You may be attracted to a small, simple boat that can be taken out single-handed or by a handful of people, like the $10,800 Beneteau First 14. They tend to share pricing characteristics, too, and one that’s eminently affordable is the Scarab 165 G. Even with its small $24,433 MSRP it delivers big on sporty fun, and has a surprisingly wide range of features like aft swim platform loungers, a ski-tow eye, and USB charging ports. And there’s no acrobatics required to get to the swim platform — just lift the padded section of transom and walk through. Another entry in the small-ish category is the Scarab 165-G — another pocket rocket of a bowrider that really delivers a fun outing. Spend a few dollars at a shop that specializes in marine audio systems or purchase a high-quality set online, and treat yourself to an upgrade. Once you spend that money it’s gone. We all know how our smallest swimmers love to clamber all over the back of the boat, and with this model, there’s no worry about little feet needing stitches on a weekend. Another bowrider on our list we recommend buying is the Caravelle 17EBO. Boating on a budget? Offering a surprising list of ­amenities, yet never going beyond the $30,000 threshold, they ­represent some of the best values in the runabout, pontoon, personal-watercraft and fish-boat categories. Just add a wakeboard tower, and you’ve got enough speed, and in-floor wakeboard and ski storage, for everyone on board to take a spin. Boats like the Striper 200 Walkaround OB check all those boxes. Fishing and water sports packages are also available. For anglers prowling the flats of Florida or the back country of the Gulf Coast for species like bonefish, snook, and red drum, a highly specialized fishing machine is in order: a flats boat. There is a wide range of custom features available to make it your own. INSHORE ATTRIBUTES: You've just got to love a hull that can plane in 3 … Scout 231 XS. Best family cruising yachts for £20k. At 20′-4″, it pushes the envelope as far as small boats go, but that extra length allows for the Bayliner AftAdvantage swim platform feature, providing a more usable cockpit area. Editor's Note: Pricing is accurate as last date of publish, May 12, 2020. Why restrict your recreation to short-lived vacations, when going boating is like taking a vacation each and every time you pull off the dock? Rinker has one of the largest color palettes on the list, offering nine different hull hues, five for vinyl and eight vinyl accent colors. So not only are they ideal as tenders and towboats, inflatables can also get urban dwellers into the boating game. Check out Bowrider Pro’s favorite accessory: The Yeti Tundra 45 Marine.  Click here for the current price! You may have seen our Top 10 Center Console Fishing Boats Under $20,000 article, and wondered if it was possible to pick 10 best fishing boats that cost half that much. Best Boats Under $20,000. With each new model manufacturers produce, small differences and upgrades are visible to the discerning eye, and each tries their best to win over a new fan base. Adding a wakeboard tower to a bowrider makes for a great modification, and the GT 180 is no exception. The Rotax 4-TEC 150 ECT generates 155 HP, and with a 20 gallon fuel capacity, you can be sure of a full day’s fun before heading back to the fuel dock. Start small with a boat like the Donzi 16 Classic (MSRP: $61,900), which can be equipped with 200- or 250-horsepower, and you’ll soon be zipping across the water at speeds most boats only reach when they’re being trailered down the highway. Larson has been around for about a hundred years, and has earned a reputation for making good quality, reliable and affordable boats. © 2020 National Marine Manufacturers Association. They even offer a bunch of options for the included trailer. Both the 180 and the VR5 have wakeboard storage under the deck. In fact, in the smaller size ranges it’s possible to find an all-purpose fishing boat that can easily hold a family of four and fits in the garage, yet is priced in the $10,000 to $20,000 range. Prices start at $28,999, but look for dealer demos or repossessed boats to knock some of the price if it’s necessary to stay within your budget. Even with all these big-ticket goodies included, base price is just $27,095. These open, spacious boats are great for just about any waterborne activity and thanks to their simplicity they’re shockingly affordable. It's easy to do with this collection of great boats available for under $35,000. Interior color combos are tan/brown and white/grey. But consider this: if you chartered an offshore sportfishing yacht for a day of fishing, in most parts of the nation you’d pay somewhere between $1,500 and $2,500 per day. There is no walk-through to the aft deck — you need to toss a leg over the padded transom to access the flush-mounted telescoping swim ladder. However, that doesn’t mean you have to spend a million dollars to get a boat that provides adrenaline-inducing thrill rides. It also boasts port and starboard side storage, bow and stern navigation lights, and a Bluetooth speaker. While that may mean foregoing the snazzy wine-chiller or the huge outboard engine to get a more affordable price, it certainly doesn’t mean foregoing the family fun a pontoon boat will provide. The fourth guy makes the boat ride different and nobody makes the amount of quality casts they would if there were less people aboard. Find the perfect boat for you, your family, and your budget, and you’ll never regret it. Cuddy Cabins: Rinker 22MTX. Weighing in at only 1,500 lbs. What do you think, a half a million dollars sounds about right? While each bowrider below is advertised by the manufacturer as less than $30,000, prices can vary depending on specific features and location, so keep that in mind as you dive into the purchasing process of the bowrider that stands out to you the most. You’ll love that new boat even more as you sail right past the fuel dock. Slightly narrower than most 180’s at 7′-5″, the hull is still able to carry an 1,800 lb, load of gear and passengers. Bayliner element F16 Specifications Feedback. They’re rugged, versatile, compact, easy to transport, and easy to afford. As with any boat, adding options also ups the price, but for an MSRP around $15,995, you really can’t go wrong. with either a 60 or 75 ELPT Mercury four stroke, it can be towed to the ramp by Mom’s taxi, eliminating the need for a brand-new F-250 (sorry, Dad). They may not have the bling of models that are triple the cost, but boats like the Ranger RT188P have it where it counts: in the bass fishing department. It’s the perfect boat for teaching the kids about responsible boating in a vessel just their size. In as little as 8 inches of water, you can bring this boat right up on those places that the big draft boats can not get to. And, talk about affordable: the Yamaha Waverunner EX series lists at a mere $6,899 to start—less than a couple might lay out for a week-long trip to Europe. Yes, that’s a matter of personal preference, but the fit and finish on the R160 is just as good as you’ll find on much larger, more expensive boats. Image via Starweld. Just what’s “reasonable”? It’s the only jet boat to make our list. Boston Whaler Super Sport 130. Spinning or baitcasting, drifting the reefs or fly fishing the flats, the ‘all-new’ 2021 22 Bay boat is designed for the serious angler. Did you make it to the boat show this year? Plus, the smooth twin-hull ride can take on bigger seas than most monohulls in this class, and the boat has twin engines. With an overall length of 17′-10″, we are getting back into a larger boat that is still affordable for a family of eight. While center console boats under 26 feet in length understandably remain the most common-size vessels on fresh and salt water, boats 26 to 30 feet are also very popular with saltwater anglers. Yet boats like this come fully-equipped with everything you need for memory-making mini-vacations. For many forms of fishing in protected waterways, a boat like this will more than do the trick. Saltwater fishing is popular just about anywhere there’s a coastline, and anglers who ply bays, inshore waters, and back-country flats love their bay boats and flats boats. Fortunately, there is indeed a boat for every budget. I can provide you with a small list of the best value deck boats. And don’t forget people, while you could dedicate that boat budget to a car, vacations, or a pool, we think a boat has got all of those things beat—hands-down. It’s rated for up to five people, has a 40 HP outboard, a trailer, a livewell, and a driver’s side console, and is an ideal platform for all kinds of freshwater fishing and trips on relatively protected saltwater bays. Are you into catching dinner? In the console area, you’ll find a safety glass windshield with an aluminum frame and a fiberglass port console with storage trays and compartments. In this category there are countless options, and luckily, many all-purpose fishing boats are relatively low cost because their focus on fishing means they aren’t loaded up with excessive amenities. Doesn’t choosing a pool seem rather limiting, when your boat will provide you with countless places to take the plunge? Traditionally most people have thought of center consoles purely as fishing boats, but in recent years more and more people have discovered that the center console design is also great for any number of boating activities. Don’t sweat it. But when you compare different boats by their capabilities and useable space, that’s not always the case. The second heaviest on our list at 2,010 lbs, it only draws 30-inch shaft down. Bayliner Element F16. Powered by a 115hp Yamaha four-stroke engine, with only 151 hours! Cuddies have all the basics you need like a berth to sleep on, basic restroom facilities, and sometimes even a compact galley (kitchen), but they’re still small and simple enough to keep pricing down at reasonable levels. When it comes to economics, sailboats hold an advantage over powerboats since they don’t need the power provided by those big motors. There are a lot of boaters out there who are not up to speed on what’s available in the bowrider world, but who are performing their due diligence in making their purchase. You may not have heard of the Tahoe, but you surely have heard of its parent company, White River Marine Group, a subsidiary of Bass Pro Shops. Jason is a bowrider enthusiast who enjoys hitting the water whenever he can, but during the colder months or when the weather isn't quite right, you can find him writing about bowriders and sharing tips with the community for getting the most out of their boat. And note that although it’s relatively small and inexpensive, this boat can carry five passengers and has plenty of features ranging from flush-mount vertical rodholders, to an 18-gallon livewell, to cockpit courtesy lighting. Some of the best-known builders of flats boats at present include: Hewes, Spyder, Sundance, Maverick Boat Co. and Ranger. Are you looking for the best bass or multi-species boats available in the market? Whether you're a first-time boat buyer or looking to hit the water without breaking the bank, these models offer loads of fun at an attractive price. Carolina Skiff 198DLX. True, they don’t usually have many luxury features nor integrated entertainment devices, but you’ll be so busy reeling in fish you’ll never notice in the first place. Other names, like Larson and Tahoe are less well known, but their style, value and features have earned them a place right up alongside the others. One sub-category of aluminum fishing boat with particularly wide appeal is the Jon boat, since it’s among the most affordable options on the water. My friend got his for under 25K, it was a 2006, with trolling moter, power pole,jack plate, Ranger trailer, poling platform, and 200 HP Yammi with 300 hours. A trip out on your bowrider isn’t complete without cold drinks. 2019 is the last model year for the company that has been around since 1966, though there are many of us out there that believe Caravelle Boats will ride again. Hull and interior colors options are the same as with the 180. The builders of the half-dozen boats that ­follow would beg to differ. One of the great things about pontoon boats is that most models are highly customizable, and you can get them just as simple and inexpensive or as gussied-up as you please. The two aft facing seats behind the cockpit are perfect for people watching or catching a great sunset. All rights reserved. That means there’s a long list of boatbuilders who make bowriders, and they’re available in a huge range of shapes and sizes. The Robalo R160 MSRPs just a few hundred dollars under $20,000 (or at $20,695 with a trailer), comes with a 50-horsepower Yamaha outboard, and may be the best-looking boat in this mix. It’s 7′-4″ beam provides a stable ride, while allowing for plenty of cockpit room. Even at a smaller 18’5” and 3,025 lbs, its capacity is eight, so you can invite the whole family and some friends for a ride on your Tahoe. So we’ve decided to produce our own boat show, showcasing the 10 best affordable bowriders under $30,000, because enjoying the pride of boat ownership and a weekend on the water with family and friends shouldn’t also break the bank. The 6 Best Trolling Motors for Your Bowrider. Trucksales. You aren't gonna get much of a boat at that price for a "new" bay boat. Get community news, buying bargains, and how-to guides at your fingertips. Sea Ray, Rinker and Glastron are names that have been around for years, and perennially make the list. And with the tower, it is an inevitable fact you will be bringing home the catch and grilling it up on your grill. Whether you want to replace old and torn seats, change the overall look of your boat, or you’re just ready for a switch,... At Bowrider Pro, we're obsessed with all things boating, but you guessed it — it's the bowrider that gets us truly excited to hit the water. Though it doesn’t list as many other equipment options as some of the other bowriders on our list, you can’t really argue with it’s MSRP of $25,000. Then visit our Boat Loan Calculator and plug in the cost of a relatively affordable cabin cruiser, like the $80,750 Jeanneau NC 795. Correct craft, Moomba, Centurion, Monterey boats for sale. Looking for some opinions on which flats boat would be the best older all around boat. This boat-motor-trailer package offers 115 horses, a fishfinder, a bow-mount trolling motor, multiple rodboxes and livewells, onboard tackle stowage, and an onboard battery charger. Chittum Islamorada 18 Legacy – Best Features. New tech in drive units and boat designs has made it possible for many manufacturers to offer lower cost boats that work great for sports like surfing and water skiing. Runs great and is in great shape too. This boat is 13.25 feet in … Looking for a cheap thrill? Rinker describes the 17QX as a sports car on the water, and we couldn’t agree more. Australia's No.1 place to buy, sell or research a caravan or camping equipment. MSRP, which includes the trailer, is just a little over $24,400. The 18-foot version barely breaks the $20,000 mark, and the 16-footer starts as low as $15,299—less than the cost of many new motorcycles, which aren’t exactly the ideal vehicles for family entertainment. Families who enjoy both fishing and watersports naturally gravitate to this design. That doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. Some of the bowriders that made it on to our list are the “old guard” of the small boat world. Match up a boat like the Sea Eagle 14sr ($2,499) with a portable outboard, and you young urban dwellers have a boat capable of carrying seven people that takes just 25 minutes to inflate—and you could even add on things like swivel seats, a Bimini top, and fishing rod holders. While the boat’s primary motor will cause... 10 Best Bowrider Boat Seats for a Comfortable Ride. Yet listing at just $15,547, this package can be financed with payments under $150 a month. No? Similar to its slightly smaller cousin, the 180, the VR5 also carries eight passengers, but it does so in a bit more luxury. The 198LX calls itself a “sport deck,” and what a sport it is! The Tahoe T-16 gets our vote for the most economical bowrider. But if you purchased a sportfishing yacht that retains a good deal of its value over time, like the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest (which goes for a little over a half-million dollars), you’ll have the asset of the boat itself for years to come. Boat Trader currently has 364 flats boats for sale, including 131 new vessels and 233 used boats listed by both individual owners and professional boat dealerships across the country. Hull and graphics color packages, stainless steel hardware, cushion and canvas options, too. While that simplicity may limit the boat’s appeal to only anglers, it also helps manufacturers keep pricing down—way down. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. In fact, consider all the expenses you’d incur if you paid for all the gear, vehicles, lodging, and supplies to go on a trip to some exciting new place every weekend, all summer long. Mako, Cobia, Boston whaler, Robalo boats for sale. The “beam forward” design features a nearly eight-foot wide fully padded seating area. A relatively light bowrider weighing in at 1,520 lbs. Equipped with a four-stroke outboard and trailer, it’s the perfect pick for a weekend of water sports. 20 Popular Boats Under $30,000 (With Pictures & Prices) 2) The 2014 Mako 18 LTS ($22,500+) This boat is a great boat for lounging, trolling, and fishing. Bayliner has another winner here in the VR5. Picture it equipped with the max HP 115 outboard engine speeding the 1,400 lb hull and it’s six passengers effortlessly across the bay. Some have complained of Larsons developing stress cracks, but don’t let that scare you off. The boat runs very fast, is extremely sturdy in the chop, displays a great storage design for dry gear and rods, and has been (two of my friends own them) the envy of my dream flats boat. If you’ve been looking at offerings in this genre you’ve probably noticed there’s a very wide range of pricing, which is often related to the size of the boat. Yes, it is a little sportier looking than the optional fishing package includes an aerated live well, and! 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