My 2018 G3 Sportsman 17 is worth 20% more than I paid for it 4 yrs ago because a new one is 50% more than what I paid for it.
Printable View
My 2018 G3 Sportsman 17 is worth 20% more than I paid for it 4 yrs ago because a new one is 50% more than what I paid for it.
Same with my 2016 Tracker 175txw. At this rate my boat might have to last me 30-40 more years or until I can't safely fish by myself anymore. One of those situations where I could make the payments on a new aluminum bass rig but doubt I'd see the benefit of it if what I have is still serving me well.
Couple years ago when Livescope first came out I got it mainly for crappie fishing. I won a few club tournaments in a row and one of the guys said you wont keep doing this much longer I'm getting the Livescope eventually. I told him I did not turn the thing on all day and I only have it for crappie fishing. He thought I was crazy. Its amazing people just automatically assume its gonna help or its the reason your catching fish.
In 1996 I bought a 1993 BassCat PII with a Yamaha 200 and paid cash, yes CASH total $12,500.00. Now some upgrades to electronics also TM and the biggest was a New pre-covid 200 SHO along with carpet, rub rail and interior several years ago. I wonder if I could get my initial investment back? :confused2: :laugh:
I remember seeing an ad about that early 2000's timeframe. I'm pretty sure it was for Nitro, where you got a 10 year loan and only paid on it six months per year during the time you could fish. The ad stated "why should you pay each month for something you can't use?" Of course you continued to accumuate interest for the six winter months. I wonder how much interest was paid when stretching that five year loan to 10?
If I remember correctly when I bought my last new boat back in 1999 I financed it for 12 years but paid it off in 3-4 years. I wanted the long term plan for the lower payments in case I got into money troubles and couldn't handle a large monthly payment.
Its perception. People dont want to spend 45k on an 18ft rig when what they really want is a 20ft or 21ft rig. So just because there are boats in every tange doeant mean people actually want those boats. I think thats where we are at now and some manufactures are about to have to make some decisions, either lower prices and move inventory or higher prices and smaller company. I think the "sport" is starting to be at that turning point that nobody thought wouod really happen, where its so expensive people have the perception that they cant play without tons of money.
We all have wants we can’t afford…Hell…I want a 60 foot Viking.:laugh: the reality is I have a nearly 7 year old bass boat. That’s what I can afford.
We’ll have to agree to disagree on pricing. I have never seen them go down since my first bass boat, and highly doubt they will, If anything they will get more expensive.
Manufacturers either pay for or conduct their own demographics studies of their target market. They know very well the income ranges and buying habits of prospective types of boat purchasers.
Walk into a bass boat dealer today and I bet that isn't the case at all at a majority. I am by my dealer's place almost weekly since they are a big tackle dealer too.
They continue to sell a ton of 20-21' decked out boats at light speed. Nothing is slowing down. The 17-18' models sit on showroom floor a whole lot longer.
What we all fail to realize is that a lot of people made more money and got raises during the past 3 years. Not everyone is hurting. I also don't fall for the BS that a little $300-400 monthly stimulus check for 6-12 months suddenly let everyone go buy a new boat either. That's not even realistic considering a boat loan is a bit harder to qualify for.
I took a new job during the pandemic. We knew we were moving to GA, just not positive when. In the summer of 2021, sold both Harley's, one for what I paid for it in 2015, and the other for a few hundred more then what I paid for it in 2018. Sold my boat for $1K more then what I paid for it in 2017. The pandemic made people crazy to want to be outside.
I have a 2000 Champion that I would bet you would need to buy an almost new boat to get one in better condition. I can’t imagine paying 40 thousand bucks to get one as good so I will just keep it. Times get hard I will just burn it to stay warm.:smile: