To get a new boat or not?

I need some advice. I have been debating about getting a new boat or not. My current boat runs like a champ. Only has about 100 hours on it. The interior looks brand new. I'm pleased with the wake and the handling. The only reason I'm considering buying a new boat is I don't want mine to get to old and I want beable to get a decent resale value for it. Anyway, hope yall can shed some light for me.

BTW, my current boat is 2002 Centurion (see proflie pic)

Youve been registered on here since july 03 and probably rode some before that so why only 100 hours on boat? If you dont use it that much why would you even consider a new boat, when in all actuality you have one?

(Message edited by bob on August 10, 2005)

If you're happy with your boat and the only concern is depreciation then absolutely DO NOT buy a new one. Boats take their biggest depreciation hit over their first 3 years the slow down. Centurions do tend to depreciate faster than say an MC or Nautique, but the trend is the same. Your boat pic in your profile looks sweet. If you're making your payments you're not going to take a hit when you come to sell your boat down the road. If you simply want a new boat and can afford it then by all means shop around.

Good observation Bob. The first summer I had the boat it rained every weekend. I think we may have had 2 or 3 good weekends the whole first year. We rode alot the second year and alot this year so I don't know how the hours are so low. We have a pontoon so we do all of our cruising in that and only wakeboard behind the Centurion. I don't have a big crew - my wife and 2 or 3 others that actually ride so I'm not pulling people all day long.

I second what Ryan said - fear of depreciation is a terrible reason to trade up. You are just starting the cycle all over again. Factor in the dealer profit on your trade, and on the new sale, plus acquisition costs (TT&L), you get the picture. Buy and hold, use it, take care of it, and enjoy it, is always is a better strategy.

Check your hour meter to make sure it is still working. I have a 2002 Centurion Hurricane and the hour meter stopped at around 40 hours and I had to have it replaced. The dealer I bought mine from sells Centurion, Sanger and Natique and ther were replacing the hour meters on all ther types of boats quite frequently that year. Apparently the same manufacturer makes the hour meters that are used in most of the boats out there and they had a problem with a big batch of their guages.

The majority of a boats depreciation happens when you drive it off the dealers lot. Buying a new boat would just increase your loses, over keeping your current boat. Doesn't make financial sense to me, but I'm no accountant.

Well to add more to the situation. I work with my dealer very close. I work boat shows for him, pick up and deliver boats for him, etc. The next boat will probably be a promo boat so I would save some money up front but don't know how much yet. I'm just debating if it would be worth it or not.

Brad, I have checked the hour meter and seems to be working fine. I have actually paid attention to how much I have used the boat that day and recorded the hours on the meter and it is pretty accurate.

Ryan thanks for the compliment on the profile pic.

Keep it, maintain it, enjoy it.

Your boat looks sweet man for sure, I'd agree to keep it. One of the best looking Centurions I've ever seen.

That said, early this year I traded an '04 boat for an '05, but I'm an idiot at times. Looking back I'd do it again. ;)

Boomer seeing your VLX isn't helping me. That is the color scheme I want on my next one. BLACK and RED. Now that is a sweet looking ride.

}