The only Boston Whaler dealer in my state, Missouri, is Marine Max. They have zero Boston Whaler boats in inventory, and they haven't had any for a long time. I'm assuming boats are like new cars right now and you have to order. I may purchase a new 160 Super Sport in the next 12-months. I'm trying to figure out the purchase process.
Q1: must I order a new Boston Whaler through the Marine Max dealer, wait for the boat to be built, and then wait for the boat to be delivered to Marine Max?
Q2: are there rebates or discounts from MSRP on the price?
Q3: should I expect to pay MSRP?
BACKSTORY:I have a family of three with a seven-year-old son. We are an active family so the 160 Super Sport would be used exclusively for water sport activities. We'd be opting for the 90-HP with the ski tower. At most there would be people aboard, when my son gets old enough to start bringing a friend. I know the 160 is on the small side, but I feel like since we'd be constantly on the go, we would not be sorry we didn't get a bigger boat. We don't lay out or tie up with other boats.
Buying New Boston Whaler
Re: Buying New Boston Whaler
[To buy a new Boston Whaler boat] you just order through the dealer. Expect to wait six months to a year and pay MSRP or more.
I owned a 130 SUPER SPORT for a year. I just sold it because the 130 SUPER SPORT was too small and underpowered. It was a great first boat. I think the 160 will serve you well. I’m just about to pick up a 170 Montauk that I ordered in October 2021. Good luck.
I owned a 130 SUPER SPORT for a year. I just sold it because the 130 SUPER SPORT was too small and underpowered. It was a great first boat. I think the 160 will serve you well. I’m just about to pick up a 170 Montauk that I ordered in October 2021. Good luck.
Re: Buying New Boston Whaler
I doubt there is anything in a Boston Whaler dealer's contract with Boston Whaler that grants them protection against another Boston Whaler dealer selling a boat to a resident of the first dealer's "territory." While not common, it has occurred, as there are anecdotal accounts of boats purchased from a dealer other than the closest dealer to the buyer. However, those sales occurred in a different time than the present.LuckyPenny wrote:Q1: must I order a new Boston Whaler through the Marine Max dealer, wait for the boat to be built, and then wait for the boat to be delivered to Marine Max?
Also, Boston Whaler new boats are often only available in limited numbers or on an allocation basis to dealers. A particular dealer is only permitted to buy a limited number of boats from Boston Whaler. One aggressive dealer usually cannot order more than a certain number of popular models in any given year.
At one time there were a few smaller and independent Boston Whaler dealers, but the situation today is often that Boston Whaler representation is by large super-store dealers like MarineMax. MarineMax themselves could have a policy of only working with local buyers.
As the earlier reply demonstrates, many times a customer for new Boston Whaler boat is trading in another Boston Whaler boat bought just a few years earlier. Used boats like that are another source for first-time boat buyers.
Re: Buying New Boston Whaler
At one time a new Boston Whaler boat might sell at a small discount from MSRP, but not today.LuckyPenny wrote:Q2: are there rebates or discounts from MSRP on the price?
Q3: should I expect to pay MSRP?
I don't think this sellers-market in boating is going to sustain forever. With marine fuel prices already at $6-per-gallon, I expect that some new-to-boating boat owners may think about selling their boats.
Re: Buying New Boston Whaler
Personally, I would not buy from Marine Max. I have heard too many bad experiences.
Many dealers order a few boats in the smaller sizes. Shop dealers in neighboring states via the web.
Pricing is off the charts. Be cautious. [I am] seeing $35,000 to $50,000.
Given the long wait, I would shop the used listings. For the same money as new, you can buy a lot more boat.
Link to a 2018 160 SUPER SPORT for sale:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/525996162512377/?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A925564e4-efb2-40c4-9eb2-3096b6850dbf
Many dealers order a few boats in the smaller sizes. Shop dealers in neighboring states via the web.
Pricing is off the charts. Be cautious. [I am] seeing $35,000 to $50,000.
Given the long wait, I would shop the used listings. For the same money as new, you can buy a lot more boat.
Link to a 2018 160 SUPER SPORT for sale:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/525996162512377/?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A925564e4-efb2-40c4-9eb2-3096b6850dbf
1992 Outrage 17
2019 E-TEC 90
2018 LoadRite 18280096VT
Member since 2003
2019 E-TEC 90
2018 LoadRite 18280096VT
Member since 2003
Re: Buying New Boston Whaler
Regarding buying a boat, and assuming you need to trailer the boat to the water to use it: be sure to buy a boat that you can tow with your present vehicle and a boat you can store when not in use in a convenient and low cost manner. A 16-footer MAY be able to fit in a standard garage, and MAY be able to be hauled on a trailer by a mid-size SUV.