To all the boat owners and potential future boat owners out there,

Just curious how you guys/gals are looking at your boat ownership status for the future. The good news is gas is plummeting and will probably go significantly further. The bad news is that the economy is doing the same.

I ended up having to do quite a bit of travel for work this year and by the time it slowed down it was July and gas was well...."expensive". As a result I never even unwrapped my boat. I definately missed it this year, but I have thought about selling. Actually, duirng July and August I didn't think I had a prayer of selling it with gas the way it was. Now I'm thinking it my be a bit easier in the spring but obviously the economy will be crushing demand even if gas is low.

Any thoughts of changes in your boat ownership status. What is the market for recreational boats out there?

Thanks!

:nailem:

I'll sell my boat when they pry it from my cold dead hands!

(or when I upgrade to the 21 footer!)

It's a tough market, no doubt. If you don't have to sell and the boat is paid for, you are probably better off holding on to the boat.

I sold my 20' boat in April '07 to the first buyer to come look at it and for only $500 off my asking price. I see similar aged models selling now for 20% less than I sold mine for only 18 months ago.

My intention at the time was to move up to something in the 23-25' range but I still have not made another purchase. Plenty of good deals around now, however.

You are correct that gas prices are heading down but it doesn't matter what gas costs if someone is out of work. The next 6 months will be very interesting for the boat market.

You won't get anything for it right now. A friend of mine is taking a bath on his boat, and still hasn't even had a sniff. 80k asking 45k and had a offer in the low 30's, for a boat with twin yami 225 four strokes and it is a realtivly new boat that retails for 130K. There are newer 26 regulators floating around under 40/50k that are decked out.

not a good time for resale.
I have a 10 year old MSKIFF 2090 with a 90 hp on a trailer.
It's good for inshore but not so nice for tuna.

Don't kid yourselves, fuel prices will be higher next year than in '08, demand is simply down because of the time of year. Memorial Day weekend 2009, fuel will be hurting us all once again. Diesel was $4.89 last summer, that's why I am done with things for awhile. I would bet the farm next summer it will be more expensive.

I hoping to score a little boat next year. I'm sick of being stuck on the shore. or maybe I can just make a friend with a boat?

Buyers market right now without anyone willing to spend asking.
Nobody can move anything.

A Hinckley SW 72 just went to Europe for 3mil US (total steal)

Great time to buy horrible time to sell. A lot of foreclosed vessels out there. I'm glad I own mine outright.

What GF said for sure. I couldn't sell my boat anyways even if the economy was good because it's marked. So may as well keep it. I just filled my tank Sunday 79 gallons. If the economy sucks next year it's going to get siphoned like it did this year...right into my motorcycle and wife's suv. I drove my motorcycle all summer on $2.00 gas and it didn't cost me anything this summer.

You still have that rig?? Too bad you made such a drama out of it on the net...or it may have been worth something.:eek5:..I did good on mine..:humpty:

hooper that is a purrty boat. shame to get rid of her.

I don't need to sell but would if right price was offered. Then I would definitely buy again, same make boat but this time I'd add a few extras. Still in the 22-23' range since I love the mobility of trailering.

If not, I'm fine and happy with her as is. Plus, my boat treated me extra special this year so it's fishing mojo value has risen.

I'd sell my 19' in a second if I could. My tow truck is slowly dying and without a truck I have no boat. I have way more fun in my tin boat and to be honest am getting tired of the other boat with the maintenance, gas , and just pain in the ass of towing here and there. I don't have that feeling with the tin boat, just enjoyment and tow able with anything. I would never be without a tin boat.

I moved up to a 23 this year and had a great time! I have lots of friends and we all chiped in and made it thur!!

Gas is cheap now and will go up I am sure!! But thats ok, I will do what I have to, to stay in the water!

I need a new to me 200hp hoping for a great price soon.

Yea Dave too bad I got %$%$%$%$ed out of a $32,000 rig too. Drama? I just stated THE FACTS and nothing but. It was BOATDOG and all the other miscreants that blew that up to a drama. I'd not ever buy another Angler again I can tell you that after losing an entire season then paying out of my pocket again and still getting a trashed hull back. It's paid for and screw them dood. You can say what you want but until you been in these shoes fighting them for a 2 month old boat that delaminated and fell apart and them not wanting to do anything about it then you don't know what it's like. You should see the botched holes they gelcoated on the bow when the boat wasnt supposed to have a bow railing on it to begin with. :smash: Look around online there's plenty of others out there too :(

Wow...I had no major trouble with mine...cept for the POS Merc 150..I'm a mechanic and I couldn't get that f&^%%$# thing to be the least bit dependable,,,, I have a Yami now and never goin back...:kewl:

You won't get anything for it right now. A friend of mine is taking a bath on his boat, and still hasn't even had a sniff. 80k asking 45k and had a offer in the low 30's, for a boat with twin yami 225 four strokes and it is a realtivly new boat that retails for 130K. There are newer 26 regulators floating around under 40/50k that are decked out.

Little round, please show me where there is a newer decked out 26 Regulator for 40/50K. The boat market is very bad, but I haven't seen that good of a deal on a newer regulator.

Anyone interested in a 32 Blackfin Combi?

There was a 04' 26 reg out in ohio that was a repo back in the spring. 44k. I was looking at it for one of the guys that fish with me. It was a great lakes boat that was loaded to the gills. New would have been close to 200. I think they retail between 160-180. If you look in the right places and have time to track a deal you can steal a boat. Some of the true deals come up for a day and get snatched up. But unless you a truly willing to give your boat away it is tough time to sell a used boat. Seacraft I heard layed off the whole plant and said call back in march to see if you have a job.

I heard the same thing about SeaCraft and that's a shame the new 23T was sweet. McKee Craft just closed thier doors as well. We're going to see a-lot more of that. The only builders that will do fine through this economy are companies like Intrepid who have a multi year waiting list. Most Intrepid owners order thier next boat while they are picking up thier new boat. I know a few folks that do that. Other companies like Yellowfin and some custom Carolina Builders will do fine. All of the big production builders are going to have some serious issues

I have seen the video on the new SeaCraft 23T as well, and wow, they are back! I hope to climb on one this winter at a boat show, but all I can say is SEXY!

http://www.seacraft-boats.com/video/2008-SeaCraft-SC23/

Wow - i think I'm aroused.

Hoop, I'll sell you my 23 seacraft for $28K as is where is (MV). I want to move up next season. (00 boat, 04 225 yami4s, 02 trailer, 10" raymarine, + lots of boat stuff, I will even toss in a high end electric downrigger that has its own transducer and contours the bottom..very cool.) .

I was planning to advertise early next spring after I prep it for another year but I would consider letting it go now and avoid the winterizaion and spring cleaning stuff. Its still in the water for another couple weeks, I could even give you a test ride.

The mojo alone in that boat is worth the money :hee:

Well my 1995 Hydra-sports 2150 WA is all shrink wrapped and winterized and can be had for a reasonable offer (175 HP Johnson). Lots of extras and all electronics go with it. I'll even throw in a &*$^#*$^#load of fishing gear including 6 50 class tuna rods and reels. Trailer is an 01 or 02 with 3 year old stainless disk brakes that I did myself.

Hooper, with all due respect (and I mean that, your posts are always very interesting) gas is down because world demand is down and as a result oil has dropped from almost $150 a barrel to $60-$65 a barrel. We may start to see global deflation and prices for everything may drop across the board. I don’t think we’ll see $4/gal of gas again for a long time. jmho

Hoop, I'll sell you my 23 seacraft for $28K as is where is (MV). I want to move up next season. (00 boat, 04 225 yami4s, 02 trailer, 10" raymarine, + lots of boat stuff, I will even toss in a high end electric downrigger that has its own transducer and contours the bottom..very cool.) .

I was planning to advertise early next spring after I prep it for another year but I would consider letting it go now and avoid the winterizaion and spring cleaning stuff. Its still in the water for another couple weeks, I could even give you a test ride.

The mojo alone in that boat is worth the money :hee:

Sandman, I love SeaCrafts, I had a 1983 23' that I repowered and reworked. Had it for 6 years and did everything in it. I think that if I can sell the Seaworthy I might find a new hobby for awhile and see how things play out. If you have any interest at all in it, drop me a PM, it's in water until Nov.17th. BTW, there is a sweet little 26 Fortier on the island that I looked at about a year ago and it is still for sale, know the boat I mean? Loved that boat, and would have bought it, but went this way instead.

I hear what you're saying Fish On and I agree it's because of demand, and I see your point, it's world wide demand not seasonal. I can agree with that.

I am not so optimistic though for the long term. I guess it's an occupational hazard, I see the negative in most things.

My bet is we go through this same pain again next summer, but I hope YOU are right on this one!!!:btu:

those with the most toys in the end wins. Keep those boats!

Used market is horrible for sellers, I bought a 98 21' shamrock CC with only 230 hours for 9k, NADA was 17k I think, and there were similar deals out there. I'm selling my 13 whaler and have a ton of interest because its so cheap to run, but it is priced accordingly.

Hoop, I'll sell you my 23 seacraft for $28K as is where is (MV). I want to move up next season. (00 boat, 04 225 yami4s, 02 trailer, 10" raymarine, + lots of boat stuff, I will even toss in a high end electric downrigger that has its own transducer and contours the bottom..very cool.) .

I was planning to advertise early next spring after I prep it for another year but I would consider letting it go now and avoid the winterizaion and spring cleaning stuff. Its still in the water for another couple weeks, I could even give you a test ride.

The mojo alone in that boat is worth the money :hee:

i'm interested

Zac, If you really are, come on out for a day and you can help me run the boat down island next week and take it out for the winter. And for you Zac, I will even top off the tank (135 gallons). That will probaly get you thru half the season next year.

Zac, If you really are, come on out for a day and you can help me run the boat down island next week and take it out for the winter. And for you Zac, I will even top off the tank (135 gallons). That will probaly get you thru half the season next year.

Sandman, Your SC sounds like a great boat, Have you got any pics you can post, love to see some boat porn!:uhuh:

Bought my dream Grady White 25' in August of '03 in Maine. After one great month, I had horrible experiences with marinas, service, and nagging fuel delivery issues. Homeless people colonized my boat 2 consecutive winters while in a Portland boatyard, leaving bags of feces in the hold and wrecking all the lockers (the yard was aware of the potential problem and makes you sign a waiver-I was just one of the lucky ones, I guess). I was going to unload it last year but we bought a place on Narragansett Bay and I wanted to give it another chance. I had it repowered with a new Suzuki.

We discovered that where we are in RI, there are near gale winds practically every day in the summer months, so the dream of having a dock is gone. Unless you're out at the crack of dawn, the wind is relentless. There's no place to park/load-unload passengers without having to pay slip fees. The wife has hated the boat for a while now, the kids are too young or apathetic, and none of my buddies is into being on the water. To top it off, I was mistakenly lead to believe that fish jump into your boat in The Bay. I learned too late that July/August are the fishing doldrums and big stripers are taken at 2AM by guys casting surf in full wetsuits (I just want to catch some fish, not die trying!).

So...please forgive my bitchfest. All I ever wanted was my own Grady White. Now I'm seriously thinking that the dream is dead.

Seems to me you need to leave the wife and kids at home, and make new friends that like being on the boat!
Put some time in on the water and learn were the fish are and they will come!
Also have you ever thought for a second that there are other fish in he water besides bass?? Lots of great table fish out there if you learn were they are!!

Sorry to hear about the last place you lived and the homeless crapping in the boat!! That really sucks!

Seems to me you need to leave the wife and kids at home, and make new friends that like being on the boat!
Put some time in on the water and learn were the fish are and they will come!
Also have you ever thought for a second that there are other fish in he water besides bass?? Lots of great table fish out there if you learn were they are!!


Oh yeah, believe me, after fishing the barren waters of Maine I was ready for catching anything. Whenever I headed out, I had poles rigged for bottom or surface fishing, bait, lures, everything I figured I'd need (except experience). I sailed all over the upper Bay rarely marking fish or seeing any bird or feeding action. I tried to spot and observe other fishermen out there but they were few and far between, and no one looked to have much going on. I caught a couple of small fluke off Newport, but that's it. I hear the tautog fishing is good but if you get out too late, all the reliable spots have dried up. I'm a little bummed to learn that I have to chug down to the Newport bridges or offshore for the best fishing spots. I really need to hook up with someone who knows the area, though. I'm flying blind most of the time.

I really need to hook up with someone who knows the area, though.

That would be your best shot!! I would offer but I am in Ma. If you ever get up this way give me a shout!!
I owe a few here fishing trips and I am hping I stay healthy next season to get them all out!

Good luck out there, you will get them with some time I am sure

Oh yeah, believe me, after fishing the barren waters of Maine I was ready for catching anything. Whenever I headed out, I had poles rigged for bottom or surface fishing, bait, lures, everything I figured I'd need (except experience). I sailed all over the upper Bay rarely marking fish or seeing any bird or feeding action. I tried to spot and observe other fishermen out there but they were few and far between, and no one looked to have much going on. I caught a couple of small fluke off Newport, but that's it. I hear the tautog fishing is good but if you get out too late, all the reliable spots have dried up. I'm a little bummed to learn that I have to chug down to the Newport bridges or offshore for the best fishing spots. I really need to hook up with someone who knows the area, though. I'm flying blind most of the time.


Dinsdale,

Jeez, I would take up skiing if I were you! Seriously though, here is an idea. I would suggest researching the best guides in your area and then booking them several times next season. Tell them straight up front that you own a boat and want to learn techniques for catching fish in your area. My guess is you wil be well received, though I suspect you might not get taken to their choice spots, though nothing is perfect. At least you will have the techniques down that produce fish and then the rest is up to you to get out there and learn, like we all do day in and day out, to become better at the game.

Try taking you wife to a waterfront restuarant if it's available, try spending a day on the boat anchored up at a sandy beach with the kids, those type of experiences build valuable "boat credits". My wife learned to fish in the bass blitz's of the fall when you can catch a fish if you can throw a Sluggo more than ten feet. It was shooting fish in a barrel and as a result, she enjoys being on the water with me.

Don't throw in the towel, boating is getting far more expensive every year, Lord knows that is true, but it still is a lot of fun.

Sold my last bigger boat years ago when Bayliner put all the googans on the wrong side of the bouys!
Now them same yahoos have bought up all the ocean front property and left little room for fishing.
So,,, I've been looking at boats again.
Looking for a 18-21 ft. center console but all I see is junkers or over priced whatevers.
I know the economy sucks, people are loosing jobs, money is tight, and it's the off season.
Unfortunately, people selling boats are not reflecting this in any asking prices that I've seen.
I'm still looking,,, but it's tough finding here in R.I.
Hopefully, by spring I'll find what I'm looking for.

I'd sell my 19' in a second if I could. My tow truck is slowly dying and without a truck I have no boat. I have way more fun in my tin boat and to be honest am getting tired of the other boat with the maintenance, gas , and just pain in the ass of towing here and there. I don't have that feeling with the tin boat, just enjoyment and tow able with anything. I would never be without a tin boat.AHHH! The "TIN-CAN" fleet.The only way to go.

Until the wind starts to blow, then it is a nightmare:eek:

(a skidoo....I predict Salty moves to Maine)

Obviously not a ton of good news out there and my thoughts are with anyone struggling with employment, mortgage payments or worse. Hopefully, this inherent, non-taxpayer funded economic boost of plummeting oil and gasoline prices will help turn things around in the long run. Unfortunately, I think we have a long way to go to the finish line. Boating as a hobby may start to look attractive again for next year.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081205/ap_on_bi_ge/oil_prices