Is there historically a better time to buy a boat?

 

I'm a midwest guy and wasn't sure if it mattered.

 

Yes I know, the best time to buy is NOW (or NEVER).  

 

Winter?

 

THANKS

Around here if it isn’t sold by the 4th of July dealerships plan to winter it.  So anytime between now and late winter they might have some that they want to be rid of.  What are you looking for?

15 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

What are you looking for?

 

Good question.

 

I'd say something along the lines of a Lund 1875 Pro V Bass boat.

Here generally the best time to buy a fishing boat is spring when the snowbirds are headed home.  They’ll buy a boat, use it 3-4 times and sell it with plans to buy a pontoon the next year. 

The next best time is midsummer, when the less hardcore of us get tired of wake boats trying to kill us.

 

5 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Good question.

 

I'd say something along the lines of a Lund 1875 Pro V Bass boat.

 

Holler at @A-Jay, he runs a Lund Pro V. 

 

I picked up my Adventure early August a few years back. It was used, I felt the deal was fair. 

 

Here in the midwest, I would say now is a pretty good time to find a boat. People are tired of them, might need some $$ for the holiday, and/or don't want to winterize or store. 

 

Good luck!!

Between now and when the 2026 versions show up. Dealers will have 2025 models sitting there that they want to sell for newer inventory and you should be able to negotiate a lower cost, if not some add ons.

 

My friend has been watching a Lund Adventure all season at a dealer near him. In April it was $51,500. It’s now listed at $38,500. He’s getting close…

On 9/17/2025 at 4:02 PM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Good question.

 

I'd say something along the lines of a Lund 1875 Pro V Bass boat.

See your local Lund dealer for an honest assessment.

A fair warning about two deals.

1. The boat you want will ALWAYS cost way more than you thought it would.

Don't allow this to scare you off. 

2. The after-boat-purchase costs are EXTENSIVE.

Find out what these costs are and prepare for them.

Many are not optional.

Good Luck.

A-Jay

On 9/17/2025 at 4:02 PM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

1875 Pro V Bass boat.

Dam that's an old boat, make sure you kick the tires and offer half asking

Yeah but it is solid oak!

When you are ready and have the budget to buy when you find what you want!

Tom

4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

2. The after-boat-purchase costs are EXTENSIVE.

 

That's exactly what put me off last week.

 

If I bought, I have a couple of 100Ah and 36Ah batteries from my kayak that would work. I already have FFS and some graphs I could port over.  But the upgraded trolling motor, larger graph, mounting the graphs, wiring, installation costs, and a host of other items really jacked up the price.

 

I can afford it, but I just wasn't comfortable shelling out all of that money. I even thought of selling my current kayak and building a new kayak package, but I couldn't justify the cost in my mind. I'm too frugal.

14 hours ago, gim said:

My friend has been watching a Lund Adventure all season at a dealer near him. In April it was $51,500. It’s now listed at $38,500. He’s getting close…

 

I wasn't even thinking new but that's a decent drop.

 

Enough to actually debate going new.

 

I'll have to start doing some looking.

If you are buying a bass boat the dealer preps it, it should come wired for electronics and TM plus needed fuse panel, switch’s, breakers etc, live well pumps from the factory and included in the boat price, nor an add on. The Electonics, sonar unit units and TM are options.

Tom

Bought my 2023 in the winter of 2022 with an out-the-door price.

Only out of pocket expense that I added was graphs.

Of course the boat triggered a bait buying frenzy BUT.....

It is very easy to ass another 10k to a boat. A lot of the factory rigged options are low end stuff that most people upgrade. Than tax,tags etc. that being said a well taken care of boat will more than likely outlast your vehicle. I will never condone being wreckless with finances. If you can do it do it. Waiting another 5 years or for retirement or any other excuse isn’t a good idea. I want to live now. Not look back and say man that would have been fun I want to say Man! That was a blast!

Now is the time. New models coming out, winter coming on, end of season deals are now and you’re not getting any younger by the minute.

If you want it, can find it and can afford it, don’t hesitate to get it.

Ten years ago was the best time, but since that's not an option, usually the end of the season is the best time, but generally you'd be better off buying today rather than tomorrow either way. Now with aggressive US tariffs, if that policy changes it might be better to wait, but there's annual price hikes regardless. You can sometimes land deals at late winter/early spring boat shows too.

 

I was looking at a Ranger RT188 at Bass Pro shops yesterday. It was priced at almost 50k. I almost bought one just a few years ago for around $26k that was pretty loaded out.

On 9/17/2025 at 3:02 PM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Good question.

 

I'd say something along the lines of a Lund 1875 Pro V Bass boat.

And here I was going to suggest Bass Trek - with the cancer giving me a time limit, and my ankle making it impossible for me to launch/land her - she hasn't come out of the garage all year.

34 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

was looking at a Ranger RT188 at Bass Pro shops yesterday. It was priced at almost 50k. I almost bought one just a few years ago for around $26k that was pretty loaded out.

I have a 2015 RT178 with some add ons and that’s what I paid nearly 10 years ago now. It’s a foot shorter than the RT188.

 

They threw some goodies in at no cost too. Upgraded flooring, free cover, and installed my own graphs at no extra charge. I paid for an upgraded outboard and bow mount.

I assume it's the same everywhere, but here on the coast the best time to buy is late fall/early winter and the worst is in the spring. Lots of boats on the market when the season is wrapping up and lots of demand for boats when we start getting into the next season. That's for used. 

 

My dad got a crazy deal on a boat 20 years ago when a local dealer was going out of business and sold everything that was left in an auction.

5 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

And here I was going to suggest Bass Trek - with the cancer giving me a time limit, and my ankle making it impossible for me to launch/land her - she hasn't come out of the garage all year.

If I lived closer would buy your pride and joy if only had a garage to store her in🥲.

Tom