If I could live on the water it would make the crap work so much better. I would have a hard time wanting to sell my boat if I did.

Very jealous and very kick ass you do.

I just don't see it in the cards around here. A starter home needing a full gyt out and redo with a lift near John's Pass starts at $500k and will need a LOT of work.

Sucks :(

You know reading a lot of these i see a lot of younger guys saying there first performance boat is/was a Baja.

Let's face it Baja, Fountain and to some extent Donzi got a lot of people into it becuase of the price point.

With them all gone and the only lower cost left being checkmate what's the future look like?

I hear you Nate, over here they were/ are still some good bargains around. Just will have a bit of a idle but nothing compared to tow ramps etc.

Our house needed a lot, and one reason the boat isn't done, wife wants house done first!

I could deal with some idle out. Time for a cold drink, get the radio right, and soak in some sun before the wind in the face.

I have looked at some homes that way. I was offered a job at the card room in Melbourne and we really had to think over that move. Still not sure I could snatch up a water front home but I do really like that area.

You are def living my dream bud.

It is 30° here can u guys stop bragging about the sun and wind in your face. Dam n it to he ll ohio winter's suck

The reason fewer younger people is I would hope most are focusing on working towards buying a home and then of course the cost as well.

I am 26. I have been on these forums for years and years since I was like 13 or 14 years old. My dad is the main reason I got into boating, living on the intercoastal growing up, I was always on the jetskis or jet boat (which I still own now). My dad had a 271 formula which has been sold but being on my water and on the formula was one of my favorite things to do.

My first boat was the jetboat which my dad handed down to me. I still have this boat today. Perfect boat to take out on the river and relax if you want to go swimming, to a quick lunch on the water or just chill in the water for the day. I then bought a 24' Python with an hp500 as my first go fast boat. Dry stored this one which was convenient b/c I didn't have a truck at the time. I kept this for about a year and this year I bought a truck and I just bought a new to me 33'6 formula. The wife is extremely happy with the ride compared to the 24' Python and she is starting to get into the poker runs and all more herself. I ran in 2 poker runs last year with the Python and I hope to do 3 or 4 this year with the Formula.

I have met some great people over the years by just being on the forums. Definitely some stand up people in this community out there.

You nailed it. There's no doubt that the cost of gas, insurance, etc, has played a huge role in fewer young people getting into the go fast world, but the lack of affordable boats is an issue that hasn't been mentioned in this thread enough.

I can think of a bunch of high-end builders and several that I would consider to be 'good,' but I can't think of a single one building entry level boats anymore. Is there anything new(ish) for less than 75k?

This problem in combination with an aging (and thus harder to finance) fleet of 'entry level' boats makes it pretty tough for anyone to enter the sport without some serious cash.

My parents were lucky for a bit in that they were renting a house on johns pass ave facing bird island for like $1300/mo. Then the owners wanted to move in and they had to buy. Ended up on that little Bay Area in st pete beach for like 500k+

The cheap places were down in Cape Coral for waterfront.

Word. I dread my gas bill every month.

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