Being out on the water for a day of fishing and fun is a dream for most people.
Owning their own boat gives them access to that feeling of freedom whenever they want.
For those who love boating, it’s a worthwhile investment, but it comes with quite a price tag.
Why Are Boats So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)
1. Building Boats Is Costly
Water and prolonged exposure to it—any type of water but particularly salt water—quickly and aggressively corrodes materials.
Boat hulls must be able to withstand just about the harshest treatment possible from the elements and maintain their waterproof integrity year after year.
Many hulls are made of fiberglass, which is a fairly expensive material.
It may be comprised of several layers including a durable outer coating that must be maintained.
Creating a fiberglass hull is usually labor-intensive, either sprayed into a mold or manually applied.
Sanding and coating are often performed by hand, and are not limited to the time of construction but must be kept up.
Aluminum, while not necessarily expensive in other products, has to be of higher quality when used in boats.
To stand up to the rigorous motion of waves, aluminum in boats must be a thicker gauge and higher grade.
Welding aluminum pieces together must be done by a professional.
A subpar welding job will lead to a leaking—or sinking—boat.
Any wooden parts of a boat are subject to rot and will need to be checked and maintained regularly.
In order to prevent corrosion, other types of metal are replaced by stainless steel in boats.
Even small stainless steel parts are expensive and increase the overall cost, and many of these go into the making of each boat.
However, this still prevents the time and expense of frequently replacing rusted metal parts and repairing any related damage.
There are also added costs for manufacturers to build boats that might not necessarily come to mind when listing expenses.
Even in the beginning stages, boats are extremely heavy.
Manufacturers have to invest in heavy machinery to safely and reliably lift and move boats throughout the process.
Transporting them from locations with the cheapest labor is impractical and cost-prohibitive, so they have to be made locally.
Manual labor for much of the process also takes quite a bit of time.
Payment for laborers during this time has to factor into the cost of each boat.
2. Compliance With Safety Regulations
From the start, boat construction is an involved process and must meet rigorous standards for function and safety.
Not only the hull but the entire boat must be balanced in shape and weight to travel smoothly through the water.
Achieving the perfect shape determines whether boaters get a jostling, spine-jarring ride or enjoy their day.
Obviously, it has to keep water out but still offer holes to safely drain any water that does come in.
Boats must come equipped with standard safety must-haves like handrails, sturdy cleats, and a killswitch.
Great pains must be taken when putting any product out to make it as safe as possible for the public.
Unlike driving cars, boaters are not required to take safety courses to learn best practices for operating vessels.
Clearly, taking a boat out on the water at high or even moderate speeds comes with inherent risk.
Manufacturers take every precaution to anticipate problems, keep people safe, and avoid lawsuits.
Boaters take responsibility for the way they operate their vessels and whether they take advantage of Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) or not.
However, manufacturers try to ensure that their workmanship won’t be the source of any mishaps, especially concerning safety.
While who is allowed to operate a boat generally goes unregulated, the formation of boats does not.
The processes of production have to follow rules and standards issued by government agencies.
This inevitably involves extra costs.
Where fuel tanks are involved, ventilation is of paramount importance to prevent fires.
Conservative limits on weight capacity are clearly posted, making every effort for responsible boaters to take notice and comply.
3. Boat Owners Are A Niche Market
The consumer demand for boats is generally limited to a percentage of people living on or near the coast, lakes, or rivers.
The kind of bulk production that would lower the cost per individual product does not happen for boats the way it happens for machinery and devices that nearly every person owns.
Particularly for large boats, not enough are sold for manufacturers to justify the expense of automated machinery.
The larger the boat, the more time, care, and manual labor go into creating it.
Consumers notice that prices rise steeply with increasing boat size, and this likely provides one of the main reasons.
Because of less automation during the building process, constructing boats is more time-consuming.
A longer process adds to costs, as does the use of more manual manpower.
When considering—and balking at—the price of products, consumers tend to forget that not all business owners price-gouge.
They and their employees have to make a profit, and business owners often incur hefty hidden fees like payroll taxes.
Particularly in the sales sector, executives have to play the game of guessing where the public’s preferences will go next.
This almost always involves gambles and experiments, which don’t always pay off.
Continuing in the business requires planning for this and making sure you have some financial padding.
4. The Most Costly Part Is The Engine
Avid enthusiasts are typically interested in faster engines, and manufacturers have to recover what they’ve spent on research and technology.
Nearly all engines are complex, made of many small pieces, and harness the power of mini-explosions.
They have to be constructed from rugged materials that keep users safe and withstand the elements.
Boat engines are designed for the output of maximum power, to be run full-force at high RPMs for hours at a time.
Aluminum and stainless steel parts must work together seamlessly and hold lubricating substances even in corrosive outdoor weather.
These engines will likely be spending most or all of their time stored very close to the water and circulating water with some degree of salinity.
Sealing the engine’s inner workings against corrosion as well as possible is an added effort that costs money.
Stainless steel parts add in more expenses but are vital to the life of the engine.
Filters and devices to prevent clogging must be in place too since debris gets sucked in along with water.
Whether boaters can’t wait to enter fishing tournaments or just like to cruise around, most love to go fast.
If they’re going to invest in a boat, they’ll be checking out the latest models of efficient engines that deliver the most power for size and cost.
To stay competitive in their market, manufacturers must keep pushing to stay ahead in research and development.
This will hopefully pay off in sales, but they need to make up costs from research as well as production.
Most research and development costs for boats go into innovations in the engine.
Since costs for this part are high, selling to a smaller number of people plays into the final costs of engines.
5. Boat Necessities Add Up
Engines are the most costly part, but hoses, pumps, batteries, lighting systems, safety gear, and bimini tops all add up.
Most boats are powered by at least one deep-cycle cranking battery.
You’ll recall if your car has ever stranded you with a dead battery that these need occasional replacing.
Batteries, especially marine deep-cycle batteries, get expensive, and you’ll need to frequently use or start up your boat to keep them charged.
Corrosive marine conditions are especially hard on pliable materials like rubber, so hoses often dry and crack.
To keep your boat running, you’ll need to check these and keep replacing them.
If you want your bimini to keep the rain off your head, the fabric must be heavy-duty and fit its frame.
Water rolls off a taut bimini top but pools in a saggy one, encouraging rips and damage.
Fast travel and bumpy wave action are jarring on all parts of a boat and can loosen electrical wiring over time.
You can fix some of this yourself, but more complex rewiring may require repairs from a professional.
If you find yourself still on the water at night, running lights on your boat become a life-saver.
For this reason, functional running lights are legally required on your boat, and you should check and replace bulbs regularly.
6. The Difference Between Land And Water
Those who spend lots of time on their boats incorporate more extras, from radios to grills to furniture.
These extras, though, can’t be built in the same way as their counterparts on land.
They need to endure constant heat, sun, water, and salt exposure.
Sealing, coating, materials, and components have to be extra tough and will cost more.
Cushions and hardware for your patio or deck furniture need to be able to resist mildew, direct sun, and weather.
Furniture on your boat should withstand much more of all those things as well as stand up to boat motion.
Electronics like a radio can provide luxuries like music but are important for on-water communication and requesting assistance.
This, too, has to be sealed and waterproofed against humidity and corrosion, made in a much more durable way than the electronics we use in our homes.
7. Expensive Extras
Once basic construction is finished, add-ons and options increase the price, like custom paint, carpeting, and more.
Plenty of standard white fiberglass boats are available, but many people want vivid colors and metallic finishes.
If you envision hosting friends frequently for social outings, you’ll want to keep everyone comfortable.
Soft and inviting cushions in weatherproof fabric usually cost more than expected.
Carpet offers one choice for cozy floors that prevent slipping, but only specially-made carpet fends off rot and marine conditions.
For luxury vessels, even those on the smaller end, these extras go along with buying your dream yacht.
The vessel should offer a lavish floating retreat with an interior nearly as fancy as a luxe mansion.
Besides high-end furniture and décor, all the comforts and appliances you’d want in your home would be replicated for the yacht, with added wiring and connections for use on the water.
Bathrooms will, of course, work differently as well, and must comply with regulations.
8. Expenses For Routine Use
Boat fuel costs quickly add up.
Data shows that engines need fewer repairs if ethanol-laden fuel is avoided, so this means paying more for quality gasoline.
If driving your boat at planing speed, you’re spending an average of $75 per hour on fuel.
Larger, faster engines consume fuel more rapidly.
Additional costs are mostly small when looked at individually, but many keep cropping up often.
You’ll have to keep renewing your boat registration annually.
If storing your boat at a harbor or public dock, you’ll be paying a monthly rental fee.
If you like fishing, SCUBA diving, or other boat-related recreational activities, many require licenses.
You should expect costs for those as well as for any equipment that goes with the sport.
Boaters should add applicable insurance to their policies to prevent costs from catastrophic accidents and the like.
More people are moving to coastal areas every year, and more and more boater registrations are purchased.
News travels quickly about favorite boating and fishing hot spots, especially in beautiful locations like springs.
Crowded areas and rowdy boaters greatly increase the chances of accidents, especially when alcohol is added to the equation.
It’s much wiser to invest in insurance.
In addition, it may be illegal not to in your state.
Dock or slip rental might also require you to have it, as well as any source of financing you might have obtained to buy your boat.
Another cost linked to routine use and optimal enjoyment is enlisting a service much like AAA for your car.
Not all engine failures can be predicted or prevented, and many of these occurrences leave you stranded.
Whether boating offshore or keeping to estuaries, a long paddle home is never fun.
A kind stranger might pass by and agree to tow you home, but they might not.
For a yearly fee, companies like SeaTow are prepared to rescue stranded boaters—and their boats—anywhere in the world, in almost any kind of weather.
Even if you think you can avoid this cost with a fellow boater friend who agrees to an on-call rescue partnership, neither of your boats can likely compare to the rescue capabilities of the massive tugboats professional rescuers use that can go anywhere even in inclement weather.
9. Expensive Repairs And Maintenance
As with cars, some maintenance is routine and predictable while other types can be sudden and costly.
Hitting submerged objects nicks your propeller, and your boat won’t plane properly if this piece is in bad shape.
Most bilge pumps are small, not built to last, and need to be periodically replaced.
Unless your boat employs a different system, you don’t want to be without a bilge pump.
Besides the electronics of the engine itself, its hydraulic lift system will need to be kept up.
Your engine, of course, will likely require the most expensive maintenance.
Just as you expect even the most well-made cars to eventually break down, so will any motor under constant use.
Boat engines are painstakingly built to last even in corrosive marine conditions, but you should expect the occasional repair.
10. Costly Storage
The majority of people dream of living on the coast, enjoying the sea breeze, the ambiance, and the many recreational activities.
Residency in coastal areas is continually on the rise, and despite more construction and development, there are a finite number of harbors, docks, and boat slips.
Expect monthly fees for convenient boat parking that may fluctuate, going up in the peak season when an influx of tourism is anticipated.
Costs to keep your boat conveniently close to waterways will likely only get higher.
There are incentives for keeping your boat on a trailer and launching it for use.
Possibly the most significant one has to do with maintenance to your hull.
Keeping your boat in the water exposes it to barnacles, rot, and rust, and you’ll need to dry-dock it periodically to perform the monumental task of scraping debris off of the hull, refreshing the resin coat, and checking all parts for water damage.
With a trailer, your choices for where to go boating extend to as far as you would like to drive.
Also, gas for your car is cheaper than boat gas, so you can save money there.
Your trailer will come with some extra maintenance, though.
The fact that launching your boat will mean constantly dipping your trailer in and out of the water requires you to take measures to keep rust at bay.
You’ll need to keep joints and all moving parts lubricated.
Keep up with brake maintenance or you may lose your boat.
You’ll also want to keep electrical wiring for trailer lights functioning for legal and safe driving.
Check your wheel bearings periodically to be sure they contain plenty of grease.
Going in and out of water might cause grease to leak out little by little.
Grease for your bearings prevents significant and very expensive damage.
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