Why so few young people?
 

Matt Trulio's last post got me thinking.....

I'm a young guy (under 30) and have loved go fast boats ever since I used to watch them take off from the pier as a kid. I bought one a few years ago, and am now thoroughly addicted - there's no going back from here. Pretty much every other young guy I know thinks it's cool too.

So, why are there so few guys my age getting into it nowadays? How can we change this trend? Some of the answers are pretty obvious, but I want to hear other people's opinions....

$$$

money chris. i think a lot of people would love to have a hot rod but over the years they are costing so much more, and buying them is the cheap part.

todd

When I was 6 I started riding dirt bikes . Then I got out of it when I found out about girls and beer. Then when I got to around 20 I started up riding again. Only problem was that I stopped boating for ridding. Crap. Now I ride in the morning and boat in the afternoon. I don't think I answered your question. But I think it's a phase. Also younger people don't have the cash either

the total cost of operating, maintaining and purchasing a boat is the killer. its not getting any cheaper these days especially when you start getting into the bigger boats with bigger power. going from one of my 28's to the 38 and now the 41 is a whole new financial ball game.

The other side of $$$ is working on stuff yourself. Things are way cheaper when you do.

There is less of this happening with the younger crowd.

Also, fuel prices pretty much killed boating on a budget.

A $20-$40k boat is one thing, but $100-$200 a week in gas pretty much kills it.

Too bad more don't get into the 18-21ft small block boats. You can make them fly for less $$$ and obviously a ton less in fuel.

But, many dream big, and of course, many don't want to get dirty.

Again, that's what i see in my little world.

Money.

I got my buddy into it, but the jackass bought a fishing boat, lol.

I was young when I came here. I am 38 now and bought my first boat a 24 Python at 22

Overall Cost of boating and life in general. A boat is expensive to buy, operate, and maintain. Throw in the high cost of living, home ownership, auto(s), student loans, etc. It is just too much to take on at a "young" age for 99+% of people early on in their careers or business ownership.

Storage, money, and not being technically inclined.
If I had to pay someone to do whats required, Id be owning a bass boat ...tops:D

Everyone who said $$$ is correct. I was 24 when I bought my first boat, a 1997 29' scarab and it pretty much set me back several years in life at the time. I had friends buying houses, getting married etc and I had 0 savings, an apartment and a bad ass boat at the time. Fast forward 10 years, I have a mortgage, a wife, and what I consider a bad ass boat for my needs. Man what I would give to rewind life and move back into that apartment.....

I fully expected everyone to mention the cash. I jumped from a started with a SeaDoo and went right to a 33 Scarab with 500s, so don't really know the operating costs of a small block 20 to 25 footer. Seems like that would be the usual first step, but there doesn't seem to be many of those on the market anymore...

Jet boats are still a deal, there are plenty out there

Wait until it breaks and you will answer your own question.

I would agree with the younger crowd just isn't into the fast boats, cars, bikes, etc. They have no passion for speed/power like I did as a kid. I see it everyday in the auto industry. Can you remember ever talking with a group of your friends in you 20's about how cool a SE mini van looks. I heard that discussion with a group of my service porters last week. None of them have kids!

Its sad and as corny as it may sound I encourage everyone that does work on there own things to get your kids, nephews, nieces, neighbor hood kids...involved in it.

I officially sound like an old man!

I've already blown a motor and am rebuilding right now.......I'm fully aware of the expense! :angry-smiley-038:

That may be a little too personal to share.
I hope that doesn't make someone close jealous.:party-smiley-004:

LOL.

Many people in the younger generations grew up with ps2, 3, and now 4's with graphics getting better every day. Add up the time many of them spend working on their fantasy characters and it just doesn't leave time for much else.

It isn't just money- although thats a big part of it.

- lots of millennials make money- they simply make different choices.

Many don't even leave the nest preferring to stay at home on the computer, games and social networking sites vs going out and doing things.

Kids today aren't even buying cars, much less hot rods, boats and houses.

To effectively own and use a boat you also have to have a tow vehicle and place to store both vehicles - all three items are items shunned by the typical millennial purchaser.

How to change it-? not sure that can be done.

UD

SB I can tell you would be fun to have a beer with . Humor is good ! :ernaehrung004:

The younger generation that are buying new boats are buying wakeboard boats with tower,,10,000 dollars worth of stereo and an LS engine .These wakeboard boats are commonly well over 100 grand for a 22 or so footer.....

Says the guy who puts peanut butter on his ports!

Cash shut me down for awhile. At 22 I had a little baja 18SS with a 327 mated to an (barf) OMC stringer drive and a 21' sea Ray with a 5.7 and about 7 cars. At 23 I had my first kid and my now wife decided we need to remodel the house and buy all new everything and then we have another kid... Yup, no boats and 2 cars. Between the kids basic expenses, daycare (as much as my mortgage), and my wife's college expense, we had zero extra money. Then it was a new truck... Then a Harley.... Finally got back to boats a few years ago.

Gas going thru the roof years ago took the fun out of it for me. Living in Florida you live to boat because as far as I am concerned there is nothing else to do here.
When fuel was affordable we would jump in the boat and go 120 miles round trip for lunch but now that run on my dads 225 single CC is a 300 dollar run . It was fun when it was 100 bucks and i would cover the gas and have everyone else do the food and drinks .
Same with taking the boat on the trailer down to the Keys for a weekend between tow vehicle and boat gas its 600 bucks .
Got to the point where we never went anywhere in the boat anymore except a short run to the beach to sit for the day and even that is 50 bucks for a slow ride there and back.

I know everyone says gas is the cheapest part of boating but if you own a little 19 foot hotrod with fairly mild power there is very minimal extra cost.
Don't know how some of you guys can swallow burning 40 to 50 gallons an hour at cruise .

We will be back to 2.40 gas here very soon but there is all ready a bunch of stupid azzes wanting to impose a 50 cent a gallon carbon tax now that it has came down a little bit

Ya there could be many things-

1. Pussification of America and weak kids that talk mini vans and hybrids.
2. That wakeboard boat is way cheaper to maintain and way easier to actually get financing on and cN be pulled with an Explorer
3. My buddies my age and younger are just not familiar enough with our crazy boats, they are more comfortable with speed on land or non moving surface.
4. Yes the video games
5. Not working on stuff them selfs.
6. Our boats can be intimidating.
7. The wakeboard boats hold more chicks.

I'm 30 and would only own a fun pontoon or a performance boat. I know I'm diffrent. But I was raised on this stuff.

Cash and working on your own stuff which in turn can come back to cash.

I am 32 and went from a 23' single engine CC to a 35' twin Big Block. Now I am wanting to go back down for me and the all around benefits from storage, run cost, and also wanting a CC for more room and friends.

All my buddies love my boat, many make more than me too, none will ever buy a boat like mine though.

Totally agree with this post. Adding - The reason they are scared of this is the "tuner" type typically knows muffler **** cans and air filters on imports.

In our area I blame the man in blue for the decline if "do it yourselfers (is that a word?). We used to have cruise spots and street racing spots in industrial areas that they left alone. (Tower road) Watched with the rest of us. Once they cracked down on street racing my walk in engine business was reduced noticeably. Love em or hate em, the Street Outlaws show has helped the remaining engine shops here. Maybe there's hope around the corner.

JjYou hit the nail on the head my friend. I bought my 311 8 years ago at the age of 24. It's something in my blood I guess that I like the vintage power and speed. Kids these days aren't carrying on in the same way. What is cool has changed in the majority of the publics eye. I have no problem being the minority.

I'm 27, my family has been into pleasure boating my whole life. I just bought a 96' Velocity 280 as my first performance based boat. Sure is a lot of Money to spend, but when you can tie up to the parents yacht after a good day of burning gas in the sunshine and have an amazing dinner and drinks waiting for you, i couldn't think if any better way to spend my $$ haha. also, i went to school and got a trade. saved up for everything i have and enjoy it much more. Currently working waaay too much OT to afford my new 496 stroker being built in time for spring...

Ive owned a few boats, 13' Whaler, 13' Mini Hawk, 23' Chris Craft (never finished). It's alot of money!! Its a recreational hobby, always going to dump money into it, so I got into the 4x4 truck game, ended up being way more successful, and ive gone further than I have with the boats. 21 years old and already buildin the truck up every few weeks to a month. Not gonna buy another boat untill I can afford to run it!

My beak is a 24 and not a 42 for one reason- $$$,$$$.

I have been boating for 40 years. My 27 year old son has no interest, he states that he can never afford to buy a boat, and certainly can not afford to insure or fuel it. I tell him to work harder. Boats should grow in both size and speed as your income grows. The big boats are expensive but worth every dime. My son does not agree and has turned down every chance to boat. No interest! The ability to pen a check for the purchase certainly limits the buyer. Limited usage is another downer for him. He sees me spending far more hours caring for the boat than running it. They just don't get it.

Doug- I've been boating with you for 10 years and don't believe I've ever even met your son. Haha

lots o you guys are still young!
I was young,
I got into power kiting sea land and snow in '05
then I decided I should get a boston whaler 13 footer 4 kitesurfing the best spots
then I got a pointy chriscraft 16 ft glastron clone
(much better)
four? five? years ago I grabbed a checkmate 28
iloveit!
this year I turned 40
pretty sure I am not a kid any more.
good luck kids!
do what I did,...
try self employment
it s a good way to get$$$

also
I keep my big boat on a rack
and have never towed it myself
pretty sure that costs less
got an s-10 and 2 astroes that move the jetski and or the sixteen footer

also also, my wife gets super scared over 30 mph
so I only really drink lotsa gas when she is not on board

31 now and ate up with the dumba$$ of owning a boat, bought the 42 at 25 yo and that was the cheap part :picard1:

I think it's a societal shift more than cash.

There is money to buy boats and the market has plenty of affordable gf boats. Young kids ( my generation and younger would rather play on their IPad than venture outside. Lots of my generation can't even drive stick, much less diagnose/work on a boat. Couple that with the fact that you can buy a used jet ski for 3000 that is fuel injected and runs 60 mph and the young person just doesn't see fit to go boating unless they have the passion.

I'm 30 and was raised around boats. Started with a crown 225 and while being @$$ raped raw on a car build I said forget this nonsense and bought a 288. Had it for less than two years and took the advice of others... Buy a boat that's already faster. Being in the 32 I am overwhelmed, until I want more.

Fast boats are expensive. Modding is even more expensive. Cars are great but think about HP in cars these days. 300hp and you were balling back in the day. Now, my 538whp cobra is nothing special. More so, I don't see the need for the younger crowd to be behind the wheel. I believe many of us would agree.

To another point, milenials are in fact making the coin to afford it. However, the entry price for a bigger boat is mind blowing. To get into a boat and truck you're cracking 100k. If I was 22/23 all over again I may have bought a wakeboard boat too.

Nah.

Mainly credit, money and time. But the ones that do have credit and or money are buying the heck out of wakeboard boats. No other fiberglass boats can come close in sales except the Yamaha jetdrive boat in which leads everything for one model only in sales.

Malibu and Mastercraft account for about 4,000 in sales in new boats per year alone for just them 2. These boats are not bought by the 52 or older crowd unless daddy war bucks buys it for his kids.

Total sales for the wakeboard boats end of Oct 2014 were close to 6000 in brand new sales. Compared to the sportboat sales were what 200 for the whole 2014 year and compared to all fiberglass 14 ft thru 30 ft straight inboard and I/O was around 10.800 in sales in which is down 21 % from last year. Wow.

Keep mind wakeboard boats mainly are 20 to 24 ft and that's it basically and only have about 12 manufacturers total compared to over 100's rec boats 14 to 30 ft manufacturers. These numbers I posted are 2014 new boat sales ending Oct.

going off on a tangent,...
hot rod cars vs boats
I drive enough all day every week,...
its torture
why buy a hot rod car for thrills?
just gonna hit traffick in it anyway!
a hobie cat is thousands times more fun than any 4 wheeler!