Are we all crazy??

[thompson1031]

My first boat was a 1986 Ski Nautique 2001 and it was priced less than the F150 that was towing it....Today I am looking at boats that are priced more than a new Mercedes sitting on the showroom floor.......

My last boat was a 2008 SAN 230 that cost me about 50k.....I thought that was insane, but now I am looking at a new boat that costs almost 3x as much.......

Can you guys tell me that I am not a lunatic or am I just surrounded by them on this message board?

[Brichter14]

If your boat costs more than your house...you are crazy. If not, its all good!

[Austintx]

Yeah I hear you. We sort of justified it over buying a 2nd vacation home or rental house that we might only get to use a few times a year. With the boat at least we can be on the water every weekend here in town.

I had been thinking $100k was top end for a new wakeboard boat but you can easily go upwards of $175k. Pretty crazy.


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[vision]

Comparison to the auto industry is always the fascinating aspect for me. The ski/wake boat industry has almost no economy of scale by automotive standards so it is understandable that relative to materials cost boats are much more expensive. But, as the poster pointed out, the price of a boat has increased 3 times faster than that of an automobile. Yet the technology in an automobile is far more advanced and progressive and boats use technologies often 10 to 15 years old.

While there are many factors may contribute to boats becoming relatively more expensive than cars over time, I think the auto industry has benefited much more from improved production efficiency, automation, and global manufacturing/outsourcing whereas boat manufacturers have not. Manufacturing of a boat seems relatively unchanged the last 4 decades.

[shag]

I think it's insane to spend 125K on a boat. Not trying to sound derogatory. If I made 200k a year I might think different. I am a fire medic, so I will never make more than a very modest salary.... Sad. And sad we have a Governor that is taking our retirement money and putting in the general fund.... And somehow it's legal...

[Brichter14]

Herd that...im a teacher. No 100k boats for me!

[Shockthis]

Well most kids that play hockey here are paying 5k-20k to play and travel, so for us it is time we get to spend as a family and hopefully this is a sport they love. No let's just hope they don't become hockey players or dh skiers

[4th ski-doo]

Another FF/Medic here about to lose my pension too! Saved, worked tons of side jobs, borrowed from Mom and Dad and worked up to it but the 210 was my ceiling. Picked a 13 after the 14's came out!

Just went thru WW3 over not letting siblings use it while in on vacation. Worth the family strife? Haven't decided but I'll throw my body between that boat and a pier if necessary!


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[shag]

lol, When I had my 09 230, I felt like I should've been living in it.... Now I have a 91 barefoot. :/

[jward]

At the end of the day...it's a toy. It's all relative to your income I guess. I am forever grateful to my parents for teaching me the Dave Ramsey plan of paying cash for things before anyone knew who he was. I started with a 2000 Malibu sunsetter, then went to a 2003 SAN, and now have a 2004 SAN. All were my favorite boats in the world no matter what the industry came out with next, because my boat is PAID FOR!!! I will never make enough to own a G because I could not see myself saving up that kind of money to buy a toy. My boat more than fits my needs and I love the wake as is. Again, I am forever grateful to have been taught at an early age how to manage money. I worked since I was able and have never known the stress of a payment while living pay check to pay check.

[MuskokaCanada]

I definately hear ya. It seems ridiculous to me to pay over 60K for a boat that doesn't have 3 state rooms and 6 playboy bunnies running around it.

[UofM21]

Everything is relative I think to the income you have and the way you look at life.

On another note....Dave Ramsey is a douchebag

[surroundsound64]

If I spent 100k+ on a boat, I better be able to sleep in it. And not on the floor.

These boats are stupid high. Emphasis on the stupid.

[nyryan2001]

Yep, we are crazy.

For all the folks that say it'll never be affordable, unattainable etc etc. So 2013 450 Gs are selling well under $100k now.

time your purchase. Save ... Put 30-40k down, payment around or under $400/m.

Well within reach of most middle class. Gotta live responsibly- other crazy spending. Pay off other debts. Gotta have good credit. Woe is me doesn't work with me. No one is more blue collar than me. Be patient, hustle scratch and save...certainly attainable to the majority of folks. Just recently saw a 2013 210 under $70k.

[swankster]

No we are not crazy, we are ADDICTS! It starts with going out on the water on someone's boat. The first time you might just feel the wind in your face because you are to afraid to try anything else. Then the second time out you get behind the boat and maybe get up for the first time. Everyone in the boat is excited for you! You feel the rush of adrenalin and a smile comes across your face. You progress to wanting to get up as soon as the rope is tight. Don't make me say in the water any long that I have to; you catch your first air and then you hooked. You buddy isn't going out on the water as much as you want to. You know you have to do it, so you walk into to the dealer and there she is; your first boat, the one that will always have your heart. But your addiction grows. As it grows, you feel the need for more, yes I can justify that bigger boat. You rationalize, I need a bigger wake; more space for my friends. Where am I going to put all this stuff. And to shorten this story, before you know it your pulling that G home.