Originally Posted by Matt Trulio

Question to the younger guys, Nate and Machloosey:

Did your parents own a boat?

People who grew up in boat-owning families often end up owning boats. Because they've been exposed to what's involved, they tend to be less intimidated by the notion of having a boat of their own. It's almost as if the legacy of boat ownership and lifestyle is passed down.

So I'm curious as to what you guys had, in terms of early exposure, to boats.

Originally Posted by Mastercraft240

89 baby over here.... Used boat market prices are going up, for the clean ones anyway. You'd be hardpressed to find a clean boat with stock mercury power in it right now for a good price. The only way to pick up a good deal is getting a clean hull with cr4p power in it and doing a full rebuild with either young performance, ron potter, keith eickert, etc and making the engine EFI. At this point you'd be able to get into a used boat with new power and not lose your a22 on it when you go to sell. The only way for younger guys to get in this sport is either a fix me upper or like someone said in another thread, getting into it from their parents. The cost of living is so high these days $h1t I work a good job (accountant), and by the time I pay my cell phone bill, random things breaking at the house, gas, food, insurance, train tickets.... i'm damn near broke.

Originally Posted by TahoeRick

Ok guys, don't blast me for this because I know it is self serving...

I disagree with your post. There are many deals out there, just find the one that some guy has been trying to sell for two years ( like the ~35 ft ~2002 hallett with chromed twin 750 HP motors in Santa Clara CA) and make them an offer. This boat here is a perfect example of this end result: http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o48951-en.html

Rick

Originally Posted by TahoeRick

Ok guys, don't blast me for this because I know it is self serving...

I disagree with your post. There are many deals out there, just find the one that some guy has been trying to sell for two years ( like the ~35 ft ~2002 hallett with chromed twin 750 HP motors in Santa Clara CA) and make them an offer. This boat here is a perfect example of this end result: http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o48951-en.html

Rick

Originally Posted by J-Bonz

I myself am a few years away from being an 80's baby but I will give my take. Personally, I have been raised on go fast boats my entire life..... I eat, sleep, think, drink boats....... It is the only thing I am into. If the world series, superbowl, or any other sport is on, I am just as happy watching my boat videos or surfing the net for the next project. It truly is a sickness! With that said, I am truly out of the norm.... But, I will give my 2 cents...

1. I will never never ever buy a new boat! One reason, I cant afford it. If I hit the lotto that would be different. It would be funny to walk into cigarette and demand a boat with no bling, one color interior(white) and a boat that is mostly white. Regardless, the new prices are crazy! Just went to the boat show and priced out a cool 16' Glastron closed bow with a 150 HP, $26K. That price can get pull a pretty decent used boat. Look at the price for a 24' cruiser, one can pick up a very nice used 30' performance boat for that asking price.

http://www.glastron.com/content/models/overview/GT160CB

2. In the long run for the younger guys, Jobs in america could be a killer, I see more and more white collar engineering jobs get sent overseas to India... Its kind of scary. Some days I feel like we will be living like in the movie Idiocracy here sooon........... Heck, Cable television seems like a good pulse on the situation.......

Never the less, thats my take..... I will go back to dreaming about boats..

Originally Posted by Mastercraft240

Sorry rick... not a good deal. That has after-market power.... 1000hp it could blow up tomorrow. Also a no name marine engine builder. Fact that he is a car engine builder means nothing in the marine world, sorry. I know since its yours YOU think its great, but push comes to shove... that boat would be worth 45k with a mercury 525.

Originally Posted by chrisf695

+1

More than half the boats on my lake are wakeboard boats and only 10 actually use the boat the way they should.... the rest just come to the sandbar and play there meaningless music so loud that all you hear is loud noises.

Originally Posted by TahoeRick

Tom fuel built motors for top fuel hydros - boat motors not car motors. Plus, it has 30 hrs on build and has exactly 110 psi in each cylinder. But, nothing like having a name of sterling, or Paul Phaff attached to your engine. Hey, I could drop a $6000 525 hp 502 in it and sell it for $6000 more as you suggest - $45k! Or, stay with the 1000 HP at $39,500. Interesting point?

As to boat prices, they are all down and are going to stay that way. Boats are a luxury item and the middle class in the USA has been decimated. They are concentrating on the basics and trying to stay above water even if their mortgages are not.