Boat Prices - Are they getting better for consumers?

[Madisonk]

I sold my Silverhawk this year because it was too much boat for the area that I just moved to. Since then I have been seaching non stop for a new flats, bay or skiff style boat that is suited to the shallow marshy waters of Northeastern Massachusetts.

I had all but put a deposit on a panga 22 today when I got home and found a catalog in my mailbox advertising Mako Bay boats for what I think look like reasonable prices. The pricing on the Mako's with boat, motor, trailer run from 14k for the 18'er to 27k for the 22'er. The Panga is just shy of 20k for a 22'er that most will tell you compares to an 18'er (length x width).

It looks to me like Mako has some attractive pricing especially compared to linerless, no frills, skiff style boats. Either Mako is positioning itself as a price conscious alternative or the some of these others are simply overpriced.

I think I know the answer to my own question and it is something along the lines of wishful thinking but I can't be the only one that thinks boats are wiledly overpriced and sooner or later boat manufacturers (even the good ones - who Mako may or may not be) will hit the proverbail price wall.

So - what's the consensus? Will the price increases slow, revert or continue up?

[MONSTAWHALA]

IMHO-
I like the look and actually the finish of that Mako better, but the Panga may be better for gunkholing around the Ipswich waters. The price for the 22 Panga seems more reasonable to me too.
As far as pricing goes, IT WILL go up, slowly, but it will go up, if for no other reason but the cost of manufacturing due to fuel costs. Obviously labor costs never go down, so it stands to reason.

I am curious though, it would seem to me you can ALOT more bang for th buck in that price/size range for a higher quality/finish USED boat, why not look at some of those options???

[B-Faithful]

Asking prices at the Atlantic City show were up quite a bit over last year's pricing from what I saw....

Materials, labor, shipping, interest rates are all up so I guess that would explain it.

[Sleeper]

I think it would be hard to name a product that has had prices escalate ahead of inflation more than new boats in the last 5-8 years, especially high end boats. Take a look at what new 23-25 Whalers, Regulators, Contenders, Albemarles etc go for new these days.

[SeaJay]

Somethings gotta give, has anyone seen the number of used boats for sale on the THT for sale forum? Many of them have been on the market for a loong time, much more so than in any of the previous winters. Either the popularity of this forum has soared (partially true) or what I suspect is the case a tough market to sell a boat.

It is something like the real estate market near my marina, the medium priced houses are sitting unsold now for many months while at the same time there are a number of very high end construction jobs on huge houses going on.

[never eneough]

I am not trying to bash Mako,but they are not the boat they used to be.The cost will go up when you put enough motor on it.Be careful of BPS come on pricing.When I looked at the Mako I could not tell the difference in it and a Kenner!! Not necessary bad, but you need to know that.There are many boats that will fit your needs in the 18 to 20 ft. for $20,000 or less.Just do a search.

[Simple Pleasure II]

I owned a 01 Kenner 1800 Vision with a 125 Merc, and you will see the the same hull in Mako and Bass Pro's Nitro. At 50 Plus MPH it was a very stable and predicable hull, it reacted to the motor trim, not needing tabs or a jack plate. I found it handled a small chop, up to 2' or so, smoother than most flats type boats.

[dowop]

Boats are a luxury items and as interest rates go up people will slow the buying process. This will cause the Marketing folks to come up with slick promotions, sales schemes and dealer incentives. Dealers need to stay in business and will be forced to get more agressive with pricing.

[beber]

The most expensive part of the boat is the outboard hanging off the back. I knowall the high tech outboards such as the E-techs, HPDI's, and 4 strokes are all the rage right because of their performance and fuel economy. However, does anyone know if any manufactures are planning on making a low tech cheap outboard, I'd love to see something like that. I think I know the answer that they cannot because of the EPA regulations.

Admit it you know if someone was out there selling brand new 88 specials for 3 grand or so you'd be all over it.

[iron banks]

dowop - 2/8/2006 8:27 AM

Boats are a luxury items and as interest rates go up people will slow the buying process. This will cause the Marketing folks to come up with slick promotions, sales schemes and dealer incentives. Dealers need to stay in business and will be forced to get more agressive with pricing.

You hit the nail on the head. A the feds keep the cost of borrowing climbing pleasure items like new boats will slow down for the average guy. Should lead to the used market seeing more action buy someone who just priced a 22 ft bay boat with a 225 four stroke at 40K. That 2 year old hull with a efi for 20k just looked new to him

[DOG HOUSE 2]

I agree with beber, the outboard motor prices bother me more than the boat. They have come a long way in reliability and economy but when a 250hp motor costs more than a nicely equiped Chevy Cobalt or Ranger pickup somthings not right. But I guess if were all willing to pay it they will demand it.

[Madisonk]

Well if nothing else I've got a name for my next boat - "the gunkholer".

I still can't help but feel that there are so many boats on the market both new and used that prices have to either stop going up so much or even begin to come down a bit.

As for me buying used I got burned badly doing that on my first boat. I bought my second boat new and did nothing but enjoy. I'd rather pay a little more for new and spend the depriciation using the boat.

[Afishinado]

Madisonk - 2/7/2006 8:45 PM
So - what's the consensus? Will the price increases slow, revert or continue up?

I think the manufacturers seek all they can get with list prices, when the market slows they discount those prices. I don't think they'll ever lower prices, just discount them when needed, down to the point where people will buy their products.

[gf]

New boat prices will continue to rise, they have to as the cost of materials and labor to build them increases as well. used boat prices are anyone's call.

Ken, as mentioned above, those new models from Mako are just re-labeled Kenner & Nitro hulls. If you are truly interested in them, give Dover Marine in Dover, NH a call, they carry the Nitro bay boats and are known for pretty good pricing.

I'm still toying with the idea of moving up in size, if you want something more upscale, you might find my McKee Craft 196 to be a great choice for the greater Essex waters. It's certainly served me well in the greater Plum island area. For less money, my friend Doug in Salisbury is selling his lightly used 20' Triton SeaFlight center console. This is a very well built rolled edge hull that is very versatile. Email me off line.

[ChillOutfishing]

In 1990 I purchased a 19 CC KW brand new for $7300, eng was ordered thru an eng depot in GA (120 Johnson with CC control and prop incl shipping to FL for $4500), custom t-top and extras $2500, out the door incl galv trailer and elect (FF/plotter, Loran, VHF) ~ $15,500. I priced a plain Kew West 19 in 2004 with a 115 Yam, trl, bimini top (ONLY w/o any extras) and the sticker shock was $21 bef tax, go figure in 14 years the price comparison (7300+4500+1200 BMT) ~ $13k and in 04 it west for $21, that is a 60% price increase in 14 years. Now take a typical car during the same time (Honda Accord, probably $12/$13 in 90, now goes for $19 or more (almost 60% here). Very similar I would say, as co’s re-engineer their process, costs and better technology we end up paying the higher prices for them today. If this scenario holds true for the next 15 years I would expect that an avg car will sell for over $32k and the same for a small boat.
The excuses: Price of OIL, labor, better tech parts, …. AND inflation. Are we getting more for our dollar or just staying up with inflation?

[Surfhunter]

The profit is in the engine sales. The cost of producing the boat may go up a bit, but that could be more than compensated by more competitive engine pricing.

[bewitched]

Something else to consider on the Mako pricing is the fact that they are starting to sell them out of big box stores like Bass Pro. Big stores like that lack some of the overhead associated with running your typical dealership. You can save a few bucks on the boat, but have you ever seen a competent service dept at Bass Pro? I know ours doesn't have one.
I recently spoke with someone that's going through this, he bought a Mako from the local Bass Pro. The boat had a number of gel coat cracks in the decks. When returning it to the dealership their young "tech" turned a few cracks into big ugly repairs. This was obviously unacceptable to the new boat owner. Now Mako has told him to see if he can find someone to fix the boat, and they'll pay for it. He doesn't feel as though that should be his responsibility.
Should you have to take time out of your schedule to find someone to fix your new boat, or would you rather drop it off at the dealership, and say "call me when it's fixed."?
This isn't a Mako bash. Gel coat cracks in new boats are fairly common. Mostly by parts being overflexed during assembly.
Consumers should try to be more value driven, rather than cost driven.

[SeaJay]

"The most expensive part of the boat is the outboard hanging off the back."

It varies, but I would think the engine's generally make up no more than half of the price of many rigs.