Buying a Brand New Boat

They told me that one just sold. I kind of like the idea of keeping the Martinique for this season and making a purchase towards the end of the season. Not sure how that would play out but it can't hurt and it will give me a chance to save up a little more for a down payment.

2003 SAN 210

Something like this might be ideal. Any reason to go for new over this? I like the color scheme and it has the Flight Control Tower, and Ballast, I could always have perfect pass installed.

robertbruder wrote: The best case would be like I did with my truck, 1 year old 10,000 miles. If I could find a boat in that type of scenario it may be worth looking into as opposed to purchasing a Sport Nautique this year and then trying to sell it next year and getting a Super Sport and selling that the next year and getting into a SAN the next year...

Robert, I'd go visit the CC dealer closest to you. Tell him exactly what you wrote above. You might find out he has a leftover 2010 he'd love to move, or an owner that wants to upgrade after a year or two. You never know what he might come up with for you.

Family wise I agree a boat is great just not sure about the infants. My nephew just turned 7 which is the perfect boating age. Up until age 5 he seemed to have little inerest in the boat, but then again I didn't get to see him every weekend.

When I was in college I met a lot of guys from the lakes around my house and I remember great lake parties and summers were we would do a lakes tour where we would rotate houses/boats each weekend and wakeboard all day. Quite possibly the most fun a person can have.

63 Skier wrote: New - pay $70,000 or pay $8,000 and finance the rest, or something inbetween. Run boat for 10 years, at that point value for sale or trade is $28,000. Assume nothing beyond routine maintenance is needed. Total cost of ownership after sale is $42,000. (I'm not including interest if boat is financed, which would add to the total). I'm not sure if I'm missing anything here, and the numbers are a guess but seem to me to make sense. One big factor I'm ignoring is that maybe the new boat is a much better boat for the purpose, depends on the models we're talking about and intended use. Thoughts?

Again it really depends on what you are buying, in Roberts case a V-Drive. As an example in 01' a Super Air well appointed on a decent buy would have been around 40k, take a look in the diary's and see what the average asking price is for that same boat, my guess would be probably 25-30k range. The current market has the V's fetching more money, may not be the case in 10 yrs but whose to know.

Totally agree with the newer boats performing better for their intended purpose, assuming that purpose is primarily for towed water sports, that value is whatever the buyer sets it at, for me that has always been a significant factor in my buying decisions as my use is probably 90% towing.

Don't get me wrong, used can be an great approach $ wise, my first boat, 77' SN, sold for $1.5k more then purchase price after 6-7 seasons.

quinner wrote: Despite what some of these guys are saying buying new does not need to cost you big money or much more then used, you need to get into the boat at a good number and keep it nice. I certainly agree that financing a toy is never a good idea and if you do go with at least 50% down and on the shortest terms you can handle, that way if you need to get out fast you can without owing and the short terms will cost you so much less in the end.

I'm not at all against buying new CC's, after all someone has to buy them the first time!

Here's what I see, let me know if you disagree. Let's take the example of buying a new CC for $70,000, or a used 10 year old boat for $20,000.

New - pay $70,000 or pay $8,000 and finance the rest, or something inbetween. Run boat for 10 years, at that point value for sale or trade is $28,000. Assume nothing beyond routine maintenance is needed. Total cost of ownership after sale is $42,000. (I'm not including interest if boat is financed, which would add to the total).

Used - pay $20,000, run boat for 10 years, at that point value for sale or trade is $8,000. Assume maintenance cost, beyond routine maintenance, of $6,000 over those 10 years. Total cost of ownership after sale is $18,000.

I'm not sure if I'm missing anything here, and the numbers are a guess but seem to me to make sense. One big factor I'm ignoring is that maybe the new boat is a much better boat for the purpose, depends on the models we're talking about and intended use.

Thoughts?

it is a malibu

I have changed diapers on a boat many, many times. I'm glad that's over though. My daughters have been behind the boat since they were 3 and 1.5 years old. I'm not suggesting you buy a new boat, just saying don't let the idea of having kids prevent you from getting on the water.

They have to be changed, fed and nap anyway. They might as well do it sitting on the lake.

Nothing puts a baby to sleep faster than a boat ride. They may hate the infant life jacket, but they're out for the count once you get going. There may be a few tough years where you don't get out as much as you like, but after that your kids will want to live in an inboard.

I've bought one new boat and would do it again. Payments in the winter remind you of what's in store for summer. I'd rather have a boat payment than a car payment. My kids are mostly grown up and they still like to be with their parents in the boat, and they don't even need us to go boating. One of the best things a young family can do.

+1 as Tim said great family memories that they and you will remember forever.

quinner wrote: Always puzzling to me talk of family/kids and boats don't mix, it has been the exact opposite for me on both sides of that equation.

Chris - I think I kind of started that, and you know me, now it is one of our biggest family events - a day on the boat. I was just thinking back to the the years when my girls were being born. Those first nine months were brutal, no sleep, constant feeding, diaper changes, etc. Then there would be about a 6 months window, and the wife would be pregnant, sick all the time to tired to deal with the baby. Then the next little one would come along and it would start all over again.

Looking back, I just don't see a lot of time that we would have had to use the boat. NOW, we have so much fun with the boat as a family. Nothing better then seeing your kids hit there goals skiing, or just jumping off the platform splashing and having fun. Wouldn't trade that time or the girls for the world!

Robert,

Always puzzling to me talk of family/kids and boats don't mix, it has been the exact opposite for me on both sides of that equation. When the kids are really young and not really able to wear a floatation device obviously greater care needs to be taken however once they can wear a PFD it's all good, even better when they are able to swim. As far as the sun, a good bimini and no worries there.

Despite what some of these guys are saying buying new does not need to cost you big money or much more then used, you need to get into the boat at a good number and keep it nice. I certainly agree that financing a toy is never a good idea and if you do go with at least 50% down and on the shortest terms you can handle, that way if you need to get out fast you can without owing and the short terms will cost you so much less in the end.

@Robert

Yes, she even drives for me!!!!

When the kids are little bitty you've got to keep dumping water on them and have an electric fan to keep them cool and have some way to keep them in the shade. But before you know it they're out there riding!!

We kind of got our first boat with the idea of having our family on it together for as long as we can do it. The oldest now brings a couple of his friends on - I like it because it keeps them around our influence instead of somewhere else.

By the way, I am a firm supporter of buying a used boat for cash unless you can buy a new boat for cash. The used ones are good because you usually have to tear into them to fix tons of little things and learn how to change all of the fluids, impeller, alignment, electronics and stuff that helps you understand how it all works and will help you when she finally does break down on you. All of the work also helps to make her yours.

Finally, if having trouble pushing the button, consider that none of us are getting any younger....

10,000 cases of beer .. screw the boat

i would bet the banks want a full 20% down nowadays