Since there has been so much talk about boat loans, money, cash, etc, here is a topic.

Everybody says boats are terrible investments and that you should pay cash due to the depreciation factor. For starters, out of all the performance boaters I know, I dont know one that purchased the boat as an "investment".

Aside from boats requiring high maintenance, storage and fuel fees, which we all know isn't cheap. But I dont see how they are any better than the cars and trucks we drive.
For instance, lets pretend its 1990. You go out and buy a brand new Baja 250 sport. Loaded up the boat was 35k. You also go out and purchase a brand New Lincoln Town Car for 27-30k. Well, its 15 years later and you still have both. 1990 Lincoln town car, worth 1500 bucks in decent shape. 1990 Baja 250's in decent shape, 15-25k all day.

Sure the Baja costs a lot of money during the 15 years in gas, maintence, and storage, but you used it, just Like the Lincoln, gas, oil changes, etc.

In no way am I saying boats are good investments because they are not. I know first hand, the two boats Ive had have been money pits.

I just found out when looking thru some papers that my Liberator was just under 30k back in 87. In the Nada book, with my HP and equipment, its shows a High Retail Of 23k. I know realistically I wont get that, but its nice to look at.

What do you guys and gals think, is my reasoning making any sense, or am I just trying to talk myself into getting a new boat?

Just buy the new boat

I've yet to see a hearse with a luggage rack!!!! Buy the boat!!

im not sure, but i am a bonds salesman in nyc. i would like to know if you would like to purchase a bond for the george washingin bridge can be bought or 100,000 and when it matures it will worth 50,000. so in my eyes your better off with my bond than a boat. ill save you money in the long run... just give me a call at

1-800-Mr. Wonderful

Are you just auditioning this to run by your wife?

Cuda, be prepared. Me and the fiance are thinking of going down to St pete beach in march. You offered me a ride last season but i left too early. I would love to bring my boat down for the two weeks with me, but I dont think its a good idea. Either way, meeting up for a drink would be nice.

you dont want to meet him, hell expect you to buy him drinks, dinner, and pay his rent... beware of this old man...

That sounds like Vegas math. I know a guy who used to go all the time and I'd ask him how he did. He'd say he broke even, because he took 3k to gamble with and came back with nothing, but he was expecting to lose it anyway. If he came back with $500, he won.

Anyway, the boat is an investment in sanity. Expensive to buy, store, maintain, run, insure, and worth every dollar that goes into it.

If you're comparing a boat loan with a car loan, then a good boat is a far better investment.


1992 Mercedes 500SEL - $96,000 out the door.
Today: $14,000


1991 Formula 311 - $85,000 out the door.
Today: $40,000

So if you compare them, you only lost half the money on the boat. And most of the money on the car.
But you'll never hear me tell you to borrow money for a car, either.

cars,trucks, boats, bikes.....whatever, none are investments unless you are buying things that you will never use and hopefully somebody will want later.... otherwise, they will all lose their value... finance your real estate, pay for your toys...

factor in total operating expenses versus usage and they come out a lot closer....