Is Performance Boating Dying?

**21CheckmateLD** · 03-19-2020, 09:05 AM

It sure seems to be that way. With the new crop of jet drive boats like Yamaha, Wave Runners are selling like crazy, ski and wake boats are real popular these days, pontoon boats are selling like hotcakes! Bowriders are the wave of the future at this point. Fast performance definitely on the downswing. Checkmate went belly-up, Baja had multiple models now they only have about four, there's only a few hundred boats for sale on Offshore Only where they used to be over a thousand. Do you agree with this?

**CUDA** · 03-19-2020, 09:30 AM

Been dying for YEARS, growing up on the Niagara River you could go out on the water and have fun now cops are everywhere just waiting to screw with you, at least where I live.

I was all set to buy a 2014 21 ft Yamaha jet boat found a super low price for a boat in perfect condition, friend said make sure you go for a ride because I don't thing you will like them anymore, He was right I've had a few Yamaha wave runners and had a blast but when you put two of them in a boat way to lazy for me.

**roadkill636** · 03-19-2020, 10:40 AM

Died 30 years ago.

**Dave S** · 03-19-2020, 12:00 PM

Died when they put gear shifts on KG7 Hurracanes..... HeeHee......

**Tom Foley** · 03-19-2020, 12:26 PM

Should have been at the Suwannee two weeks ago !!

**wogi** · 03-19-2020, 12:26 PM

Dead since the late 1970's now you are a out law to do it. Here in WI as a kid there was some type of boat race every week end during the summer between the Memorial day and labor day week ends. Raced ever thing, tunnels, opc, stock an mod hydro's and runabouts and even a world record kilo run in Kaukauna WI, now but for a few drag races, nothing. Man I long for the days when boats raced around corners that's my two cents

**99fxst99** · 03-19-2020, 01:25 PM

Used to be able to buy a new Checkmate or Baja or Hydrostream ready to run from a local dealer for a reasonable price. No more.....

**SUNKIST** · 03-19-2020, 01:35 PM

seems to be a virtual melinial keyboard problem....they think...a smartphone makes them super intelligent...they dont even know what a crescent wrench is...if you ask them they think it has something to do with the moon...I ain't giving up..my motor screams at me...let's go..

**engineermike** · 03-19-2020, 02:48 PM

I pulled up the price on a new 1990 checkmate pulse 186 and a 150 merc. Total was $18k without any accessories or upgrades. 3% inflation makes that about $44k in 2020 dollars. A 2020 Glastron GTS 180 with a 150 4-stroke merc is $34k. I don’t think pricing is the cause of the popularity decline.

**mistah_max** · 03-19-2020, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by engineermike

I pulled up the price on a new 1990 checkmate pulse 186 and a 150 merc. Total was $18k without any accessories or upgrades. 3% inflation makes that about $44k in 2020 dollars. A 2020 Glastron GTS 180 with a 150 4-stroke merc is $34k. I don’t think pricing is the cause of the popularity decline.

theres more to it than inflation..for one, insurance is nearly impossible to get. shure the boat you mentionned is insurable but seriously, who are you going to impress with a rig like that in any kind of race?? how many times will you go and ''rip'' down the river with it?

i'm 33 years old. own a 22 talon with a 300x. I get the performance boat thing. i try to live it the most i can. in the older days, the man of the house went out an baught a boat to his liking and told everybody in his family to sit down and shut up. nowadays, the family/pleasure/usefull part of boating is overly important. everything on the lake has gotten bigger and a small performance boat isnt what turns people on anymore.

my generation is just not into this. everybody that comes to look a my boat up close is at least 45-50yrs old. the all have cool stories about when they where new and all, but now, if it dosent have a speaker tower or 200 square feet of walking space most dont even look.

**Dave S** · 03-19-2020, 06:36 PM

boat racing.... lots of work.... no gimmeee

**Risco** · 03-19-2020, 06:53 PM

Almost every single person I know with a performance boat owns more than one boat. So it’s hard to justify a performance boat, center consoles are all the rage most will run 50+ so that’s pretty much what sells around here.

**outboards4life** · 03-19-2020, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Risco

Almost every single person I know with a performance boat owns more than one boat. So it’s hard to justify a performance boat, center consoles are all the rage most will run 50+ so that’s pretty much what sells around here.

This is exactly me.. I've got a river rocket but you will see me out on the pontoon more often. Local lake is not conducive to running a river rocket on the weekends.

**RNM018** · 03-19-2020, 07:24 PM

Not Dying , Just taking on a new face !
With the 2 cycle engine going away and the left over parts being used up , it is forcing our sport into a new direction . Unfortunately it's getting more expensive to purchase these new motors and this is also driving up the cost of the older motors to the point where alot of people are having to rethink there priorities . But be assured , for every one that has had to sit out from our sport , there is someone else stepping up and getting involved . The proof of this was in the back yard at the Foley's Ice Breaker Party a couple of weeks back !

Oh Ya , Let me just say , I for one love seeing these guys doing what we where told would never work , putting the heavy engines on there small boats !!!

Rich Martin 018

**eli** · 03-19-2020, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by outboards4life

This is exactly me.. I've got a river rocket but you will see me out on the pontoon more often. Local lake is not conducive to running a river rocket on the weekends.

exactly way to much boat traffic during the day i sometimes go to landing at 7 p.m and wait till most go in for the day then take a rip otherwise its before memorial day or after labor day but its always cold yet or getting cold by then out short summers no spring no fall just winter and summer in july