....but a Hellcat is not a Skater.........
That said, I totally agree with you on the price of boats.

Yamaha is out of waverunners, C8 have a 2 year waiting list so yeah , prices on most things are waaayyyy up.
Dudes are selling C8`s $25k over sticker. Same with everything else.
Couple years ago a 6x6x16' was $35 now it`s $99

All these stupid ass lockdown shut stuff down.

That’s ^^ a big part of the problem, there’s a massive ‘hole’ in the market because so few boats were built for 8-10 years after the GFC. With the irrefutable laws of supply and demand, short supply has jacked up used prices.

I’ve heard from brokers in Australia, with the COVID travel restrictions, many people have been looking for a way to spend their vacation time locally. Boat sales have been booming and the used market has dried up. Well presented used boats are now worth a premium.

New boat prices are no longer aimed at the average family boater. They’re targeting bigger money and to justify the prices, new boats are overbuilt show stoppers. I respect the quality of build and fit out but it comes with a price. 10,000 watt sound system with 16 speakers and sub woofers, over the top custom upholstery, 20K paint jobs, Billet aluminum everywhere, powder coating etc, etc. If someone built a more basic boat, like the old Cigarettes, Scarabs and Apaches of the past, it would be half the price but the new boat market wants bling.

Blame it on bling.

RR

Two months ago I wanted to order 2 new Yellow 300HP Sea Doo's from my dealer on Lake Cumberland. They only had one left - and may not get another one for the entire year. Sold out in February. Insane. . At least we got one of what we wanted.

I was going to have my 14 year old 29 Advantage X-Flight totally refurbished - but my friend who was going to do the work is just slammed with new boat orders and he doesn't know when he can get to it. . So I'm having the boat shipped out to Advantage where they say used X-Flights are bringing insane money. If they get a good price for it like they say they can then I am going to let them sell it and have a new boat instead of doing the refurb. They usually have a showroom full of used boats to sell but this year they have like 1 boat. They've never seen anything like the demand for used boats right now.

I am well aware Hellkat isn't skater... But the boat will also not be 22+ years old and it'll be a bigger boat compared to the skater 28... But it's Hard to justify paying the same price for a 22 year old 28' skater with older motors, then a BRAND NEW 30' Hellkat with BRAND NEW 300r's. If It's a totally refurbished skater 28, then MAYBE i can see a justification on that.

Don't worry I am sure as soon as he gets more Hell cats out there the price will go up. People just don't know him yet.

Wonder if prices of boats will start to come down when Comrad Biden gets his wish of $5+/gallon gas prices

That's what I was thinking... Maybe gas prices rising will drop demand on boats lol

Gas prices will be on a long list of issues, just let the houseplant biden and his crew keep printing money and giving it away we should see a good healthy recession at which time everything will be at fire sale prices.

I'm patient I'll just sit back and wait the buying opportunity will come......

I do believe the differing geographic areas will be your measure with respect to how much people will pay to be on the water. Times are certainly different as LOTO has seen a significant influx of new homeowners from out of state and I am of the opinion people will pay to be out on the water. The exodus of population from the NE, some Great Lakes States as well as Cali tells me that certain economic demographics will not be effected by gas prices and will pay whatever to fuel the need to be on the water. This being said, even though this current admin would prefer pontoons will solar panels people will not soon forget about former fuel prices on land or sea and higher gas prices moving forward will not sit well coming out of the Wu-han.