Is there a website for boats like Kelly Blue Book is for cars where you can find the actual value of boats? I haven't even bothered looking to see if Kelly Blue Book covers boats as well. I always get the itch this time of year and I think I'm going to pull the trigger this time around but I haven't bought a boat in years and don't want to get ripped off.

Yep Nada and Kelley Blue Book

Be ready to pay a LOT for a motor and get a boat thrown in.

What kind you wanting f150?

Something in the pontoon/tritoon family.

Yep..Them motors are outrageous

Not sure how nice your looking for....but I bought a 22ft Toon with a Merc 4 Stroke, 60hp for 4k set up for fishing with the kiddos. I got 5k in the boat after upgrading a few things. It was a 2006 model. Deals are out there if your not looking for the best of the best. A buddy of mine has a Tri-Toon with 300 HP on the back of it rigged out for ski-ing. He paid 42k new.

I'm working on a pontoon right now. If the toons and motor are good, you can restore the rest EASILY and save yourself a ton and I mean a ton of money. The below is the major stuff.

Flooring-$400
Carpet and Glue-$300
New Fence Paneling-$250 (Pontoonfence.com)
New Furniture-$1500 (Veada Boat Seats)
12' Bimini-$300 (Ebay)

I'm wanting something I can crappie fish with my 3 boys off of but something the family can tube/ski behind (wife's wish list). So I'm really wanting about a 150 hp at least.

Sounds like you want a deck boat

Deck Boat

Good luck with that unless you spend $30- $60k for a new one.That's exactly what I was looking for before I bought this wakeboard boat and I only found 1 used one that actually had an inboard 3.0.I found zero with anything over a 125hp.I wanted the 150 for the same reason but 99% of the used ones I found had anywhere from a 50-90hp on the back.That's another reason I just bought the wakeboard boat.We have plenty of room and plenty of power.

5 finger discount

You should look for a DuraCraft Funtastic deck boat. They are aluminum and has 4 fishing seats, ski pole (short one), trolling motor, wraparound bench seats like pontoon, and will pull a person wakeboarding with 6 other passengers. Mine has a 130 hp. Honda 4 stroke.

Good luck finding a boat.

In my experience, lending institutions will use NADA values, which as stated, place more emphasis on the value of the motor and very little on the hull. IMO, this gives the buyer a little bargaining power as it's very difficult to pay more than a lending institution is willing to loan.

Another rule of thumb I've heard is that boats depreciate about 10% per year. Thus a $20,000 boat will be roughly worth the following amounts over the years.
1 year old - $18,000
2 year old - $16,200
3 year old - $14,580
4 year old - $13,122
5 year old - $11,810 etc.

This is just a rule of thumb and not meant to determine actual value. I can definitely say that banks and such will not care what kind of electronics or accessories the boat has. They will only be concerned with make and model of the motor and hull.

I'm resurrecting this thread because I started kicking around the idea of a fish/play pontoon. Same as F150 was talking about. My Dad wants something he can take to Gulf shores a couple times a year and stay inshore or in the bay. I'd use it here on the river how do they hold up with occasional Saltwater use? We's have to trailer it so I don't want anything bigger then 20 ft. We might pull a tube in the river but that's all my buddy has a Moomba for that.

To all you considering boats. If you can wait to buy one, wait. Here are a few tips:

Know what you want
Know what it's worth
Have cash in hand
Be patient
Check the for sale sites daily
Be ready to act in a day

Deals come up very often, but you have to be ready and patient.

If you can wait until Christmas, it's the absolute best time to buy a boat. When a family needs cash for the holidays, the boat is the first thing to go. You can save thousands of dollars if you wait.

Mangler, pontoons will hold up to occasional saltwater use IF, you do not leave it in the water overnight, and you wash it with soap and water every time you take it out. It doesn't have to be a deep clean, but a good rinse/scrub of everything that contacts saltwater is a must.

We have been very happy with Manitou brand pontoon. Will buy another when this one gives out

The one in the classifieds would work for you. I buy and sell boats. His pontoon is a good deal if the seats will clean up. I think they will. The only reason I haven't bought it is because we have a baby due any day. I would expect to make around 2,000 on his boat. It would sell in a day on Craigslist. If you want one, it is a good deal. I think he would take 8,500 for it if you stood your ground.

Salt water is not too bad on a boat, it's the trailer. If you put a steel trailer in saltwater, it will rust from the inside. Back it into the lake a few times when you get home to get a lot of the saltwater out.

The guides are pretty worthless. There are too many variables and too little supply to come up with consistent patterns. They are more for banks (PLEASE DONT BORROW MONEY FOR A BOAT) and insurance companies.

The deals sell FAST. As in a day. If you don't have a flexible job that allows you to drop what you are doing to go buy it, plan to pay a little more.

If you do Facebook search for Alabama Boats for sale and Boats for sale or trade in Alabama.There are some good deals on them pages.