, I thought that rig would fit most working folks that just want to get on the water, or buy a nice used rig, good luck. Good luck.
CrankFate reply :
Last time I was at BPS walking through the boats, my wife was starting to get mad, because if I were to even mention it, she’d be ticked. Not because of the money, she knew I was looking at them like, d**n, I could actually buy this, and she started to pull me through them faster, because I live nowhere near boatable water. Ocean, but not any type of lake. And we are definitely not moving. If I ever have the time in a place where a bass boat makes sense, I’ll get one. I will never get a saltwater boat. I hate being on a boat in the ocean. It’s more trouble than it’ll ever be worth just for a few fish.
Sooner Steve reply :
I get the indication that you wanted an answer of how to have the shiny new rig that is very expensive and still maintain your current budget paradigm. It's not possible to have both. How do we afford a 60k bassboat? In my case the bassboat is the bulk of my entertainment. Also my kids are grown. When they were young I had a 2 man Buster boat, then a used Cajun. I would suggest setting what you feel is a comfortable number, then double it and that will get you started. If you can perform simple service and repair tasks safely and correctly that helps a lot.
JoeyT reply :
On 12/5/2018 at 7:53 PM, Jig Man said:I can tell you how a lot of guys have their boats. I used to be the sales manager at a boat dealership. Many customers could ill afford what they wanted. They would not even have the money to pay sales tax and wanted it financed in the deal. They also financed for as long as any bank would take them. Many of them would finance for 15 years at interest rates over 20%. What they did not understand was it took several years before the principal on the payment was larger than the interest. All they were interested in knowing was "How much is the payment?"
And this is the reason why bass/fishing boats are seriously over priced. Consumers that have no business purchasing a $60 $70 $80 grand boat. Drives the prices up and also affects the used market price. No offence to anyone but if someone needs 20 yrs to pay off a boat at 13% interest, they shouldn't be purchasing it. However, it's allowed so...
FordsnFishin reply :
I always pay cash. I started out on a 14 ft jon boat and rebuilt it to fit my needs. Front deck, new front motor, ect.
Than 8 years later, now making better money I've upgraded to a 21 ft 250hp. I wanted a reliable boat. So I opted for a older boat with a newer engine. 1996 charger with a 2008 250 mercury. She's a tank, and i love it.
Figure out your cash price and search and search and search for the right boat. I looked for over 6 months and test drive several boats before I settled on mine. I always try to haggle for a better price.
Also you should read Dave Ramsey or watch his pod cast. Following his guide lines allowed my wife and I to be in much better financial peace. We paid off 40,000 in debt last year, while cash flowing her school. With your 130,000 income you guys could do whatever you wanted.
Good luck, feel free to message me with any questions.
punch reply :
I currently own a very clean 2002 Skeeter SX190 w/ a 150 VMax. I paid cash for it, as I've never wanted to get a payment on a recreational vehicle. I paid $12000 for it BUT it was a long road to get to that point to be able to write that check.
It started out several years ago when I bought a old 14' aluminum crestliner w/ a 9hp for $700. I used the crap out of that boat and it was just to get me back on the water (I always used my parents boat but they sold it, which killed my fishing for a while). I started saving up for the 'next boat' while using this 14' foot rig. I kept my eye on Cragislist in the spring & fall when all the boats hit the market here in Minnesota. A few years ago a REALLY nice 2000 16' Smokercraft with a 25hp merc popped up and it was in my same town. The guy wanted $3200 for it which was right in my budget. I went and bought it, then turned around and sold my $700 14' for $1200.
I used the crap out of my 16' smokercraft aluminum while saving up for "the next boat", which was definitely going to be my jump into a used fiberglass bass boat. I just had to wait for the right one to pop up. As usual I was checking Cragslist every morning and evening. Some guy posted some blurry pictures of a Skeeter bass boat. I went and looked at it immediately and KNEW I had to buy it, as it was in VERY good condition. I didn't have the full $12,000 but I had about $5,000 between some company stock I was saving for a rainy day, and my savings for my 'next boat'. I called up my parents and asked them if they could float me $4000 for a couple weeks. I also did a fire sale of some fishing gear & other random things around my house (poker table, watches, electronics) and I raised another 2 grand that way.
I gave the guy selling the skeeter a $500 check to hold the boat for me for a few days so I could get the money together, to which he did. Within about 4 days I had the full $12,000 and I went and purchased the boat (no loan!) thanks to my folks. I then sold my 16' for $3800 about a week later (I paid 3200 for it) and paid my parents back the full 4k they loaned me.
So, it took a bit of luck and a bit of hustle.. but in the end I have a fiberglass bass boat that I love and I own it outright. It was a slow boat-to-boat transition over several years, BUT i'm glad I did it because fishing out of small/cheap boats helped me regain my skills. I don't think I'd be as good of an angler if I just went into a dealer and bought a new $45,000 skeeter off the floor and took it out.
Being in a smaller boat with a smaller engine means you can't run around the lake as much as you'd like so you have to really break down an area thoroughly. I'm pretty good at picking apart the bank now vs just pulling up the trolling motor and running to the next spot that looks good.
Logan S reply :
I read once that a top-line, new bassboat has always been about on par with the price of a new Corvette - Seems to still be true since MSRP on a new Vette looks to be about 55k to 90k depending on options...Near mirror to bass boats. IMO it's a good barometer since both are 'luxary' items/vehicles.
Small market, higher cost to build...Any product like that will carry a higher price tag.
Sooner Steve reply :
On 2/12/2019 at 12:27 AM, JoeyT said:And this is the reason why bass/fishing boats are seriously over priced. Consumers that have no business purchasing a $60 $70 $80 grand boat. Drives the prices up and also affects the used market price. No offence to anyone but if someone needs 20 yrs to pay off a boat at 13% interest, they shouldn't be purchasing it. However, it's allowed so...
Oh now, that's patently not the case! Everything associated with a bass boat has gone way up over the last 20 years. But so has everything else. The technology we have now is amazing and almost unbelievable but it comes at a price. Design engineering is a huge part of the cost, finished materials, cost of manufacturing, ect. It's absolutely not that people over commit and buy them. That just keeps the doors open. The same way Bentley stays in biz: someone will pay. I understand that a lot of people buy way beyond their means, but a lot of folks also love the new technology and features and are willing to pay for it.
There is always the used market.
punch reply :
I think most new boats are sold nowadays with "How much will the payment be?" vs "How much is this boat?". Oh it's only $224 a month for a new Nitro? Awesome!
slonezp reply :
On 2/12/2019 at 4:06 AM, punch said:I think most new boats are sold nowadays with "How much will the payment be?" vs "How much is this boat?". Oh it's only $224 a month for a new Nitro? Awesome!
The fine print spreads it out over 20 years
flyfisher reply :
On 2/12/2019 at 6:16 AM, slonezp said:The fine print spreads it out over 20 years
I chuckle whenever i walk into bass pro and see those low monthly payments. I mean if you wreck that thing while towing, i would guess you are underwater within minutes of signing on the dotted line, unless you can insure it for replacement cost or whatever.
I'll stick to my plastic boats for now
gimruis reply :
I bought my own first boat (new Ranger RT178) in 2015. I did this BEFORE I had any children knowing that the chances of a new boat would go down significantly if the child came before it. Boats are pennies on the dollars compared to a child, that is the raw truth!
jrwerner310 reply :
I've been told there are two great days when owning a boat. The best day is when you sell it and the second best day is when you buy it. lol JK. Its always better to ask forgiveness that to ask permission. I would love to own a boat but we just bout our first house and dont really have extra funds for it . Plus i want a new truck. Current truck could handle it but now for very long. I do have the space but i have to prioritize. I do have a kayak and thats good for right now.
A-Jay reply :
I fished from a canoe for over Ten Years.
Had a great time and managed to catch a few along the way.
Purchase a new rig a couple of seasons back.
Having a great time and managing to catch more & bigger fish.
Have not regretted my decision for even One Second.
My Grandfather told me that when I thought something was 'expensive' it meant I couldn't afford it.
Actually not the case regarding my new rig.
IMO Time is a much more valued commodity than $$$$ will every be.
Life is short and tomorrow is guaranteed to no one.
The richest among us realize this sooner rather than later; regardless of how much $$$ they may have.
A-Jay
ww2farmer reply :
I'll tell you how I can afford a fancy glass boat.......I can't. PERIOD.
If you can, and want to, go for it.
I'm not going into debt for something that sits 3-5 months out of the year. The payments don't stop in the winter.
I'm not going into debt for something that might cost as much as it's worth to fix if a problem happens out of warranty. The bank cares not that it's in the shop.
I'm not going into debt to tournament fish in the beer money level tournaments I fish in and run. LOL at the guys who are going to "make the payments" with their tournament winnings on any local circuit.
I'm a 42 year old garbage truck driver. I'm not paying for a boat into my 60's....if I make it that long.
A small tin boat with a 20-50 hp motor, a decent trolling motor and graph will be all I ever have, want, or need....UNLESS I win the lotto....then it's bombs away...new 21 foot Rangers for everyday of the week.
I think one of the blessings in disguise of me getting into tournament fishing in my 30's....after I got the "latest and greatest" stuff out of my system in my 20's, is that it showed me that a guy can do just fine with just about anything that floats. Will it be as good? NO....but it ain't the handicap it's made out to be.
MN Fisher reply :
On 2/13/2019 at 1:13 AM, ww2farmer said:I'll tell you how I can afford a fancy glass boat.......I can't. PERIOD.
If you can, and want to, go for it.
I'm not going into debt for something that sits 3-5 months out of the year. The payments don't stop in the winter.
Same here - which is why I went with a canoe. Last year it was the canoe, TM, battery that ate most of my Christmas money from the parents. This year it was the trailer and costs for the modifications I did...still have to get a new length of 2x3 to replace the trailer tongue piece to lengthen it - 14' canoe, 10' trailer as shipped.
The only debt I have is my mortgage - everything else I pay cash for. If you can handle being under debt for a boat for the next 10-15-20 years, go for it. I'll happily paddle/power along my lakes knowing that I'm not paying for something that sits idle for 5+ months of the year.
billmac reply :
I've asked the same question many times. I've wanted a bass boat for about 40 years. When I couldn't afford one, I thought the prices were reasonable, although out of reach for me. Now that my kids are gone, I couldn't believe the prices. I am (hopefully) about the pull the trigger on a 20 year old boat that looks great and has everything I want, and enough room and motor to have fun with the family too. Craigslist is your friend. In fact, I did a very complicated, refined search in Craigslist, where I specified boat type, price range, distance to travel, etc. When I had it just the way I wanted, I bookmarked it, so I could check it every day easily. For the boat I'm currently considering, I responded to the owner within an hour of him posting it.
clark9312 reply :
You just have to ask yourself is it worth it. Is it worth saving up and paying cash for one or is it worth the monthly payment. I financed a new tracker put a good down payment on it and stretched the loan out as long as I could. Now I wanted my payment low as possible but I usually pay double payments excluding a couple months a year(Christmas, vacation, etc).
I work my butt off, last check I had about 60 hours of over time on it. To me it’s worth it. I enjoy my weekends. I try to fish atleast 2 tournaments a month plus fun fish. If you think you can get your moneys worth out of it go for it. If it’s just going to sit in the driveway I wouldn’t do it
TOXIC reply :
This debate has been going on for as long as there have been "big ticket" items. House, Car, Boat, etc., while having the latest and greatest, biggest and fastest, newest and most expensive have always been appealing, you have to know and understand your limitations. It's when we exceed those limitations, we get in trouble. Low interest rates and extended payments make satisfying that desire for big ticket items more reachable but it doesn't make you any less responsible for how you handle your money. People have been getting into financial trouble for as long as loans have existed. Far be it for me to tell any man how to spend his money, I can only control how I spend mine. I certainly am not bitter about it nor should anyone else be. If you are serious and smart, there are ways to get big ticket items while not jeopardizing your finances.
Junk Fisherman reply :
I paid cash 4K for my first boat when I was in my mid 20s. Used that aluminum boat for 15 years and continually saved for my next boat. Paid cash for my current boat back in 2016. I am already saving for my next one. I do this for my truck as well.
The way I have done it is that I never spent more than I could afford and I had no problem using a tin boat and a non-loaded truck when I was in my 20s and 30s. I saved up to pay cash and then continually saved for my next boat. Now I can pretty much buy whatever I want.
slonezp reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 3:06 AM, Junk Fisherman said:I paid cash 4K for my first boat when I was in my mid 20s. Used that aluminum boat for 15 years and continually saved for my next boat. Paid cash for my current boat back in 2016. I am already saving for my next one. I do this for my truck as well.
The way I have done it is that I never spent more than I could afford and I had no problem using a tin boat and a non-loaded truck when I was in my 20s and 30s. I saved up to pay cash and then continually saved for my next boat. Now I can pretty much buy whatever I want.
Already sick of the Tuffy? Lund has a limited edition ProV that'll run you 6 figures. ????
12poundbass reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 6:17 AM, slonezp said:Already sick of the Tuffy? Lund has a limited edition ProV that'll run you 6 figures. ????
Does it have cup holders?
MN Fisher reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 6:17 AM, slonezp said:Already sick of the Tuffy? Lund has a limited edition ProV that'll run you 6 figures. ????
On 2/14/2019 at 6:51 AM, 12poundbass said:Does it have cup holders?
Never mind the cup holders - does it have a massage feature in the main seats...at that price it should.
slonezp reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 7:11 AM, MN Fisher said:
Never mind the cup holders - does it have a massage feature in the main seats...at that price it should.
The cup holder was a jab at me. It was crucial when I purchased my current boat that there were enough cup holders. Last boat had only 1 and I hated it.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 6:17 AM, slonezp said:Already sick of the Tuffy? Lund has a limited edition ProV that'll run you 6 figures. ????
Nice looking rig
I "Built" one last night - I got that kind of time.
Loaded it up too.
Came in at a touch over 110K - before taxes of course.
That's a pretty big bite out of crime.
Guess ya gotta pay to play.
A-Jay
DogBone_384 reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 8:00 AM, A-Jay said:I "Built" one last night - I got that kind of time.
Guess how many toys I've built while at the Firehouse ... I got that kind of time too.... tonight's lottery is $240+ MILLION .... one can dream....
A-Jay reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 10:20 AM, DogBone_384 said:Guess how many toys I've built while at the Firehouse ... I got that kind of time too.... tonight's lottery is $240+ MILLION .... one can dream....
Good Luck ~
A-Jay
GReb reply :
Debt is not evil but cash flow is king. Every successful business in the world has open lines of credit but their cash flows allow them to manage the debt and use it to increase their cash flows in the future. I refer to it as smart debt.
A boat is never going to make you money unless you think you can outfish Jordan Lee lol. But if you buy something reasonable for your level of income then you will be ok. Just keep the future in mind. If you are going to have kids, buy a house, buy new vehicles, etc in the near future then you have to calculate that into your budget. Just because you can afford a monthly note today doesn’t mean you will be able to next year.
You also have to take into considerations the opportunity cost of your decisions. Just know when you buy a vehicle of any sort that money is gone. There is no financial ROI. With that being said life is about more than money. You make it to afford things you enjoy and live a happy life.
Junk Fisherman reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 6:17 AM, slonezp said:Already sick of the Tuffy? Lund has a limited edition ProV that'll run you 6 figures. ????
I wouldn't say I am sick of it but I LOVE the Basscat Caracal. I could see myself buying one in 7-8 years.
brgbassmaster reply :
3 deployments to the middle east and living overseas for 4 years helps ????. Active duty military family of 3. Seriously if u do it right you can make a killing on deployments and all that goes in the bank. So truck is paid for and boat is paid for. 7 years till retirement and full time fishin back home in northern michigan!
Topwaterdude reply :
I fished out of a Jon boat with just a trolling motor for many years caught alottttt of great fish out of it cause I went to spots no bigger boats could put in at????, 3 years ago I got a great deal on an old but mint fiberglass boat cost me $2500 from an older gentleman that kept it in his garage,used it maybe 3 or 4 x a year was moving back to Canada and didn't want to bring it. When shopping for a boat patience is the key.
Ksam1234 reply :
I know this is a little old but I myself was in this situation. I was looking at buying a new Lund adventure series this spring and my issue is that I’m a worry wart. I had the money to afford it bewteen me and my wife and we also don’t have kids. I always have that voice in my head like “well what if something happens or what if I lose my job “ I had an extra 1200$ a month that was disposable income and still wasn’t sure if it was smart ! I like @A-Jay way of thinking and also is the same as my wife. Money doesn’t mean value , memories and enjoyment in life is much better than any dollar.
Jleebesaw reply :
I bought a used tracker boat. Its 10 years old and its smaller than a lot other peoples boats. Its nice and bigger than anything else I've fished out of so I love it. Sure, I could go finance a 21ft glass boat, but i just can't afford that much for my fun fishing right now. Plenty of people do, and I'm happy for them. I know people who have motorcycles that cost 30k. Snowmobiles, atv's, sports cars, hunting land, and even ocean front cottages cost a lot of money. People still buy them. People will always be willing to spend money on what they enjoy doing.
Right now I'm saving money toward a bigger boat. In 5 years if everything works out I'll have a 50% or so down payment. I fish some small tournaments but I would like to fish my local B.A.S.S tourneys. However, they run on some big water. Lake ontario, onieda lake, and lake champlain. I can fish them on a nice day, but tournament days aren't always nice.
fishwizzard reply :
On 3/5/2019 at 1:23 AM, Ksam1234 said:I know this is a little old but I myself was in this situation. I was looking at buying a new Lund adventure series this spring and my issue is that I’m a worry wart. I had the money to afford it bewteen me and my wife and we also don’t have kids.
Not having kids makes it easier, I am willing to roll the dice a lot more often as I know that I am the only one that will suffer if I make a poor financial decision.
What kills me about getting a bass boat is the cost of storing it and hauling it. I don't have or really want a truck or a large SUV nor do I have a place to store a boat indoors. I know myself enough to know that I would not be on the ball enough to keep a boat outdoors. Trying to find someone around my area with an unused barn is proving far far harder then I thought it would. Or at-least a barn that I would be willing to park a boat in without sweating bullets every time the wind picked up. The towing issue is a bit easier to solve, but again it would be an added cost.
I am sure no one wants to know the answer personalty, but I would be curious to know the average "per fishing trip" cost most people's boats cost them over it's lifetime.
FryDog62 reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 6:56 PM, Junk Fisherman said:
I wouldn't say I am sick of it but I LOVE the Basscat Caracal. I could see myself buying one in 7-8 years.
As I remember you bought the X-190. How are you liking it? I agree the Caracal looks good, but I wonder if it would handle the waves as well as your Deep-V?
slonezp reply :
On 3/5/2019 at 1:23 AM, Ksam1234 said:I know this is a little old but I myself was in this situation. I was looking at buying a new Lund adventure series this spring and my issue is that I’m a worry wart. I had the money to afford it bewteen me and my wife and we also don’t have kids. I always have that voice in my head like “well what if something happens or what if I lose my job “ I had an extra 1200$ a month that was disposable income and still wasn’t sure if it was smart ! I like @A-Jay way of thinking and also is the same as my wife. Money doesn’t mean value , memories and enjoyment in life is much better than any dollar.
Memories, enjoyment, and "If I lose my job, I'll sell the boat and get top dollar because I bought the Cadillac of aluminum boats" should make you worry free
Ksam1234 reply :
On 3/5/2019 at 10:09 AM, slonezp said:Memories, enjoyment, and "If I lose my job, I'll sell the boat and get top dollar because I bought the Cadillac of aluminum boats" should make you worry free
Yeah that helps to ha. I figure my house will be paid off in 2 years and that’s when I’ll get my boat! 2 years seems lik forever though
On 3/5/2019 at 10:01 AM, fishwizzard said:Not having kids makes it easier, I am willing to roll the dice a lot more often as I know that I am the only one that will suffer if I make a poor financial decision.
What kills me about getting a bass boat is the cost of storing it and hauling it. I don't have or really want a truck or a large SUV nor do I have a place to store a boat indoors. I know myself enough to know that I would not be on the ball enough to keep a boat outdoors. Trying to find someone around my area with an unused barn is proving far far harder then I thought it would. Or at-least a barn that I would be willing to park a boat in without sweating bullets every time the wind picked up. The towing issue is a bit easier to solve, but again it would be an added cost.
I am sure no one wants to know the answer personalty, but I would be curious to know the average "per fishing trip" cost most people's boats cost them over it's lifetime.
I already own a truck so hauling it wouldn’t cost much. Storing it would’ve my bigger issue. I know a guy though who charges only 400$ for the winter season from like novermber to April or whenever it’s done snowing to stow away..
TOXIC reply :
You can store outside if you are prudent and attentive. I will say that if I bought a new boat (within the last 2 model years) I would find a place to store inside. There's no way my 21 foot boat will fit in my garage, even at an angle so I do the next best thing, I bundle it up like it's going to be in storage for a year every time I bring it home from fishing. I made fender covers out of an old cover and I keep a good coating of wax on the glass. I've been storing it this way for years and so far not a bit of sun fade or damage. I keep the plastic trim, the seats and tires coated with 303 protectant. I did have a mouse get in and chew up some foam and a microfiber towel (I dispatched him with extreme prejudice) but other than that it's been fine.
fishwizzard reply :
On 3/5/2019 at 7:36 PM, TOXIC said:You can store outside if you are prudent and attentive.
That is my issue. I have the self-awareness to know my weakness, but not the self-control to overcome them, or at least my laziness.
slonezp reply :
I have stored my boats outside for over 20 years. What's the big deal?
Junk Fisherman reply :
On 3/5/2019 at 10:08 AM, FryDog62 said:As I remember you bought the X-190. How are you liking it? I agree the Caracal looks good, but I wonder if it would handle the waves as well as your Deep-V?
I doubt the Caracal handles big waves as well as my X-190 but after running my X-190 for 3 seasons, there has only been 1 time where I was actually in big waves that really made me happy to be in a deep V. I simply go somewhere else if the wind is coming out of the wrong direction or launch in an area sheltered from the wind. But on the other hand, there are numerous times when I would prefer to be in a boat closer to the water for skipping docks or pitching shorelines. My X-190 is a good boat and does everything I thought it would do but I think a Caracal would be a better fit for me. But I'll wait till some come on the used market in 5 years or so.
J Francho reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 6:17 AM, slonezp said:Already sick of the Tuffy? Lund has a limited edition ProV that'll run you 6 figures. ????
Lol.... I added $150 in cup holders to this build.
zeth reply :
I downloaded the Acorns app. turned on 10X roundup. Didn't touch the money until there was enough for a good down payment. Took about a year. Financed the heck out of the boat to make the payments reasonable. Whatever it takes. No kids though. And all I care about is tournament fishing. In terms of making a responsible decision I might not recommend doing what I did. Actually I do recommend Acorns to help you save. Worked for me because I have a lure buying addiction and have a hard time saving. Once you saved up just buy a used boat. Plenty good used boats out there.
contium reply :
On 2/12/2019 at 10:22 PM, gimruis said:I bought my own first boat (new Ranger RT178) in 2015. I did this BEFORE I had any children knowing that the chances of a new boat would go down significantly if the child came before it. Boats are pennies on the dollars compared to a child, that is the raw truth!
I did the same. I paid cash but I don't blame people who finance them. Everything I enjoy cost $$$. I'm not going to be afraid to spend and not enjoy life for fear of what could happen. I'm lucky that my wife loves fishing (she grew up on Clear Lake). We have a lot of great times on the water and hopefully our son will enjoy it too and we will have memorable times together. I also live in a reasonable, paid for house. I'm often tempted to move but the average houses around here are $900,000+. I always wonder how people afford those.
Brent Christian reply :
There are good deals everywhere im a electrcian and make fairly decent money, i bought a 93 Ranger fish and ski in pretty good shape just needed a motor, i only paid 700.00 for it and found a good 150 for 400.00, im a budget fisherman but keep an eye out man. I cant see how guys spend all this money on boats and can afford to use them, if i had a boat payment i wouldnt be able to afford gas for it lol
related Bass Boats Canoes Kayaks topic
previous topic
most viewed Bass Boats Canoes Kayaks topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.