Who buys brand new boats?

[GypsmJim]

I have always bought NEW, and we keep them for a long time. Thus, depreciation isn't even in my vocabulary.

To me, a boat that is unmolested is worth the extra cost. I like to customize everything, thus all the holes drilled in my boat came from me, were in the right place, and done correctly.

That said, I have always ordered by boats. None came off the showroom after having been "tested" by a slew of other people.

All except one - my very first. Just out of college I got the bug and saw my dream. It was a brand new model and production was almost sold out. My dealer said it would take months, but also he was a personal friend of the CEO and he owed him a favor, so he'd see what he could do. My new baby had been on display at the New Model Year Introduction Chicago Boat Show at McCormick Place. Boy, I loved that boat......LOL>

 

[Stray Current]

My dad and I ordered our sea hunt. It was the first new boat either of us had. He always had older boats that were either exceptionally kept or had some decent refit before that.

My wife and I bought the Dancer used. I dropped about about what I bought it for into and I think I’m still 100k+ ahead of what new equivalent would cost.

I’d totally buy new if I could afford it in this class of boat. Next one will likely be a 370 and I’ll probably wind up doing a similar refit with a repower after purchase

 

[Charlesoceanone]

Don’t drink at the boat shows. Just saying it gets expensive real quick.

 

[Stee6043]

Don’t drink at the boat shows. Just saying it gets expensive real quick.

But that's the only reason I go to boat shows in Michigan in February. Walk around looking at boats in a warm place...with a drink in my hand...wondering if I'm the only guy in West Michigan that doesn't own a pontoon boat.

 

[Stray Current]

But that's the only reason I go to boat shows in Michigan in February. Walk around looking at boats in a warm place...with a drink in my hand...wondering if I'm the only guy in West Michigan that doesn't own a pontoon boat.

I used to do that in NJ, Lord Führer Murphy killed that this year

 

[Groucho]

It's kind of like asking who buys new cars. Same concept, different tax brackets...

I would agree...kind of...When you buy a new car the window sticker resembles the price you might pay give or take. Every new boat I have shopped is a fairy tale on the window stickers. My prior was listed at 164,000+. I paid 100,500. new.

 

[sbw1]

Have always bought new. No regrets whatsoever.

 

[370Dancer]

I'm on 20 hulls or so over 45 years, 8 to 46 feet. But that's not a "one at a time" story, see my sig.
Never ever bought new, always customized to my liking, and usually sold for more than what I paid. The 370 will be the exception, but that's not nearly as important as what we've done with it since 2003. She still has a lot of life left even after 23 years. However, it's not a game for someone who can't or won't do their own maintenance, and serious stuff when needed. That's a rich boy's game. In the end, though, it's all relative to what you can do vs. what you want to do.

 

[Stray Current]

View attachment 103639 Have always bought new. No regrets whatsoever.View attachment 103638

I’d love to get my hands on the Pursuit variant of your boat with diesels

 

[sbw1]

I’d love to get my hands on the Pursuit variant of your boat with diesels

Harbor Springs, Michigan has some of the highest concentrations of Tiara boats in the country. Walstrom's sells lots of Tiaras. Might give them a call to see what they have.

 

[FiremistSLK]

I have owned a boat since I was 15 years old (my Dad bought me a Luger wood kit boat for my birthday). That was the only "new" boat I ever owned. Next was a bevy of used boats. A Glaspar G3, a Regal 18' BR, a 23' Sea Ray Sorrento, then two 240 Sundancers (a few years apart) and now the Sea Ray 215EC. Had good luck with all but the G3 (the 50HP mercury would not idle).

 

[Almightys]

I think car dealers buy new boats. Good car dealership is a license to print money.

 

[GypsmJim]

I have owned a boat since I was 15 years old (my Dad bought me a Luger wood kit boat for my birthday). That was the only "new" boat I ever owned. Next was a bevy of used boats. A Glaspar G3, a Regal 18' BR, a 23' Sea Ray Sorrento, then two 240 Sundancers (a few years apart) and now the Sea Ray 215EC. Had good luck with all but the G3 (the 50HP mercury would not idle).

My first boat was a 16' Luger Fiesta that cost $165. I earned the money flippin burgers while attending college. I was 19. Dad, Grandpa, Grandma and Uncle helped me build it in Grandpa's garage.

I took a cute girl for a boatride one Sunday afternoon and she has been my first mate for 50 years now.

Boy I wish I had the old Luger back.

 

[FiremistSLK]

Great story Jim! My Lugar kit was the 14' Monterey... My uncle helped my dad and me build it in his garage. We finished it exactly like the picture. I worked at a bicycle repair shop after school during the 1958/1959 school year and saved enough money for a 30 HP Johnson electric start. I used it for several summers on Barnegat Bay in Seaside Heights, NJ

 

[GypsmJim]

Great story Jim! My Lugar kit was the 14' Monterey... My uncle helped my dad and me build it in his garage. We finished it exactly like the picture. I worked at a bicycle repair shop after school during the 1958/1959 school year and saved enough money for a 30 HP Johnson electric start. I used it for several summers on Barnegat Bay in Seaside Heights, NJ View attachment 103774

Mine was the 1968/69 year. Originally powered by a 10 HP Wizard, after a year (and lots of saving) I repowered with an Evinrude 40 HP Lark.

As always, there is a "rest of the story". On her 3rd year, on a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon, on the way to pick up my sweetheart, I was rear-ended at a signal. He missed the old Rude, but sent the Luger across 3 lanes of traffic. Re-built, re-stored and looking OK, and with LOTS of insurance money (I sued the drunk in the borrowed car), she was traded in for a brand spanking new fiberglass runabout. I.E., my second new boat.

Still wish I had the old girl...

 

[sbw1]

Mine was the 1968/69 year. Originally powered by a 10 HP Wizard, after a year (and lots of saving) I repowered with an Evinrude 40 HP Lark.

As always, there is a "rest of the story". On her 3rd year, on a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon, on the way to pick up my sweetheart, I was rear-ended at a signal. He missed the old Rude, but sent the Luger across 3 lanes of traffic. Re-built, re-stored and looking OK, and with LOTS of insurance money (I sued the drunk in the borrowed car), she was traded in for a brand spanking new fiberglass runabout. I.E., my second new boat.

Still wish I had the old girl...

View attachment 103788

Nice lines. Pretty boat.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I need someone to keep buying new, so I can by used later

 

[Bocephus]

I personally don't know anyone that buys new, but God bless 'em. We need boats in the used market.

 

[GypsmJim]

I personally don't know anyone that buys new, but God bless 'em. We need boats in the used market.

Except for an old tinny, and a classic antique, every single boat I ever bought was new. Just a matter of preference.....makes me feel good.

My last one-owner family boat was 35 when we sold her. The "depreciation" was so far amortized that it was non-existent. Surely, it was in the used market, but probably not what most second hand buyers would have even considered, so I'm no help.

 

[Carpediem44DB]

First two were used a 28 SeaRay then downsized to a 21 Crownline, Looked to move up and while looking at used we were so disgusted with the junk on the market at the time in 04 we decided to go deep and buy brand new dealer demo Rinker 270 fully loaded. Bought at the end of season and they made us a deal we could not pass on. three years later time to move up and bought a 2 year old good as new Rinker 350. It was a ridiculous fire sale deal we just could not pass on. The last two big boats new would have been so out of logical reach we went up in size and back in years.