Anyone Trade Up Boats Every Few Years?

[tcbass]

I know this is common for people to do with cars, especially leases, trading them up for a new one every few years. Does anyone do this with boats besides tournament fisherman?

[BassinLou]

That's a great question. I follow threads on other boat forums and some guys have barely broken in their new boat's sort of speak,  before they are pulling  the trigger on the newest model several seasons later. To  each their own i guess. 

[BassnChris]

I don't have that kind of dough!

I just paid my boat off last Friday and l do want to buy another boat........but i fully expect it will be my last boat.

This boat is a 2001 that I bought a little over 3 years ago.........and the next one I buy, I expect will be a used boat too.

The only reason I want another boat is my current boat is a dual console and I want a single console.

Like already stated....to each their own.

[zachb34]

Plenty of guys do it, but its really not the smart way to do it economically. Even if I had the money I wouldn't do it.

[Basseditor]

If you get a "memo" boat, you have to sell it every year so you can get a new one.

I use to get one every couple years when I had team deals. With good discounts, you could sometimes sell it for more or at least what it cost you.

My last boat, I decided it would be my last, but I could sell it for not much less than I paid.

If you are earning money through tournament finishes where manufacturers pay additional winnings (Triton, Phoenix or Skeeter for example), the boat can't be more than a couple years old.

[slonezp]

A lot of guys have the mentality to trade in once the motor warranty is up. I'd take a guess these guys are running ballzout all the time.

[slimshad]

I would love to get one every 4-5 years.  Boats have out priced the working man in my opinion.  I have a 2002 19' with a 200hp.  I gave around $30K new.  This boat now is up near and with a 225hp over $50K.  I can't do that.  Even if the payment was affordable, I can't let myself pay $50K or more for a fishing boat.  Won't do it.  I look at them all the time, kinda like a wish book like when I was a kid.  Only in my dreams will have a new Z520C Ranger.

[tcbass]

If you get a "memo" boat, you have to sell it every year so you can get a new one.

I use to get one every couple years when I had team deals. With good discounts, you could sometimes sell it for more or at least what it cost you.

My last boat, I decided it would be my last, but I could sell it for not much less than I paid.

If you are earning money through tournament finishes where manufacturers pay additional winnings (Triton, Phoenix or Skeeter for example), the boat can't be more than a couple years old.

What is a memo boat?

[ww2farmer]

I've seen guys around here do it, and it's just insane to me. Either they have way way more money than I think they do, or a bad case of "keeping up with the Jones's" syndrome. To me a boat is a toy, and unless I am making money with it, I will try to do the best I can with the least amount of financial burden to me and my family, if that means a rubber inner tube, so be it..........lucky for me I can afford slightly better. LMAO

[A-Jay]

What is a memo boat?

 

That may be a typo for Demo ~

 

A-Jay

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

^^ I agree. I won't even buy a brand new car anymore. The depreciation is throwing money down a hole. 

[Fishing Rhino]

^^ I agree. I won't even buy a brand new car anymore. The depreciation is throwing money down a hole. 

 

Here's an interesting thought.  If we all bought used cars, the auto makers would go out of business, and in a few short years, we would run out of cars.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

No, what would happen is the prices of used cars would increase as supply diminished and demand increased. At the same time new car prices would lower for the opposite reason. Eventually the benefit of buying used would lessen as the price between new and used narrowed. This exact scenario would never happen of course anyway.

[boostr]

I don't even have a boat yet, but will next year. I will probaply get a tin, and make payments for about 5 years maybe 4. When I'm done making payments I will have that boat till I die... unless something tragic happens to it... I'll get another one... Just sayin'

[Basseditor]

What is a memo boat?

If you are on a pro staff, the manufacturer "gives" you a boat to use for about a year. Then you either sell it to get another one or you have to buy it yourself. Either way, you owe the money for the boat. However, you may get the boat at 10-20% below dealer cost so you can use it all year and maybe even make money when you sell.

Hence, memo is shorthand for long term invoice. Do you notice a lot of pros listing their boats for sale near the end of the season?

Watch as they start showing off their new boats now being rigged for next season.

A lot of the pros presell the boat during the season with the caveat that the new owner can't take delivery until the pro is done with it for the season. Happens all the time. If you are looking for a good deal, you might be able to buy a pro's used boat around dealer cost or even under.

[A-Jay]

Good Info ~ I stand corrected.

 

A-Jay

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

If you are on a pro staff, the manufacturer "gives" you a boat to use for about a year. Then you either sell it to get another one or you have to buy it yourself. Either way, you owe the money for the boat. However, you may get the boat at 10-20% below dealer cost so you can use it all year and maybe even make money when you sell.

Hence, memo is shorthand for long term invoice. Do you notice a lot of pros listing their boats for sale near the end of the season?

Watch as they start showing off their new boats now being rigged for next season.

A lot of the pros presell the boat during the season with the caveat that the new owner can't take delivery until the pro is done with it for the season. Happens all the time. If you are looking for a good deal, you might be able to buy a pro's used boat around dealer cost or even under.

Have these boats typically been beat to death? I'm sure they're maintained  to get through the year but knowing they don't have to make it last a lifetime I can see them being run HARD. 

[J Francho]

Looking to buy one of Ike's boats, Mike? Lol.

[WIGuide]

Looking to buy one of Ike's boats, Mike? Lol.

He wants the one that ended up on the bank haha

[Logan S]

Have these boats typically been beat to death? I'm sure they're maintained  to get through the year but knowing they don't have to make it last a lifetime I can see them being run HARD. 

The ones I've seen haven't been abused.  I've known several people who have bought them over the years, one of John Crews' old boats is still in our club

 

I also know a guy that will 'pre-sell' his staff boat every year...He will order it however the buyer wants so the buyer gets to customize it.  Pretty good deal if you ask me, 1 year old boat customized exactly how you want for a significant discount.

[bassinhole]

No, what would happen is the prices of used cars would increase as supply diminished and demand increased. At the same time new car prices would lower for the opposite reason. Eventually the benefit of buying used would lessen as the price between new and used narrowed. This exact scenario would never happen of course anyway.

 

Thank you effective marketing, Those damned Jones's, and the scare tactics used by dealership service centers.

 

 

Imagine, you take your car in for its 100k mile service....

 

Service Manager: Your warranty just run out?  Oh that's too bad, you're going to need xyz repairs or this things going to kill your family. You may want to talk to Salesman Illtake Yourmoney over there about getting this thing traded in...

 

Salesman: Yeah we can take this as a trade, but as our service manager already told you it's going to need some work. So for us to make anything off of it we can only offer you a fraction of what it's actually worth. We can get you in this brand new, top of the line, ultra safe, Luxury (AKA cheaply manufactured foreign POS), for only two arms a leg and your left one. Yeah I know your really attached to your left one, but that's what it's going to take to ensure your family's safety. 

 

Wife: We should do this! I mean if we don't the old car is going to kill us!

 

You to Salesman: Shut up and take my Money. Just make it quick.

 

 

 

(10 hours and 187 signatures later on the way home)

 

Wife: Wow, I'm so glad we traded in our 5 year old car for next to nothing, and borrowed all this money to have a new one! I feel so safe! And Mrs. Jones doesn't have anything this new...

 

 

(Pride gone, frustrated beyond belief, and generally in a fowl mood)

You (in a sorrowful voice as the separation anxiety really takes hold): Yep

 

 

(From the dark dank desk draw of Salesman)

Left One: (shedding a single tear of sorrow) I'll miss you too buddy! we had some good times you and I... 

[LuckyGia]

I just think it is a matter of priorities. To some people, it is the main priority. To others, it is not that important.

I can tell you that quite a few people I met that fish, and guide on Okeechobee have $70,000 bass boats , and live in single wide trailers in the trailer park. Is that wrong to me ? Not really. It is their priority.

Could I do it, no way.

[gulfcaptain]

My job being what it is, if I didn't have kids I can tell you there would be an SUV with a bassboat attached to the back sitting in the parking lot of where my boat docks and everything I would need for those two weeks I have off would be in there.  But then I wouldn't have rent to pay nor the expenses of a family either so having those two toys parked waiting for me on my two weeks off to fish all over the south would be worth the investment.  But not at this point, I'm more interested in finding an older bass boat that i can afford without going broke to enjoy.

[RHuff]

I'd be happy to be able to afford a good used boat lol. Muchless trade every few years.

[Further North]

That's a great question. I follow threads on other boat forums and some guys have barely broken in their new boat's sort of speak,  before they are pulling  the trigger on the newest model several seasons later. To  each their own i guess. 

I love those folks.  They provide a never-ending stream of nice used boats (and cars, trucks and other stuff) for people like me to buy at a fraction of the cost and not 1) take a beating on the resale value, or 2) chuck money down the financing hole.

 

...while I did go through several (used) boats in a short time frame in the last few years, it was with the goal of zeroing in on what I liked and didn't like, finding out how I like to fish and paying cash for toys.