I say go out on your cousins boat and throw him some cash for gas or offer to buy lunch when you stop somewhere. Your first goal should be to finish school and then get a job. Once you have determined what kind of income you have then buy a house and start investing in your 401k. Boats are luxury items, you need to get your finances heading in the right direction before you can afford to throw large amounts of money into this crazy sport called boating. :D Its always fun to dream and also set goals. I went from a malibu ski boat to a 33 powerplay. Now im throwing some money into my house and building a barn to store my toys in before i go out and get wrapped up in a new boat payment. If you plan things out and set goals wealth will come. you may never be super rich but you can live comfortably within your means.

^ Unfortunately thats the reality of it, but I am only 20 so I am still going to dream and today I am dreaming about that 288 sunsation they have in the classifieds
http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o12046-en.html

I think something like that would work really well on Lake Travis, but yea I need to finish school, ect before I stress to much on what brand of boat to buy. I have a decent job working for my dad as well as working at Anheuser-Busch on some weekends so maybe ill purchase a new truck for now to hold me over, its about that time anyway rolled over to 100k today.

When I was your age I felt the same way, but instead of getting in over my head I bought a 1970 18' Horizon with a 455 olds, basset headers and a berkley jet for $3500 and LOVED it. I ended up rebuilding the motor a few months later (after I broke it!) and my total investment in the boat was only $7k at the end of the day. Like these guys said, I was just happy to be on the water, I had a LOUD-assed boat, and could do around 60mph when there was no chop. 9 years later I am just now starting to look at a 27' Advantage after many years of hard work and building my finances.......oh, and as far as your truck goes, I drove mine at the time to 300k miles before I replaced it. Save your money. :drink:

another option to consider.. you dont charge yourself for labor. I have (had) a job I loved but it paid horribly (Im now a 44 and back in school) moneys tight, but with some diligent shopping I found an old 77 nova 250. beat the guy up pretty good and got it for a grand. spent 3 months learning glass work and redid the transom and rear stringers. this spring Im doing some bottom work , redoing some of the wod work etc..total investment by the time I hit the water this summer should be around 3 grand for a 25' vee with twins that does low/mid 50's..not the fastest, not the coolest...but Im on the water having fun and gaining the experience I will need once I can step up to something faster. those old novas like rough water too. old school is cool..and cheap..picked up a couple spare drives fro $100 a piece, and it doesnt eat gas either.