College loans must also have a impact on a very expensive material purchase

I have always been a motorhead. At the age of 12 I made one good dirt bike out of two old Kawasaki's. Shortly therafter I got kicked out of the house... But that's another story..LOL G0-karts, mini bikes, generally raising hell and working on stuff till all hours of the morning and going to school. I'm sure a lot of us here were like that. In 1986 I was 18 and bought my first real car a 1966 Chevelle SS 396 at a buy here pay here in upstate NY, I'm originally from Syracuse. Nase Motors to be exact, and old man Nase had in the back 9 of his a shop a 30' Scarab w/ twin blown small blocks. I remember just standing there in shear awe at the magnitude of this enormous (at the time) boat. So after some fanangling he put me to work. I never worked on the boat but took every opportunity to investigate it. It had a golden hue to it and he had named it " Knot to Shabby". That was my first encounter with a real boat and it has stuck with me through all of my boats.

My point being....... I have yet to meet a kid that has any real desire to work. As far as I'm concerned sponge bob, video games and parents that don't make their kids get out of the house have made softies that expect everything to come easy. When I was 18 I'd have given my left nut to work at a professional race shop, boats, motorcycles, cars didn't care. Where is that drive today?

Kids today are lame !

I think something that a lot of us are forgetting millennial's that have the right college degree have money. I have friends were there kids went to school and got a four-year degree but it wasn't an engineering or skill and They are not making much money at all.

My friends and I when we got out of school and were ready for college, a lot couldn't afford it so we went to two year schools. Back then you were still able to get a good job with those degrees and make a decent living. Now a 4 year degree is required for entry-level anything.

The pool of good paying jobs is a lot smaller than it used to be.

Let alone the point that a wake board boat has a lot to offer, space storage, stereo, the fact you can wake board, barefoot, ski, wake surf for the price of a new striped performance boat. And can be pulled by a 1/2ton.

^^^^ This ^^^^

It seems to me that a lot kids nowadays don't want to have to put forth any effort to achieve gratification. When I came into my two step son's lives (then 11&9) they loved going out on the boat, being on the water, and even working on the boat. As they got older and the X-Box games got better, the notion of being out on the water all day or being outside wrenching on the boat became less and less appealing. Now at the ages of 18 & 16 you couldn't pay them to step foot on a boat, but will commit to playing video games and watching ESPN football, basketball, etc.highlights for hours on end, with absolutely nothing to show for it at he end of the day. I certainly don't understand it.

I have the answer. LOL It's the "X" generation in the 20's and low 30's. and of course the $'s. I pretty much gave my Son the 26' Infinity to use as he feels. Pretty good sport cuddy, semi performance boat. The deal was he pays for fuel, cleans it etc. I will help with the maintenance stuff. THis was 3-4 years ago. He took it out once, with me, and the Warcraft games, texting and what's the plans for Friday night is waaaaay more important. He doesn't understand that fast boats, (even the Infinity) are perfect F'ing machines for younger once. LMAO. Hmm... even for olders like me. <EFG> But in shot... mostly $.

Money is still the big factor in my mind.

Grew up on the Ohio river...Dad had a boat for a couple years but I only remember going out on it once...

After school I always wanted a boat but the funds always went into beer, cars, chasing girls...

Started dating my now wife and hit the water in her parents boat every weekend, had kids, bought a house, relocated, bought a bigger house, still no boat...It was always next year..

Finally at 35 years old I pulled the trigger...Had to get an open bow because the wife said so, but at least I'm on the water with a big block pushing me....Kids love it, unless the water is too cold for them to get out of the boat and into the water, then they get a little bored as the only real beach we can go to on our lake is not kid friendly...

I showed them a bigger boat in the water in early September, both were in awe and wanted to know why we didn't get a boat like that so I had them ask their mother why...

Last night I got verbal approval to get a closed cabin boat with twins, but it will be at least a year before I can do it. She completes her nursing degree this spring and it will free up a boatload of money to be able to purchase something bigger...Looking forward to something we can over night in, and hopefully both my children stay interested in it. The boy loves the sound of the big block, and he will wet himself when he feels the power of twins..

As far as the wakeboard boats go.....We have one of the bigger Ski Natuique dealers in the country in our area...I actually worked with the owner for a couple years before he left the corporate world and started selling boats...Those G23 and G25 boats are impressive and will hold about 15 passengers...They are very nice boats, but not my cup of tea....If money was no object, i'd buy one just for the watersport aspect with the wife and kids...But I would still have to own a boat that would fit me...

Agreed 100%. I didn't see this before my post. But yup!!!.
I had a boat since I was 16. moved up in size periodically. Different era. You couldn't keep me away from the boating and the water. And I was still playing with hot rods, bikes, and woman. My boats always took priority, it's a passion.

I grew up on an island and our family always had boats nothing fast though. I was 10 when I built my first boat out of some scrap wood then took the 3.5 Nissan off my parents dingy. 13 my dad got me a 9’ mini hydro that was the first spark, when I was 20 I bought a 21 mirage and rocked that for a few years, then a 30 Scarab. The real performance boat bug came from a local boat dealer that gave me a ride in a 32b Skater with 575s we did 130. Ding Ding I have been all in since.

I am 33 now and putting together the old Peppers 36 Skater 4 seat enclosed canopy. I have vowed to try and offer as many rides as possible when this one it done. The younger generation has to experience the thrill to get the bug. Granted a 36 Skater would not be their first boat but I might get them interested enough to check out some of the great used entry level boats that are out there. Just my 2cents

Where is that drive today?

In the area that makes money, AKA tech jobs. So the kids playing video games comfy and inside or that computer geek. Well today those are the jobs that pay and pay very well. So the work drive is there, it is just the working Work force has changed a lot with the times.

I am a 32 and left behind big time as far as tech goes. I much rather work hard in labor cause really that is all I know. Can't blame the kids these days for not doing that though when the big money careers nvolve none of that skill.

Lot of truth here too.

I am looking to switch career and man has it been tough. Never had to really deal with this before but it has been about 2 solid months and about 80-100 apps/resumes out and still here looking. The quality job pool is def a tough one these days.

This painfully hits home, and I just read some of the earlier posts. Todays kids, my Son included, has no clue about life, challenges, the adrenaline of success. It's all video games, text, and smart phone generation. I love my Son, (25) he might able to change a spark plug if I show him where it is. Besides the lack of $ with generation "X" or millennia's, there is no motivation. I know some of my Sons friends with 4 year BS degree and working in a restaurant. One of my very wealthy client's Son is 25, 4 year BS degree, (took him 6+years. lol ) working for Dad, living at home, no ambition. I's the current trend, I have no answers but it sux. My kid could take my boats out pretty much anytime. Warcraft is priority. And I tried like hell to get him out of the typical, current chit of life. No luck, and most of the late teens early 20's kids are the same. Our society's future is in their hands? We are in deep chit.

32 Here. Have had some sort of boat since 18 and longer considering parents boats. My dad had boats all during my childhood and Godfather had Donzi, Cigarette and Baja dealership. I worked in the industry out of college for 3 years. I have run everything from 21 Scarabs to big vee's and cat's. I am proud to say that I have been over 100MPH in 20+ boats thanks to work and friends. My wifes first real boat ride was a 42' Fountain with 1200's. She texted a a friend @150 from the back seat of an MTI. We were hooked needless to say.

I held on to my Classic 40' with 700HP 572's until 2010. I sold it, my diesel and all related parts to buy a long term house. I took a bath on the toys! I made it back at closing on the house and have watched it appreciate since. I now have a personally restored '79 24' Sea Ray that we use a few times a year to get my little boy out on the water. He loves it. I have less invested in the old Sea Ray than a year of fuel, maintenance and storage before. Priorities change and I will be back... once all the important things in life are paid for.

For me, I got a career started on a high and was humbled in 2009 and 2010 (Oil & Gas). I think a lot of 30 somethings have realized that "living like they will never see another poor day" is not practical. I didn't have much to spare when playing with go fast boats. Now that I have it, I want to spend it on appreciating assets or at least toy's that maintain a value and can be traded without much loss. Having been there and done that, I am not going to be happy returning until I can have what I want and the time to use it.

Good reads and responses to all.

When was the last time a kid knocked on your door wanting to mow your lawn or shovel your snow?? Jesus, I had routes I was a busy kid.

Am I the only one that gets frustrated with how companies in this hobby are run? Piss poor work that takes valuable months away during peak season while being charged a premium burns me. I had a 383 build done a couple years ago, dropped off Tuesday before thanksgiving, after tear down I dropped off cash for parts the week after, and didn't get it back until after Memorial Day. Nothing was balanced, I had a wind age tray that had been in a blow up that wouldn't even let my dipstick reach the oil. The best part was all the money I spent for the boat to go the same speed.

After seeing what I've gone through, my friends laugh at me for staying with it.

About ready to buy a sailboat with a little outboard.

I can tell you of 30 years in SW Florida how lazy these kids are . I have yet to have one knock on my door to shovel snow:evilb:

You can pay me upfront by the season if you'd like, guaranteed removal by 3pm. ;)

Paradox is absolutely correct. I'm 34, and building a new boat. This will be my first new boat, hopefully my first of many. It will also be my 3rd OL and my 4th boat in four years. I grew up on a dairy farm and didn't have much choice if I wanted to work or not. I also was raised by a single mother, that was flat broke. My mother would have me spend the summers at my grandparents and uncles farm for the summers. I was a pretty good wrestler in high school and wanted to go the high school in my grandparents district, so I lived there my high school years. I absolutely despised my grandfather for working everyday when I was a kid, but now I thank him for it. While all my friend were out screwing off I was working before and after school till mid night on some school nights. My grandpa taught me a good work ethic which so many kids these days lack. My work ethic, a couple of risks and some luck have made my business that I started 100% on my own, grow to be somewhat successful so far. My father had boats when I was a kid but nothing like what I've been able to own. Bottom line, for the most part kids in my generation are just flat out lazy.

Im 28 and I see one expensive thing my friends are buying- retirement. Pensions are a thing of the past and with widespread information I have a pretty good idea of how much money I need to put back now to have a good life later. Peel the top 20k off your salary and things get tight pretty quick.

Why bother when u can just use the old mans? .......
This not only pertains to boats. But all toys, cars, summer / winter houses, and hell. .....even permanent housing.

I know a 29 year old boy that lives at home with a baby on the way and he still goes on "family"vacations too. By that I mean mom and dad bring him and his g.f. on vacation. ..
.. but he's got a "one of the best in the country" college degree, just ask him he's not shy!

Stuck on the T1T. That's why 20 somethings aren't into it.
If Dads got a fishing boat they fish. Sail boat they sail. Being a moocher you can't be choosy.

And video games now. Kids are dorks. They aren't good at BMX but they can tear up the skate park on x box. They can't or have no desire to drive a fast car but they can do some serious driving on grand theft auto.

nerds

Rant over :)

IMHO, $$$ and having young children. I'm in my 40s and have LOVED go fast boats my whole life, always planned to own one. But in my current situation, I have a wife who doesn't like the Go Fast boats and 2 young daughters who like watersports. We all love boating and the lifestyle, however, compromises had to be made for our type of boating and our location. A performance boat doesn't allow for bringing lots of friends out tubing, and our small lake isn't much good for going 80+. So my compromise was a big bowrider with the largest engine offered and thru hull exhaust. So I can take 12 people out but still pretend I'm going 80!!:)

Where I live, I believe priorities. I am 29 and my wife 26, a lot of people here our ages would rather be buying "bottle service" in the clubs and acting like someone important! We boat every weekend 10 months a year and have friends all in their 20s with a group of boats ranging from a 18' jet boat to a f29 dcb. The groups of young people boating exist, just have to find them

You also live with your parents in the country where you have space to store and probably a barn and work 3 jobs. That's pretty far from the average millenials situation.

I've gotten 4 of my friends into boats now. They have no interest in sport boats though. In my experience, most young people that could afford a boat have no experience with them. This is a big hurtle for them to overcome. I'm pretty much their source for info and help on maintaining them while they learn the ropes.

I was lucky to grow up boating and my folks had a lake house and multiple boats over the years. I had no student loans and earn in the top 10% for people my age, and owning even an old used boat is an expense that is hard to swallow. I'd need to make significant sacrifices in other areas.

Third. The legal implications of running afoul of the coast guard or DNR can be onerous at best and probably life altering. This had also partly been the driver for the flight to large metropolitan cities. Lots of high earning young people flock to these areas and will spend all of their access income paying rent in the nicest neighborhood that they can afford. Boating related expenses in these areas are very high also.

At least 30% of decent paying tech jobs are now held by Indians or Chinese on H1B visas. They are the definition and cheap and send all of their saving home to their families in India.

High earning millenials are extremely image conscious. As long as performance boats have a loose affiliation with the Harley Davidson tribal tattoo crowd, most educated high earning millenials will avoid them like the plague.

Here are the priorities of most high earning young people:
1. Where you live
2. Electronics
3. Clothes
4. Eating and drinking fancy stuff
5. Fitness
6. Traveling
7. Bicycles
8. Your car
Probably a few others I'm forgetting
29. Boats

The one that has worked in my experience is to get your friends who could potentially afford boats out with you as much as possible. But even then I can't guarantee you they will want a top gun.

I would have named the thread "How to get more young people interested in high performance boating". Like anything we learn to enjoy, get them on your boat as much as possible and show them a great time. They will find a way to get a boat in their driveway one day. 6 more months of this cold weather nonsense.

There comes a point in everyone's life (or at least there should) when they realize that they physically won't be able to work forever. In my 20's I had somewhat of a cocky attitude towards retirement. I just assumed that when I was ready to retire, I would just sell my business. Somewhere between 29-30 I realized that was a very F'ing stupid plan. Ever since, I've been dumping all the money I possibly can into long term investments mainly real estate. In the past few years the wife and I have even started scaling back on things that we can easily afford all in hopes to retire early and be able to do whatever we want whenever we want.

Back track to 1985. new boat, 21 W/ 350 Merc. and Alpha 1. At LOTO on vacation, just after the 20 hour check up. Oil filter was loose, lost all oil, engine seized, vacation over, no boating. Me?/ pissed as hell, ready to kill. Called Merc. Merc hooked me up with a local tech, air shipped the parts, local mechanic worked all night, got me on the water 3 days later. Vacation salvaged we had a good time, and I HAD SERVICE from Merc. and a Merc authorized Mechanic. This would NEVER happen today. :( It's a new and F'up world.

Unless I missed it in one of the earlier post, nobody has mentioned the availability of money. Unfortunately the "high performance" boat industry hasn't had the best reputation. Consequently there is nobody willing to loan money (to any large degree that is!). My son wanted to buy a boat not too long ago. He makes more money than I did when I got the mortgage for my present home. $250K. The most they would give him was $50K. And yet he could go out and buy a new car for $85K with 10% down.

Another problem I see is the unrealistic expectations of many boat owners. I realize this is my opinion, but it seems we lose people along the way when they realize they are not going to put 100's of hours on their boats per season. Or, they are not welcome at every harbor.

Last but not least is the cost of running many of these twin engine, big horsepower boats. One of the post I saw earlier mentioned $100 to $200 to run their boat for the day. Wow, I envy that guy. As mentioned above most of my running is in larger groups where we have particular destinations set up ahead of time and are welcome at their docks. Whether or not this is an actual poker run or just a fun run it always involves some pretty good mileage. Typically this type of run by the time we fill up the tow vehicle, gas the boat, have something to eat can cost anywhere from $750 to $1000! That's an expensive day. I know I can only do that a few times per season and I'm ok with that.

DNR!! Made a big difference around here, you couldn't go out and have a good time without them checking for lifejackets, noise, drinking, or anything else they could think of. And they would only focus on large powerboats. People just got sick of it.

Starting a career during the recession will permanently affect our spending and saving habits for the rest of our lives, if the Great Depression was any indication.

Pension? What's that lol?

Also borrowing money to buy a business via SBA has been virtually impossible. (well more my brother and his new wife, who were to be my partners)

I heard a statistic that SBA loans are used primarily by medium sized businesses and not actual small start ups. Argh.

I think one possible way to save performance boats is if they could be marketed to young Chinese men with rich parents. They are buying all the supercars.

Hey I'm mad at you. I might be a performance boater if you hadn't bought that coyote lol.

money is a big thing, and at least around here. Also, people care more about fishing than going fast...or at least looking like they fish. Plus, having a boat that can take 10 people out to the sandbar to party is more important.

I'm 27 and finally have what I consider a decent boat, a 30ft scarab with twin 502's. The operating cost and maintenance is double what my last boat was. We've always had a boat in the family, but I was the only one who cared about going fast. When I moved to college at the beach, I bought a cheap john boat and used that while saving for something. Then I bought beat up formula 255 that I thought I could fix....I couldn't so I sold it, then bought a cheap formula 233. Every time I took it out something broke. so I ended up spending most of my time on the water on my jon boat. Sold the formula then saved for another year and bought a 20ft donzi minx that needed almost nothing. Finally got a fast boat that didn't need work and I loved it. Only problem is that 20ft isn't big enough to go fast when you've got all the people in their big boats hardly on plane. I was either jumping the boat every 30 seconds (which most passengers got tired of) or having to drop my speed every time i encountered somebody's big wake. sold it and spent this past summer on a jet ski until I had the money to buy a bigger boat that needed some work.

The biggest issue is money. I'm self employed and don't have much of a credit history so getting a loan wasn't going to happen. I couldn't even get a loan for my truck. Most people I know would love to have a fast boat, but they're almost all too expensive to pay cash for, and to get a loan for a boat when you're in your 20's probably isn't easy unless you're loaded or have a good job. Which is another hard thing to get...a job after spending all that money on college. When I was growing up it was implied that if you go to college and get good grades you graduate and get a job. Too bad that's not how it works in the real world anymore.
I've pretty much spent every extra dollar I have on getting a boat. If i have a major problem with it It will probably take me a while to fix it. I've got 20k in my truck, 15 in the boat, as well as some other expensive items I use for work; yet my bank account isn't even 10% of what I have tied up in my vehicles. But I'm not making payments on anything other than rent and utilities, which are pretty cheap. Sure, it's not financially smart for me to have what I do right now, but I love it, and you can't put a price on happiness right?

Blame the Government. They own this crap economy, if they would get out of the way people would have jobs or better jobs and have the disposable income to have a few toys. Young people now days are lucky to be able to move out of their parents homes.
Stupid Democrats, starting at the top.

Yeah I guess that's true...... IT is where the $$ is.

Here is an example that has nothing to do with money.
Have a 13 and 14 year old and we live 500 feet from the neighborhood boat ramp. Both the wife and I grew up in water communities and wanted the same lifestyle for our kids.
I restore boats as a hobby and ended up with this Donzi 18 this past January.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...nname/5-10.jpg

Started working on it this spring (garage is not big enough for ....anything). Told both of them if they pass their boater safety course (mandatory in Maryland and I think it would take an hour to do) they could have it. A f_ing Donzi 18 classic at 14 years old! I think they spent a total of 15 minutes helping me restore the boat over the summer and one of them actually looked up the boaters test online and never even finished reading the instructions.
Cant drive a car for another 2 years minimum but the freedom of your own boat to go anywhere you want in a f_ing Donzi classic is not enough incentive to put the phone or game controller down. I would have given my left nut for the boat in my 20's. At 14 there is nothing I wouldn't have done to get that boat. Looks like I will be selling it this coming spring.

HOLY ****! When I was 9 I was mowing lawns, feeding cows, recycling aluminum, plowing fields, and just about anything else I could possibly get paid to do in order to get my hands on my own boat. A Donzi classic is a F'in yacht at that age.

Tonight at dinner give em a loving backhand to the top of their heads :) put a little extra something on it though! ;)

That's a serious beav crusher for a 15 y/o!!!!!
Or are boats not cool now? U pull bittys with smartphones, or neat apps???

Amen brother! I've been working on engines & powered equipment nearly all of my life, but my son has no interest in it. He loves boating (while I'm paying for it) but doesn't want to get his hands dirty, as in would rather pay somebody else to do the dirty work, but really doesn't have the $$$ for it.

I use my dads Sea Ray from time to time, I also found it for him in 06 and he could still sell it for more than what he paid, I've done almost all of the maintenance to it (he helped me pull the engine for a coupler two weeks before we ran it on a poker run), family friend helped us with bellows, 0 storage cost, I've also used my own parts to fix it on busy weekends when things have come up. I wish I could find a mooch like me for my boat!! Last friend I took out drank all my rum, didn't pitch in for gas, didn't wipe it down afterward, invited two other people, and forgot to say thanks.

I might be a little bitter, that was in 2009!! Lol.

In short: To enjoy boating you have to be an excellent mechanic or have money, and it helps to be both.

I gave my 79 American, 19 ski runabout to my stepsons if they would take it home and take care of it. Two years later I'm still storing it and they got indignant when I complained about leaving it tied to the dock for weeks on end.Wtf?