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.