Originally Posted by US1 Fountain (Post 3624442)

Your common (man) boater doesn't even know about OSO.
Your common (man) boater doesn't even know about the Miami boat show.

Originally Posted by US1 Fountain (Post 3624442)

Your common (man) boater doesn't even know about OSO.
Your common (man) boater doesn't even know about the Miami boat show.

Originally Posted by POWERPLAY J (Post 3624449)

I believe the point of this thread is that boating in general has become so expensive the average person can no longer afford a new boat. Go back 10 yrs or so and you could buy a 22 Scarab new for 37k, or a 25 Sunsation for 42k both with big blocks and on trailer, a 28 Sun was still less than 70k, you could even get a 32 Sun for a little over 80k. Ffw and the same exact boat is near double the $ brand new and the average persons wages did not double in that time span. There are many places to place blame. Merc builds great products but as stated in a previous post the cost is absurd! The cost of raw materials (derrived from petroleum) and not to mention the EPA rules are absurd not to mention the liability insurance for the mfgrs. Now add in the banks not wanting to take on the risk of an average person putting 10-15% down and financing a toy for a reasonable rate. Sure you can blame the mfgrs but the cost is not in their hands. The employees don't make squat. They are in the biz to sell boats. The cheaper they can build the more they sell period! Now add in the cost of a new truck to tow with, that $ has gone up almost at the same rate of a boat. I actually get angry with this subject because I like to take people out and have them experience what it is like to be on a boat. Then they find out the cost (not including fuel) and are wowed. I am a long time member of Boats US, they continually write about getting people into this hobby, past time, way of life (however you want to phrase it) and unfortunately it IS out of reach for the average joe. Makes you wonder about 10yrs from now... Sorry for my rant, I am off the soapbox now. Carry on...

Originally Posted by pullmytrigger (Post 3625010)

As stated above I think the outrageous cost of Mercury eng/drives has contributed greatly to the end of the common man entry level perf boat.....wish there was more of an effort towards non Mercury eng/drive packages....volvo tried but when your trying to oust the king dont try it with dual prop/ strange set ups....if it was me Id design something that used Merc props....make it easy to like.

Originally Posted by Michael1 (Post 3625719)

The entry level performance boat market is COMPLETELY DEAD.

I know. I've looked. Everywhere.

The entry level boats are gone. They were around until the early 90's, and then all the builders started upsizing, and discontinuing their smaller boats.

To put this in perspective, in 1989, you could buy a 95 mph Hondo flat bottom V-drive for $15,000. That included a 454 with a tunnel ram with dual quads, and the most expensive drive system at the time, a V-drive (not a cheap jet pump or outdrive that falls apart the first time you drop the throttle from a stop). It included chrome over transom exhaust, anodized aluminum pieces, cavitation plate, nice paint, dual axle trailer, and on and on.

That also was the average price of a new car. That means, many people of average means could go buy a BRAND NEW 95 mph boat, that looked and sounded good.

Fast forward to today. The average new car price is just under $30K. Tell me what performance boat you can buy with a big block Chevy that goes 95 mph for $30K.

The real problem with today's boats, is the fun per dollar has gone right out the window.

Michael