Why are bass boats so expensive?

[Mike Cork]

Many fisherman get a major case of sticker shock when they are looking at the prices of new boats. My latest entry in "Get the Net" on the front page of Ultimate Bass is about this and why bass boats will cost as much as a house in some markets.

www.ultimatebass.com

This is usually a controversial topic so let me have it 

[~Dwight~]

What a good read.  I remember just in the early to mid 90's looking at a 18 1/2 ft Hydra-Sport with a 150 and they wanted around $13,000.  Like mike has said..lots more technology now and bigger motors along with increased cost of living for the employees building our boats have raised our boats prices.  I have seen firsthand the kind of labor involved in  the building of my Legend and the expertise the men and women have.  There is no automated machines putting my boat together and that kind of quality cost money.  Course that's why we buy the boats we do, the craftsmanship that goes into them is second to none. 

[coldfront]

nice article as always Mike   

I long ago decided I just could not afford to play in that realm.  shoot, I still think that $20K for a freakin' car or pickup is WAY too much money...   while I might suggest that makes me old school...more than a few would say it just makes me old...and cheap...


About 10 years ago I started thinking about it...then about 5 years ago figured out an approach that I think makes most sense for ME...that all these cool things are tools.  I just have to figure out how I want to approach the job to determine the best tools for ME...

Once I got to the point that I realized that going over 60mph isn't a critical issue...it really took a lot of the cost out.  Then I figured out that I'd probably not be running for a long time (say 30 minutes or more) at WOT...another key issue...

I can get the tools I want in a 17-18 foot boat with a 115 outboard...now that's also recognizing that the way I fish and the way I want to 'focus' on my boat also steers me more toward aluminum than glass...

where I've decided I WON'T 'settle' is on electronics and the Trolling motor. 


Like I said...it's a very personal choice.   


that doesn't mean I don't sometimes wonder what I'd do if money were not an issue...and that I don't think those big rigs aren't great looking rides...

[bassn1]

Let us not forget the retirement of the workers ( new and old ) is now built in to cost.
When people realize It is not up to the company or the Govenment to pay for their retirement, the cost of goods and services will again be reasonable.

Great read Mike.

[Shorthaired]

The thing that gets me is how quickly the fancy boats depreciate in value.  I guess if I had unlimited resources I would feel better about getting a super nice boat, but when I have kids childcare expense, mortgage, student loans, retirement, and all kind of other expenses, I'll leave the fancy stuff to the pros who make their living doing that stuff.  I also start feeling bad about having too many luxuries when I think about the obligations we as Christians have to assist our fellow man.

Sure are pretty to look at though.

[Mike Cork]

depreciation is pretty relative to how well the boat is taken care of. Many anglers treat their boats like tools of the sport. So scratches, broken hinges, torn carpets, and hooks in seats are not something they worry about.

A boat that is well taken care of holds it's value well, but you have to find someone that wants a boat for more than just a tool. Many anglers buying used boats are looking for tools not luxuries. 

If your not in the business of bass boats, meaning your not trying to flip one every 18 months, a quality boat will last a life time. Outboards are fickle but if taken care of with regular maintenance, proper fuel and additives along with with proper oil. They will last a long time.

[coldfront]

A boat that is well taken care of holds it's value well, but you have to find someone that wants a boat for more than just a tool. Many anglers buying used boats are looking for tools not luxuries. 

guess I have yet to run across a guy who's looking to sell a 'tool' versus guys who see them as 'luxuries' 

they're never worth what someone else is asking...but they're always worth a heck of a lot more than what folks are willing to pay... 

[Mike Cork]

Very true

[-Shawn-]

It is all relative to what you want to get out of your boat.  For instance I learned a long time ago that I am not happy having to worry about the wind and weather when I want to fish. I have fished tourneys in 35 to 40 mph winds with 50 gust this year,  So small boats are not an option. I fish bigger lakes with long runs, so slow is not an option either. As far as resale, that is usually more of an issue when you are selling a cookie cutter boat than it is when you are selling a custom boat. The more of them there are out there the quicker the value will drop.

[unchained186]

I've always thought it was weird that chopper gun boats are not cheaper than hand laid hulls which of course take way more time to build and are way more detailed in laying out the glass in the right places with not to much resin and all that type stuff so on and so on

Or cookie cutters as Shawn put it

Oh I forgot about the hand laid boats that are all composite with no wood they should be way higher than the chopper gun / cookie cutters but there not
So are the hand laid all composite priced low or the choppers with wood priced high

[Donald Garner]

Mike an excellent read as always; thanks for putting it together.

Lots of great points of views made by everyone so far. 

Custom boats are great and needed if you're into fishing tournaments.  I think it cool that pwr poles are available and all the new and updated electronics that you can think of.  All are a must for the guy that needs that equipment.

For the fishing and places I go the current boat I have is great.

   


 

[marriemb]

Great read Mike! 

[mrshakeyhead]

     After having fished out of canoes, rowboats, and tiller steered semi-vees for a number of years, I bought my first bass boat in 1988.  It was a new Ranger 360 with a 150 Johnson.  Got it with trailer brakes and a cover.  Cost was $14,000. 
     Fast forward 10 years to 1998.  Retired and moved to Tennessee.  Bought a new Triton TR20 powered by a 175 Johnson Ficht.  Added just a couple of extras...price was $27,000.
     Fast forward 14 years to 2012.  I'm still running that Triton with the same engine.  Would I like a new boat?  Sure would, but can I afford one?  Answer is...well, maybe, but I don't see the need for it.  What I have works and runs well, handles Kentucky Lake just fine.

[Mike Noble]

I was in that "rat race" for years...and it is a rat race.  Have bigger and better, trying to have the best.  And I agree, it is 100% the fault of fishermen.  Stop buying new boats and the price will come down but that will never happen.  It is all what a person wants and believes they "need".  I hardly fish these days and don't know how much I'll fish in the future, but I can guarantee that I will never own one of those over-priced rigs again.  I just can no longer justify that price...the cost/benefit ratio is just not there.

Just like with any other hobby/sport/pasttime...the makers of the "tools" for those particular interests will charge as much as customers will pay.  As long as they continue to raise prices and customers continue to buy, they will keep raising prices.  At this rate, a new fully rigged bass boat will cost 6 figures in less than 10 years.

[hazbass]

When I sold my company I di because I wanted to go fishing the tourneys again, Money was not a big deal really as you finance for a long time and putting down a large down will keep a cost down to a monthly affordable payment, Key is a payment, I made a decision to bypass the dream boat for now and went to Ebay, I found what I thought was a good deal, a Javelin 379 SE with a 150 Johnson, It is 17'10" and a littile narrow than I like, I am also a big guy 6"1" 290 pounds when I am Naked. I gave 3500 for the boat, it cost me around 600 to travel from Texas To Tenesee to pick it up but this boat is awesome, With me in it will hit 61 on the GPS with equipment and fuel. I added my own eletronics, changed the trolling battery's, upgraded the live well pump, new tires on the trailer and up graded the bildge pump. In All I may have a little more than 5,000 into it. I have put the monthly budget together I fish and now will not have to add the payment in plus insurance is a tad cheaper since it is paid off. So I hope to prove this year that you can fish out of a smaller and still compete in the larger events. I guess in time we will see, regardless it sure is good to be fishing again. 

[ssj3goten]

Very interesting article and comments so far. I bought a new bass tracker about 1 1/2 years ago. Small, simple and in a price range I can afford. At the time only income was me with wife + 2kids now its 3 kids. For the water I fish down here in south MS are small bayou,rivers and once in awhile small lakes. I did not need to 200hp motor or all the fancy eltro stuff. I have always first wondered what do the guys who bought a skeeter for 40K+ do for a living and how often do they fish?
I have taken my little 16 foot on big lake like toho, table rock and soon fork. It has some issues sure but like the article said its the fisher that catches the fish.
As long as some boat makers keep a varied amount of boats in different price ranges out there I will be good to go.

[Stump bumper]

I agree with the reasonable boat since that is what I still have a 2004 Nitro with a 115. I think one thing you missed is the increasing size of the fishermen. I have no problem at 180 and a wife(can't post her weight but less than mine) but I have fishing friends that are over 250. The "4 person" weight limit for that Nitro 700 is 450 lbs to include gear.

If you are pushing 300 and fishing draw type tournaments or have friends 300 lbs then smaller boats and smaller engines won't get on plane and are not safe.

It just makes since if fishermen are getting bigger, boats would get bigger. I know in the 80s I was 130 and fishing with guys around 150 and packing around 1/4 of the gear I carry around now.

[DBrooke]

Oh sure, blame Jello again

[Jared LeBlue]

Oh sure, blame Jello again

[ronalddipietro]

Size of the fisherman does play a role...I am a skinny littlle old man, still agile, but I dont require lots of room or speed at this time in a boat...If you weigh in over 200 I can understand where the bigger the boat the better.  Buy what you can afford b ut be sure you can afford it..lots goes into a day of fishing...$100.00 or more easy just to get to the lake and in the water...no what I mean?

[coldfront]

Buy what you can afford b ut be sure you can afford it..lots goes into a day of fishing...$100.00 or more easy just to get to the lake and in the water...no what I mean?

all too unfortunately...yes.

great words of advice.!


on another tack:  'freeboard'  not just something they yell at a southern rock concert

[hazbass]

HA, I guess I better stop eating dinner over at the Klumps or I will have to start fishing out of a Yacht