How Long Can You Finance a Boat?
Last Updated on July 28, 2023 by Boatsetter Team
Are you thinking about buying a boat any time soon? There is nothing like getting out on the open water and feeling the cool breeze and ocean spray against your skin. At Boatsetter, you can try before you buy. You have the option of renting as many different types of boats as you like so that you can get an idea of the type of boat you are most interested in purchasing.
Once you’ve narrowed your options down a little, you’ll probably need to arrange some type of financing for your new watercraft. Although they will give you and your family many years of enjoyment, new boats can often be quite expensive, especially if you are looking for something with all of the latest bells and whistles. The idea of boat financing is essentially the same as financing a car, rv, a home, or any other kind of major purchase.
You are more likely to obtain a boat loan if you go to marine lending institutions rather than regular banks or a credit union. This is because many of the marine lending institutions’ agents know much more about boats and understand the purchasing and survey process better than agents at regular banks.
If you’re wondering about the range of interest rates you can expect to see on a boat loan in your area of the country, keep in mind that many factors affect a loan’s interest rate. For example, how much you plan to borrow, your credit score, and your down payment size can all affect your monthly payments.
Boat Loan Terms
In the past, boat loans were typically offered for shorter periods compared to other major purchases. This was due to the fact that boats were not built as robustly as they are today. Many boats required significant repairs or became irreparable after around ten years. As a result, lenders aimed to protect their investment by ensuring that the collateral did not depreciate faster than the loan was being repaid.
However, with advancements in boat construction and engine technology, boats have become more durable and capable of retaining their resale value over extended periods. Consequently, many lenders are now willing to offer financing options with longer terms.
In today’s market, it’s not uncommon to find lenders who are willing to finance a boat for up to 20 years. Opting for a longer loan term can significantly reduce the monthly loan payments. To understand the financial implications of different loan terms, you can utilize online tools such as a Boat Loan Calculator. This calculator allows you to compare the monthly payments between a 10-year term and a 20-year term, giving you a clearer idea of how your repayment options may vary.
By considering these factors and exploring the available financing options, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your financial goals and preferences.
Financing Options
The amount of time that you finance a boat can also have a large impact on other variables. For example, if you double the loan term, a lender will probably charge a slightly higher interest rate, or perhaps a larger down payment will be required. A few other factors a lender may consider when determining the length of your loan term are:
- The size of the loan
- The type of boat
- The age of the boat
How Long Can You Finance A Used Boat?
When deciding on the loan term, the age of the pre-owned boat is taken into consideration. Typically, used boats that are newer are eligible for longer loan terms as they are expected to have more years of use and retain their value better.
Size of the Loan
Just like when you purchase a house or a car, loan size is very important for how long a lender will be willing to stretch the loan. Generally, the larger the loan is, the longer it can be financed. Just keep in mind that many lenders will have minimum loan amounts for different specific term periods.
Having a longer loan term also means that your boat’s overall cost will be far higher than it would if you had bought the boat with a shorter loan term. But for some people, a smaller monthly payment is worth more than saving money over the long term. It just depends on your outlook and attitude toward your purchase.
Type of Boat
When you are considering what boat to get, keep in mind that most modern powerboats can be treated as a single category, but there are some types of boats that lenders might treat differently.
- Boats with wooden hulls.
- High-performance boats.
- Sailboats and powerboats in general.
- Multi-hull boats or pontoons.
Age of the Boat
The age of a boat often has a big impact on the boat loan term length. Generally, the newer a boat is, the longer a boat loan you can get. Many lenders put a cap on how old a boat can be, and other lenders deal solely with new boats. When buying a used boat, you might also have to expect that other loan requirements can change. For example, some lenders might set higher minimum loan amounts or different financing rates for boats built before a specific model year.
There are some definitive guidelines that marine finance companies use when deciding whether to fund older boats. Many of the lenders may fund the purchase of an older, high-quality boat but not an older mid-range or lower quality boat. For example, you might not be able to borrow money for an older $35,000 boat, but you might be able to for an older $70,000 boat of a similar size and model. The lenders assume that the higher value boat is of higher quality, and it will stand the test of time.
The loan rate will depend on if you have a good or bad credit rating and the amount of down payment. Sometimes buying an older boat takes a little more effort, and you might have to provide tax records and income statements. Also, for boats older than 20 years, a premium is often added to the cost of borrowing, so boats that are 21 to 30 years old are more expensive to finance.
Living on the Boat
One big question that also comes up is when people want to live on their boat. Living on a boat full-time is an alternative lifestyle that takes plenty of preparation and organization. Because of the various laws regarding residences, homeownership, and homeownership escrow accounts, loans for liveaboards are treated very differently than common boat loans, and some lenders will not make them at all. Getting boat financing can be challenging in these situations.
The best way to manage your expenses is by making a firm budget and sticking to it. Depending on your boat’s size and value, you might find that boat insurance is just as expensive as house insurance. You will be pleased to hear that Boatsetter offers a comprehensive peer to peer boat insurance package, provided through Geico. Become familiar with boat insurance by taking out a Boatsetter rental with significant liability coverage: $300,000 per person and $300,000 total liability per accident.
Your property taxes will usually be less, and so will electricity because you won’t be living in as big of a place. You’ll probably save some money on waste management, gas, and water as well. Where you might see your costs rising quite dramatically is for general maintenance.
Marine parts and labor are usually quite a lot more expensive than their typical household counterparts. If you take on the tasks yourself, you can reduce the costs a little. But remember that if you are self-employed, every hour you spend working on your boat is an hour you are not making money.
Finally, keep in mind that even if you already have a boat in a slip in a marina, you can necessarily just move aboard.
Most marinas require an application for you to move aboard permanently. In some areas, liveaboards aren’t permitted or there are long waiting lists. Liveaboard slip fees are usually higher, and your insurance rates may increase if your boat becomes your primary residence. When you commit to living aboard, you’ll need to make checklists of necessities. Be sure to prepare the boat for life aboard well before you make the move.
Using Boatsetter to Help You Decide
In addition to helping you try out the type of boat you may want to purchase, Boatsetter can help you get an idea of how much your dream boat is going to cost you. One of the best ways to experience a luxurious boat is to rent it out with a few friends. If you split the costs, you’ll get a reasonably cheap day out on the water, and you’ll get a better idea of whether or not you want to shell out the big bucks and buy a boat of your own.
Boatsetter empowers people to explore with confidence by showing them a world of possibility on the water. Rent a boat, list your boat, or become a Boatsetter captain today.
