Buying a new boat

[dc]

As far as the hard top/soft top thing goes, I will respectfully disagree with going with a hard top.  Yes taking the soft top on and off can get old. But with the soft top at least you have a choice.  There will be days when you have a boat load of people and or gear and it gives you more room.  There will also be days when you are anchored up and its is just to hot and stuffy to have the cover on.  Or the days when the wind is blowing the wrong way and taking the top off or down is the only way to keep fishing without blowing all over the place.  And of course the top comes in very handy on those cold, rainy days when a heater will enable you to be in a t shirt and be plenty comfy.   

[Stein]

Good points dc, I've fished out of a hard top but haven't owned one.  It probably comes down to what and where you are using the boat.  I fish Puget Sound 99% of the time with a few spring koke trips and probably 4 tubing trips to a lake.  The tubing trips are the only time I don't have the top on, all the rest of the time it goes up either for protection from rain, wind or salt splash when running around.  With my top, it's either up or off the boat, I can't store it on the boat in the down position so it's all or nothing.

[h2ofowlr]

I think boat prices are up about 6%.  You stand to loose a bit more right now unfortunately.  The happiest days are the day you buy a boat and the day you sell the boat.     I just sold my big boat back in April.  I think I missed it 3 or 4 times.  Don't miss the long waits at the marinia or having to get up at 3:00 to get a spot at the marinia.  This past year was crazy with boaters on the water.  I saw that 40K more people had purchased fishing licenses in 2020.  I believe it.

[GWP]

I was going to say ‘don’t’, and since I have three I am an ‘expert’! 
Like has been stated, really think about where and what you want to do with it. Keep in mind things ‘change’ so your needs may change as well. Hard to guess on that part though. It is really difficult to have one boat that does everything you want. Best of luck!

[jeffro]

Buy newer used, let the other guy bite the depreciation
Probably already equipped, and ready to fish.
Lots available with so many out of work.
Kinda like a new car, loses 30? Percent driving off the lot.....

[fowl smacker]

Buy newer used, let the other guy bite the depreciation
Probably already equipped, and ready to fish.
Lots available with so many out of work.
Kinda like a new car, loses 30? Percent driving off the lot.....

Not really though.  Seems like 15 yr old used sleds are more valuable now than they were then.

[GWP]

Wife and I were in Bass Pro, I think it was, and were looking at a new boat on the floor. As the salesman was walking up the wife said, “Just buy it, it’s pretty!” as a joke as she really likes the boat we have that is similar. I thought the salesman was going to have a heart attack! He got very excited. Until he found out she was kidding.

[Encore 280]

B = BAIL
O = OUT
A = ANOTHER
T = THOUSAND

[bear]

Buy newer used, let the other guy bite the depreciation
Probably already equipped, and ready to fish.
Lots available with so many out of work.
Kinda like a new car, loses 30? Percent driving off the lot.....

Not really though.  Seems like 15 yr old used sleds are more valuable now than they were then.

Ya. Many are worth what people paid for them ten years or more later. 

[h2ofowlr]

B = BAIL = Bust
O = OUT
A = ANOTHER
T = THOUSAND

[fishngamereaper]

I could make money on my 6 year old Hewescraft right now...

Not a great market. Aluminum prices are high.

I would buy new over used. Prices aren't that different.

Raider is a good boat. Ive owned two hewes, basically the same as raider since the owner's where once business partners and split year's ago.. hard top all day long..my first hewes was  soft top and now I have a full cabin.  Protection from the elements, both sun and rain. Lockable door is a piece of mind for secure gear storage. And I can sleep on it. The extra weight is nice to rides better than a lighter soft top version.

[GWP]

I could make money on my 6 year old Hewescraft right now...

Not a great market. Aluminum prices are high.

I would buy new over used. Prices aren't that different.

Raider is a good boat. Ive owned two hewes, basically the same as raider since the owner's where once business partners and split year's ago.. hard top all day long..my first hewes was  soft top and now I have a full cabin.  Protection from the elements, both sun and rain. Lockable door is a piece of mind for secure gear storage. And I can sleep on it. The extra weight is nice to rides better than a lighter soft top version.

How big is the one you have now? Do you know 'about' how much weight the top adds? Been looking at an older one...

[Stein]

Buy newer used, let the other guy bite the depreciation
Probably already equipped, and ready to fish.
Lots available with so many out of work.
Kinda like a new car, loses 30? Percent driving off the lot.....

Not really though.  Seems like 15 yr old used sleds are more valuable now than they were then.

Ya. Many are worth what people paid for them ten years or more later.

I remember when I thought the only cost of owning the boat was the initial purchase and a splash of gas.

With the prices of metal and supply/demand, I'm sure I could flip both my boat and truck for a tidy profit (as long as I don't count all the other stuff besides the purchase price).

[fishngamereaper]

I could make money on my 6 year old Hewescraft right now...

Not a great market. Aluminum prices are high.

I would buy new over used. Prices aren't that different.

Raider is a good boat. Ive owned two hewes, basically the same as raider since the owner's where once business partners and split year's ago.. hard top all day long..my first hewes was  soft top and now I have a full cabin.  Protection from the elements, both sun and rain. Lockable door is a piece of mind for secure gear storage. And I can sleep on it. The extra weight is nice to rides better than a lighter soft top version.

How big is the one you have now? Do you know 'about' how much weight the top adds? Been looking at an older one...

I'm running a 22' now. Full cabin is about 600lbs more than a soft top.

[GWP]

Cool. Thanks for the reply! I have gone back and forth on the hard top. Lost out on a Hewes with a hard top, but the 'no top' one is still around.
I have fished a lot with 'no top', and the majority of the time it is fine, but there are days when it would be nice to get under a bit of cover. Or be able to sack out for a bit in a cabin.