Try this one on for size, I have seen adds in my saltwater magazine advertising 30 foot Fountains for 600 dollars a month on a twenty year loan. It is no wonder alot of the guys I use fish with offshore had to split the gas three or four ways, and this was 4 or 5 years ago when gas was aroun $1.50 a gallon ;D. I stick with my 16ft john boat with a my 25 horsepower four stroke.

Tony

I really think im gonna go with a Tracker. Either the 170 or the 175 I beleive will be good for me. And should be a little easier on gas.

The answer is 15 years.... you are an adult, make your decision. I took a fifteen year loan on my boat and paid it off in 2.

AS I always say.... DO WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD..... in all aspects of your life.

I think that even if I had continued to pay for my boat, it is agood investment. I enjoy it and it makes me happy.

That said, get the boat that makes you happy. Look at lots of them. I shopped around for mant and chose a Triton. I love it.

I've said I think long term boat loans are rediculous, you will be wanting another boat long before you get the boat paid down to where the value of the boat is what it's payoff on the loan would be, and that's with the boat garage kept and in mint condition.

At the same time, it's just as rediculous to settle for a boat that you're not really wanting.  If you're wanting a nice glass boat and settle for a little tin can, you're not going to be happy, want to trade it in a  year or two for the boat you really wanted and loose your butt getting rid it, either way you come out on the loosing end.  So, why not go ahead and get the boat you really want and be happy, after all, odds are you will have to hold onto that boat longer than you will hold onto your wife, and getting rid of either is going to be expensive and probably ruin your credit.

AS I always say.... DO WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD..... in all aspects of your life.

I think the problem with this statement is that people can AFFORD these high priced boats (monthly payment wise) if they take out these l-o-o-o-n-g term loans.

When you stop and think about the hurdles life can throw into your life over the course of 5,7,10,12 or especially 15 years,  it's not hard to realize that making a financial commitment to a bank for something other than a house, especially something that depreciates as badly as boats do, is really putting yourself in a finacially dangerous position.  

One thing to look into is a home equity loan. Interest rates are pretty low and tax deductible.