Boating Bubble?

3 used wake boats were put up for sale from owners at our marina this week. All in the $30-50k range. All sold within 3 days, the quickest in 12 hours from listing. It is a bubble here for sure.
The dealers around here are out of new boats and stopped negotiating prices early spring, full msrp and the sold them all.
 
There are a lot of posts on this site from new members with problems with their “new to them” boats. Seems like some jumped into the purchase without a proper survey and basically bought someone else’s “problem boat”

Throw in the looming winterization process and costs and I think you will see many boats available for sale come late September. Probably not the new boats that sold so quickly this year, but the 10-15 year old boats may be plentiful this fall.
 
Agree ^^ 100%. All the boat forums are inundated w first timers asking basic questions.

Wait till they figure out the bad news.

I’m trying to figure out what I want vs what my family would enjoy most but come November/December I’m expecting to purchase at value vs inflated prices.

I’ve also heard some dealers are racking on $3k-$4k in dealer prep fees for sport boats which amounts to a wash, check oil level and trailer tire pressure. Pfff.
 
Espos4 said:
There are a lot of posts on this site from new members with problems with their “new to them” boats. Seems like some jumped into the purchase without a proper survey and basically bought someone else’s “problem boat”

Throw in the looming winterization process and costs and I think you will see many boats available for sale come late September. Probably not the new boats that sold so quickly this year, but the 10-15 year old boats may be plentiful this fall.
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Been noticing a lot more of what look to be inexperienced boaters on the water this summer. There are always some of them out there, but it seems like they are everywhere this year.
 
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Zach312 said:
We still have 3 months of boating and at least two months of that is really good weather
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You're right... I should have said 2 months. We can definitely boat until the end of September, if not later.
 
I am looking for a 270 SLX, and will happily buy one during a snowstorm in October if the prices get more realistic.
 
Isn't everything for sale if the wheelbarrow full of money is full enough?
 
I had considered selling ours just because I could probably get top dollar now but I have everything working now and it looks almost new. In fact after a good buff and wax it looks better than a few of the 2 or 3 year old boats in our marina. Only reason would be to get something slightly bigger but then I remember how much trouble we had finding a slightly bigger one when we bought this one...lol
 
Espos4 said:
There are a lot of posts on this site from new members with problems with their “new to them” boats. Seems like some jumped into the purchase without a proper survey and basically bought someone else’s “problem boat”
.
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it’s been 3 weeks since I posted this comment and this site is still jumping with new members and their problems on their new boats.

I know it’s getting later in the season but......
To anyone looking to buy a boat, GET A GOOD SURVEY AND GO ON A PROPER SEA TRIAL!!
 
Mother and step-father have a pontoon. They have been out on ours quite a few times but cabin cruisers isn't their thing. They have a new dock neighbor that has a deck boat and my mother loves it so they are passively looking for one now.
 
Espos4 said:
it’s been 3 weeks since I posted this comment and this site is still jumping with new members and their problems on their new boats.

I know it’s getting later in the season but......
To anyone looking to buy a boat, GET A GOOD SURVEY AND GO ON A PROPER SEA TRIAL!!
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So true! I'm on a Facebook owners page for a different brand. Amazed what all these new owners are doing to these poor boats! Glad we have no plans to be in the market for a few years...
 
Blueone said:
I have had 3 offers in the last two weeks for my boat....and it isn't for sale
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We would sell but the price has to be right as we really have our boat dialed in. We are in talks too move no to a more live aboard cruiser next.
 
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