how much longer can we afford to fish

[bonsai999]

I was told at the show that the cost of boats has gone up 400 to 500% in the last 4 years. Does that seem right?

Rick

[artcarney_agr]

I think the quality of boats needs to be considered when you talk of how much more expensive bass boats are now. Today's boats are made of some extraordinary composites, foam, etc., as opposed to the old days of wood and fiberglass. Even the motors have come a long way! Technological advances don't come cheap!

[mrobertson]

i thaught boats were still made out of fiberglass with foam put inside the hull so it will float or something. but still the main structure is fiberglass i thaught

[artcarney_agr]

"Fiberglass" is an all inclusive term.........there's so many different variations, mixtures, types, and so on and so forth - it's the same way with the word "foam". The resins, the laminates, and the many different processes in which boats are made today far exceeds that of the way boats were made when you could get a brand new one around $20,000. Sure, new boats of today may cost more, but the lifespan of one should be much longer than boats made with older technology.

[bassmaster]

The boat itself isn't the problem, boats are much cheaper than the engines...What about the technological advances in the newer motors..higher price...LESS dependable, alot less life expectancy on motors? The motors are less dependable than in the past and so are most automobiles.
Tim
bassmater

[F16ENGMGR]

Bassmaster,

You must have had a run of bad luck with engines. Todays hi-tech outboards are more reliable than at any time in the history of combustion engines. Same for automobiles. And Matt Plapp I agree with you.

[bassmaster]

Quite to the contrary. I'm running a 1994 Mercury XR6 and no problems, before that a 1990 XR4--zero problems...What caused Johnson & OMC to go out of business? Can you say FICHT? I can take you to a boat dealer who has had 3 E-tecs in the last 2 months that are blown, one of them was used very little. Know of 2 Optimax's blown last summer. I know personally several guys that have blown engines as we speak (2-5 year old motors). I personally know of one guy who has blown two new motors in the last 5 years. And these are just the one's I know of...I also know that there are newer motors that end up being great motors with little or no maintenance problems.
I guess I'm old school and that's me. I know I've owned several new vehicles in my lifetime and seemed like I had less problems with them years ago than I do now. Just my two cents worth...not uncommon to get 2-300,00 miles on an older vehicle motor but not heard of that much this day and time...Fact is they don't make 'em like they used to (TOO LAST WITH MINIMAL MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS). I'm no mechanic and know very little about motors but they use less oil now and to me I would think you would want the boat to use more oil like mine does as well as most motors 10-20 years old and older(not to rich because it would build carbon on piston wall).
Just one man's opinion and I'm sure some will agree and well as disagree with me. You're not gonna change my mind as well as I'm not gonna change yours and I'm not gonna hurt Plapp's business or anyone else's by stating my opinion. I have a friend that own's a boat dealership and that's the way he makes his living. I'm just speaking from a poor man's perspective. If you've got the money to burn no problem just stating what's best for me and knock on wood, my boat motors have been great with only 1 minor maintenance problem (prop shaft seal).
See ya'll on the water,
Tim
bassmaster

[VMAXX]

[QUOTE=bassmaster;286510]
I'm no mechanic and know very little about motors but they use less oil now and to me I would think you would want the boat to use more oil like mine does as well as most motors 10-20 years old and older(not to rich because it would build carbon on piston wall).


Tim the older motors do use more oil, they also dump more oil in the water. Thats the reason all manufactuers went to direct injection(ficht,opti's,hpdi's)
Govt regs on pollution have increased,they are more enviromentally friendly and in some cases get better mileage