I've dropped those hints before (not encouraging it but...) like once away from the ramp they would be on their own and that we live in a area that has just as much to do on the water then there is on land. Nothing. Rather spend 60 hours on a weekend watching a marathon of a 10 year old sitcom on Netflix.

I'll take a free boat of someone's offering. I'll be sure to send you plenty pictures of the women that are on it too.

Aw come on now...Lol it's strange here speak of my generation as kids. But sadly what you say is true I couldn't agree more. I'm 24 by the way. I come from a blue collar but extremely hard working family, . After high school went to strait work. Collage is never a bad idea however had I went i likely wouldn't end up where I am now. my Dads old stingray had 350, threw hull exhaust and with choppy idle/cam sparked my interest at the age of 6 or 7 it grew from there. Now... I'm pretty much obsessed. My little donzi ain't much but it's been a work in progress since I bought it 4 years ago. I bought some land and in the process of building house so funds are limited but in a year or so I'll be going up in size. I love the sport or in my case "hobby" . as for other young people not into performance boats aside from the obvious $ it takes. You would surprised at just how many people my age and plenty of people even older that know nothing about performance boats as in never seen, heard or even know they exist. For the most part When I show people pics I took from the emerald coast poker run (skater, nortech, mti's, outer limits ) there jaws drop! There's not enough exposure. NASCAR is beyond huge! Offshore racing is 10x more exciting. I saw the trailer for the jbs
Racing teams reality show that never made it to tv and that should have surely been good exposure. How much of a fall has the sport and hobby taken over decades? I'm just a kid and wasn't around I the don arrow days lol. But I do remember in the late 90s seeing more power boats on the river, Mostly just scarab stryker's fountain baja's. Fishing boats and pontoons have taking over what little boaters are left.

OK, I'm at the other end of the spectrum, I'm retired and here's something I can offer to help ease the cost of ownership.
These boats are a stupid waste of money but if you marry once and don't get divorced it's doable !!!!!!!
ed

Wow. Thread grew since I started my post. Lol

Cost of ownership, gas prices, cell phones/technology, work ethic, terrible economy.

Funny how many here mention seeing/hearing big power stuff in their youth........that is non-existent today!

I knew a kid in high school that ran his dad's new Top Gun WFO up the intracoastal, you could hear this boat coming a 1/2 mile away.......today it is a no wake zone.

I moved to Jupiter, FL 14 years ago, it is a wealthy area about 15 miles north of Palm Beach........knew of a 41 Apache, an OL 47 GTX, 6+ Cigs, a Skater, four 32 Sunsations, a few Fountains and even a couple 38 Powerplays were all in the area.......Today: an older TS TG, a 42X and a beat Gladiator are the only performance boats in the area but dozens of triple/quad engine CC's from all brands. Kids today can't even hear the rumble coming........

What we need to do is give every living American one free white knuckle ride. One of two things will happen 1) they scream and cry and never want to go on a boat again 2) they will sell there iPads video games, vibrators whatever to go get a boat so they can relive that feeling. As far as offshore racing ever being as big as nascar, it will never happen. How can you charge for seating... It will never get that big ever... Sucks because it is a sport of true talent when it comes to driving.

Im young, just turned 20 this summer. I have been in the sport my whole life, grandfather has had everything from Rayson Crafts, Acutally used to be a dealer for them, then to 24' Skaters, Formulas, and now his 38' Hustler with twin 850HP. I am around a good group of people which helps. Im totally redoing a 21' Superboat right now to race class 7 and for a pleasure boat. I have some awesome Mentors in the industry who have helped me endlessly and have given me chances. Since I was young I have wanted to design and build offshore powerboats. Love the sport. But a few things, most people my age honestly don't know these boats even exist. Strict speed limits and tickets for noise also drive a lot of guys out of the sport, making it harder to get into it. And quite honestly (although my way of thinking is a bit different from many kids my age) if I didn't have the skillset and interest that I have had and acquired, and the great people helping me that I do, I wouldn't even own a boat. And even with that I don't really own any toys. They cost me money. I can invest that same money and get a positive return on it. Why the hell would I buy something that gives me a negative return. I think that it also has to do with technology, and the way society is portrayed over mass-media. And theres no powerboats in mass media. haha. It sucks not having many people my age in it. But by the same token you have to remember take into consideration that if we are comparing young interest to NHRA or NASCAR then it becomes unfair. mainly because everybody has been in a car and can relate to that. They cant with boats. Furthermore, Offshore Powerboat racing has nowhere near any of the commercial advertising and media publicity that other motorsports do.

I know I am the minority here.

I still love my fast boat and the rumble. But i got the big white knuckle ride (a few times lol) and all it did and has done is assure me I never want that much boat lol.