We are transitioning to becoming like how they are on the east coast or Gulf. Big fiberglass boats that are too big to put into the garage, are more expensive to buy and maintain, and harder to handle.
You forgot about all the bigger upgrades that go along with bigger boats (electronics and extra batteries) and 2 ton pick ups required to tow them.
I run a 17.5” fiberglass boat that’s 10 years old and in great shape. I don’t see a scenario where I’d want anything more even if I won the lottery. I’ll “upgrade” when the boat is wore out.
The keeping up with the Jones’s mentality is often portrayed by people that have less financial means than you’d ever guess. For every 20’ new fiberglass rig there’s a person running an old 16’ aluminum rig with spongy floors who could buy everything the other person has ever owned 10 times over.
The 3 or 4 wealthiest (by monetary value) individuals I know own a pile of land, own substantial real estate properties, and invest wisely all while driving old vehicles, wearing plain clothes, and have only a few older toys for their most passionate hobbies.
Speaking of big boat big motor, my boss just had a pontoon on vermillion built its 12 ft wide 28 ft long with 2 mercury verado 400s racing motors. I think he is the jones’s. If your ever on vermillion it’s at a huge island out of stuntz bay. Goes 64 when hammered down and eats 6 gallons per minute at that rate. He had to buy a huge transfer tank to keep fuel up there full time because 50 gas cans a day was to much work
I run a 17.5” fiberglass boat that’s 10 years old and in great shape. I don’t see a scenario where I’d want anything more even if I won the lottery. I’ll “upgrade” when the boat is wore out.
The keeping up with the Jones’s mentality is often portrayed by people that have less financial means than you’d ever guess. For every 20’ new fiberglass rig there’s a person running an old 16’ aluminum rig with spongy floors who could buy everything the other person has ever owned 10 times over.
The 3 or 4 wealthiest (by monetary value) individuals I know own a pile of land, own substantial real estate properties, and invest wisely all while driving old vehicles, wearing plain clothes, and have only a few older toys for their most passionate hobbies.
Pretty broad brush you are swinging.
I know a few guys who are very well off also. They own the stuff you mention. In addition they take their families on a couple vacations a year. Sometimes Mexico, sometimes Hawaii, sometimes Europe. They pay for the best schools for their kids. Their wives have a bit of bling on their hands. So, if you wanna paint add up what they spend and then figure out what a 20′ fiberglass boat costs. Assign that boat a loan with how many years? 12? Now multiply what your rich buddies spend over 12 years. Your boat cost will seem cheap.
As I mentioned before, anybody wants to chip in some cash for my 20′ fiberglass boat i’ll consider your opinions. Until then I don’t care what anybody thinks about guys who buy 20′ fiberglass boats.
And then you go down to Florida, etc. and see the real big toys that have dingies that put 621 Rangers to shame. There’s always someone with a “bigger boat”….
Worrying about what boat someone has or how they can afford it, is really no ones business but the person with that boat. If they can afford it, if they have a loan, or if they should even have a loan, is just gossip. The great thing about this country, is that people are still free, with in reason, to enjoy and take part in things that interest them, weather or not they really need it, or can justify having it. The reality is that no boat can be justified, as, if its just about the money, you can always just buy yourself an Ocean kayak, and catch all the fish you want. Or, better yet, you could find a friend with a boat, that you can fish with, for virtually free, and continue to gossip about all the boats that you see going down the road, with people that really don’t need them, or cant justify paying for them. While a 22′ garage for some may be the norm, for others a 26′-30′ deep garage is the norm, in fact I haven’t had a garage under 26′ deep, in my last four houses. I have owned many many boats, starting out with a 14′ with a 15hp, and lately some pretty fancy glass boats, liked them all, and caught more than enough fish from them all. Worked hard all my life, and am now enjoying the opportunities of that hard work, such as not having a boat loan, auto loan, or house loan, in over 20 years. People really need to quit worrying about the other person, and just worry about themselves and their own happiness, as that’s all that should matter.
I’m reading through this thread watching it go off track slightly and seeing that there’s many different opinions here. Many of which I can’t relate to, likely because we are all wired differently (which btw doesn’t mean they are right or wrong).
The first time I was in a glass boat was when I helped out Dean at a Skeeter Ride and drive. I was so impressed with the ride of that WX18xx I said, yup, someday.
When I see someone with a new or bigger boat, it never has entered my mind as to how they could afford it. It’s more about congrates! How do you like it so far and what did you have before. I spose if a 18 year old shows up with a $60k boat, it would cross my mind though.
When when I read threads like this one, even if it slides slightly off topic, I think of back before the internet and how much info a young couple gains from reading these opinions. I was never one to go to the library in my younger days and certainly wouldn’t be looking for books in financial advice. Plop it on my computer screen and I’m all over it.
If a person is in the market for a new boat, treat it like I do with wine glasses. By the best quality you can afford to break.
BTW the FGD Ella really likes her Solera, but now she wants to go out in the Lund more since she caught her first channel cat out of it the other day.
I’m with Dutch on this one. Buy whatever you want and I don’t care if you can afford it or not. Doesn’t affect me in the least.
I’m certainly not going to stock pile my money and not have the toys I want. The old saying goes, “I’ve never seen a hearse pulling a u-haul”
On a related note………..I just bought a 20′ fiberglass tiller. My 1960’s VW van won’t pull it. Can one of you guys with the big pick-ups that pull nothing bigger then your wife and kids tow it to the lake for me? 
I’ve seen your VW. You’re good. 
I am happy to see people with big new boats. I don’t care how they got it or if they can afford it. Yes I would like to upgrade my 1976 16’ boat one day. It catches lots of fish and I can get on the small bodies of water that I have heard people complain that they can’t get on. With more big boats out there now will just mean when I can upgrade there will be more used big boat to pick from. The stress of having something you can’t afford will take away some of the enjoyment of using it. The main thing is you get on the water.
And then you go down to Florida, etc. and see the real big toys that have dingies that put 621 Rangers to shame. There’s always someone with a “bigger boat”….
While you are feeling sorry for yourself, don’t forget to shed a tear for the beloved Betsy DeVos. Her $40 million yacht was untied at a dock in Ohio, causing it to scrape against the dock and cause $5-$10,000 in damages. That’s a whopping .025% of it’s worth just scraped away in the blink of an eye!
Does her family own like 8 other yachts? Sure, but that really doesn’t take away from this tragedy. To put it in perspective for us poors, that’s like someone’s brand new, $80,000 Skeeter having TWENTY DOLLARS worth of damage/repairs needed. Can you imagine? Devastating.
If you’ve somehow avoided this relevant and monumental news story, I hope this is a reminder that while we may have it tough, the grotesquely rich are facing real persecution every day.
My favorite part of the story is how the crew woke up to find the boat ‘adrift’, called the police, and ‘managed to get control of the vessel’. I am relieved that this crew of people who were hired to drive/run a large yacht, were indeed able to take this yacht from ‘slow drift’ back to ‘docked’. We should all give them a pat on the back.
don’t forget that mid-2000’s boats got wider to be able to handle the extra weight of 4 stroke motors. that makes them look a lot bigger.
If I fished big water often would definitely want a bigger boat. For what we use it for the 1750 is kind of the perfect size. when theres a lot of people on board a bigger boat would be nice, but most of the time theres just the 4 of us.
My last boats have been 16 and 17′ and I’ve always really liked how easy it is to load and unload them. I feel like I wouldn’t use it as much if it was bigger would be a pain to sneak in a quick trip. My dad has a tyee and frequently tells my brother and I we should use it. Neither one of us has had interest in dealing with that thing at a landing.
Can one of you guys with the big pick-ups that pull nothing bigger then your wife and kids tow it to the lake for me?
some wives are bigger than others
My last boats have been 16 and 17′ and I’ve always really liked how easy it is to load and unload them. I feel like I wouldn’t use it as much if it was bigger would be a pain to sneak in a quick trip. My dad has a tyee and frequently tells my brother and I we should use it. Neither one of us has had interest in dealing with that thing at a landing.
my boat is 17’8 and when my buddy and I go fishing locally I often ask if we can just take his boat out. he has a 14′ tin boat with a 6hp motor on it. can launch and load that thing in about 10 seconds. Plus I can drink all the beer I want in the bow of the boat while he drives us around looking for fish.
Forget the new boat size, I’m interested in the 2 ton Pick-up.
Where do I get one of those?
Look at sterling epg. Right up your alley.
Look at sterling epg. Right up your alley.
OK, I give. What’s a Sterling EPG?
HRG
naw,this is EPG’s new truck,its gotta enough power to retrieve and launch his new toon as well as all of those bullheads he is going to catch with that new rod and reel he just got.
and yes,its too heavy for his tram to take back up to the driveway,and no,he wont launch your boat with it.
eelpoutguys-new-truck.jpg
I just ordered one – in Eelpout brown
Forget the new boat size, I’m interested in the 2 ton Pick-up.
Where do I get one of those?
Ford makes one
91417E08-63F8-481F-8803-C05588A6D886.jpeg
You seem to be the exception.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Randy Wieland wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mojogunter wrote:</div>
I am surprised everytime one of these posts come out, and how many people have issues with what other people own for a boat, and if or how they are paid for. Worry about yourself and if you are happy and comfortable. Stop with anxiety of what others have and most likely you will end up being happier in your own lives.Not my problem. No anxiety here. What people own, do, or give consideration to has zero affect on me. Other than driving up market price on certain items. That becomes my issue with people. Not what they own, but the inflated price they pay
That seems to be a common statement about me 
I suggested sterling cause I know epg likes his Cummings.
Well, after being one of the factory test pilot for a major walleye boat brand’s prototype 28 footer, all I can say is KWP’s missing the (big) boat. Bigger is the new big, son. Gotta have it cause you don’t want be that guy fishing the wimpy 20 footer and sitting on shore waiting for the wind to die down when guys like me with the real boats are out there taking on the big water.
The looks on guy’s faces when I opened up those twin 450 prototypes (now at a dealer near you!) and blew the doors off those nippy little 20 foot weenie—err, I mean “walleye” boats was just priceless. Totally worth the $325,000 SRP if you ask me. Plus, I finally felt like I could comfortably spread out my gear and fish 2 guys without tripping over each other.
So a lot of you guys have been asking me, now that I had to give the 28 footer back, what am I testing this year?
Well, it’s a step down. I’m trying out the new economy entry level boat from the same maker. It’s their new 24.5 footer for the guy who just wants to drown a few worms. It’ll be a very nice “small water” boat for the newbie or low budget guy who just wants to get out a few weekends a year. Starting SRP is targeted to be in the low $100k range as long as you go with the entry level 300 HP power plant. For resale reasons, most guys will want to max it with a 450 for a small up charge of $25k.
Personally, I think for many guys gear collecting is the new “doing”. We’re so over-scheduled and hyper busy in this country that we don’t have time to do, so the next best thing is to collect the toys that make us feel like we’re doing.
Does the average outboard in Minnesota get 25 hours of use per year? My semi-educated opinion is “no”.
Grouse
Grouse, love the satire and your message certainly recognized…
I’m getting to the point now that I’m getting older that my next boat will be in the opposite direction. More and more I’m missing the ease and simplicity of a smaller boat on smaller lakes that I used to fish almost exclusively. Not only less cost but so much more manageable for a solo old man to launch and load back up.
Maybe back to my youth when most all boats were 14′ with small tiller outboards.
This last one before my current “bigger” boat I used more than any other and subsequently had more fish in it because I had it out all the time. I am looking forward to going back to that someday.
It’s the little red Crestliner…
DSCN0042.jpg
Grouse, love the satire and your message certainly recognized…
I’m getting to the point now that I’m getting older that my next boat will be in the opposite direction. More and more I’m missing the ease and simplicity of a smaller boat on smaller lakes that I used to fish almost exclusively. Not only less cost but so much more manageable for a solo old man to launch and load back up.
Maybe back to my youth when most all boats were 14′ with small tiller outboards.
This last one before my current “bigger” boat I used more than any other and subsequently had more fish in it because I had it out all the time. I am looking forward to going back to that someday.
It’s the little red Crestliner…
WAC
I love FG humor also.
I’m also looking to downsizing in the next year or so after I hit kickback time. I will probably go 16 to 17 foot but not sure I want to give up my windshield. Man the windshield is nice in April, May, Oct, and Nov.
The other option is to keep my bigger glass boat for when I have company and get another smaller one when I go alone.
Decisions, decisions, decisions!
He must be racing this guy. This one is a Timbuk Too Marina. I think it is the owner of Premier.
Speaking of big boat big motor, my boss just had a pontoon on vermillion built its 12 ft wide 28 ft long with 2 mercury verado 400s racing motors. I think he is the jones’s. If your ever on vermillion it’s at a huge island out of stuntz bay. Goes 64 when hammered down and eats 6 gallons per minute at that rate. He had to buy a huge transfer tank to keep fuel up there full time because 50 gas cans a day was to much work
20160805_115606.jpg
What you really have to wonder is how does a guy in his 20’s own a mastercraft X23. That boat is 135K+. Seems like it’s always young guys in those boats. It’s not a jealousy thing at all but I am genuinely curious how so many sub 30 year olds have these wildly expensive wake board boats. Most Rangers I see the owner is in his 40s and safe to assume he is pretty established in life.
Lots of family wealth around nowadays jonesy.
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