Timing is crucial for buying anything. And similarly for boats, if you buy the boat at the correct time, you may save some money; otherwise, you may have to spend extra on that. So, we will now see whether the boats are cheaper in winter or not? And how much will it save (money) if you bought one in winter?
Boats are 5% to 13% cheaper in winter compared to other seasons such as summer, spring, and fall. But, it still depends on the place where you live, but often prices will go down a bit by the end of the fall & winter and bounces back to normal (higher) prices in the summer and by the end of spring.
The price drop depends on so many factors, such as seasonality (mainly), a brand, the place where you live, etc. We will now see some of the popular boat (both new and used boats) discounts you may get in winter or at the end of fall. These values are approximate and average values.
Note – These prices are just average discounts you may get. In some places, you may get more, and in some places, you may get less. These are just average (approximate) values.
| Boat type | The discount you may get for a new boat in winter | The discount you may get for a used boat in winter |
| Pontoon boat | around 6 – 8 (9)% (approximately 1,500 – 5,000 dollars) | around 9 – 13% (approximately 2,500 – 6,000 dollars) |
| Jet boat | around 6 – 9% (approximately 3,000 – 7,000 dollars) | around 10 – 14% (approximately 4,000 – 9,000 dollars) |
| Jon boat | around 5 – 10% (approximately 100 – 300 dollars) | around 7 – 11% (approximately 200 – 450 dollars) |
| Bowrider | around 7 – 10% (approximately 2,000 – 5,000 dollars) | around 9 – 13% (approximately 2,500 – 6,500 dollars) |
| Deck boats | around 10% (approximately 2,500 – 6,000 dollars) | around 10 – 12% (approximately 3,000 – 6,500 dollars) |
| Bass boats | around 7 – 13% (approximately 2,000 – 6,500 dollars) | around 9 – 14% (approximately 2,500 – 7,500 dollars) |
| Skiff boats | around 6 – 9% (approximately 1,000 – 3,000 dollars) | around 8 – 12% (approximately 2,500 – 4,500 dollars) |
| Bay boats | around 8 – 9% (approximately 4,000 – 8,000 dollars) | around 9 – 13% (approximately 6,000 – 10,000 dollars) |
| Sailboat | around 5% (approximately 5,000 – 8,000 dollars) | around 8 – 10% (approximately 7,000 – 9,000 dollars) |
| Personal watercraft | around 5% (approximately 1,000 dollars) | around 6 – 9% (approximately 1,000 – 2,000 dollars) |
By looking at those values, you may get some idea about the discount you may get if you purchase a boat (new or used boat) in the winter. And those values are just average (approximate) values. In some places, you may get more, and in some places, you may get less.
The price drop is mainly due to offseason, and it decreases furthermore (sometimes) in the northern part of the USA than in other regions. So, it depends on the place where you live as well. Places like in Florida and California, etc. generally, won’t decrease much in the price than in northern regions.
Summer: June – August
Fall: September – November
Winter: December – February
Spring: March – May
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How much percent you will get can vary from brand to brand, and that 5 – 13% for a new boat is an approximate measure; often, it can increase further and can decrease further based on the models you are willing to purchase. So, the right (correct) answer to the question you have come here is “IT DEPENDS.”
If you are going for an expensive boat, you may get a little more discount since the price is high, and if you go for low or medium range models, you may not get the best value, but you will get a good deal compared to buying the same boat by the end of the spring or summer.
Timing is also a crucial step to take while buying a boat (whether a new one or used one). That being said, we will now see the price drop for both new and used boats in a detailed way.
Related post – Check my article on Are boats cheaper at boat shows (link opens in new tab) to know some of the popular boat discounts you may get at boat shows and all the benefits and drawbacks of attending a boat show in a detailed way.
Are new boats cheaper in winter?
Now you have got some idea about how much percent (discount) you will get for new and used boats in general (average values). We will now each of those in a detailed way. First, we will see Are new boats cheaper in winter?
New boats are around 5 – 13% cheaper in winter (November to February) compared to other seasons (summer and spring ending). The drop in price due to low demand in winter often varies from place to place, but you can expect around 8% discount (average) on price in winter on a new boat.
We will now see some of the popular boats (new boats) average prices and the discounts you may get in winter or at the end of fall. These values are approximate and average values.
| Boat type | New boat average price | The discount you may get for a new boat in winter |
| Pontoon boat | $ 40,000.00 | around 6 – 8 (9)% (approximately 1,500 – 5,000 dollars) |
| Jet boat | $ 52,000.00 | around 6 – 9% (approximately 3,000 – 7,000 dollars) |
| Jon boat | $ 2,000.00 | around 5 – 10% (approximately 100 – 300 dollars) |
| Bowrider | $ 35,000.00 | around 7 – 10% (approximately 2,000 – 5,000 dollars) |
| Deck boats | $ 30,000.00 | around 10% (approximately 2,500 – 6,000 dollars) |
| Bass boats | $ 25,000.00 | around 7 – 12% (approximately 2,000 – 6,000 dollars) |
| Skiff boats | $ 25,000.00 | around 6 – 9% (approximately 1,000 – 3,000 dollars) |
| Bay boats | $ 45,000.00 | around 8 – 9% (approximately 4,000 – 8,000 dollars) |
| Sailboat | $ 50,000.00 | around 5% (approximately 5,000 – 8,000 dollars) |
| Personal watercraft | $ 15,000.00 | around 5% (approximately 1,000 dollars) |
By looking at those values, you may get some idea about the discount you may get if you purchase a new boat in the winter. And those values are just average (approximate) values. In some places, you may get more, and in some places, you may get less.
Generally, you can expect around 7% or 8% price drop for a new boat in winter, and if you are lucky enough, you may get more.
Are used boats cheaper in winter?
Now you have got some idea about how much percent (discount) you will get for new boats in general (average values). We will now see how much discount you may get for a used boat?
Used boats are around 5 – 15% cheaper in winter (November to February) compared to other seasons (summer and spring ending). The drop in price due to low demand in winter often varies from place to place, but you can expect around 7 – 10% discount (average) on price in winter on a used boat.
We will now see some of the popular boats (used boats) average prices and the discounts you may get in winter or at the end of fall. These values are approximate and average values.
| Boat type | Used boat average price | The discount you may get for a used boat in winter |
| Pontoon boat | $ 25,000.00 | around 9 – 13% (approximately 2,500 – 6,000 dollars) |
| Jet boat | $ 30,000.00 | around 10 – 14% (approximately 4,000 – 9,000 dollars) |
| Jon boat | $ 1,000.00 | around 7 – 11% (approximately 200 – 450 dollars) |
| Bowrider | $ 25,000.00 | around 9 – 13% (approximately 2,500 – 6,500 dollars) |
| Deck boats | $ 20,000.00 | around 10% (approximately 2,500 – 6,000 dollars) |
| Bass boats | $ 15,000.00 | around 10 – 12% (approximately 3,000 – 6,500 dollars) |
| Skiff boats | $ 15,000.00 | around 8 – 12% (approximately 2,500 – 4,500 dollars) |
| Bay boats | $ 30,000.00 | around 9 – 13% (approximately 6,000 – 10,000 dollars) |
| Sailboat | $ 30,000.00 | around 8 – 10% (approximately 5,000 – 9,000 dollars) |
| Personal watercraft | $ 7,000.00 | around 6 – 9% (approximately 1,000 – 2,000 dollars) |
By looking at those values, you may get some idea about the discount you may get if you purchase a used boat in the winter. And those values are just average (approximate) values. In some places, you may get more, and in some places, you may get less.
Generally, you can expect around 7% or 10% price drop for a used boat in winter, and if you are lucky enough, you may get more.
Why are boats cheaper in winter?
Now that you have got some idea about how much discounts you may get if you buy a boat in winter. We will now see some of the reasons why boats are cheaper in winter than in other seasons (spring and summer).
1. Winter is offseason for boating
The primary and essential reason why boats are a bit cheaper in winter is offseason, and the boat usage is significantly less in winter due to fallen temperature. Since usage is less, no one will show interest in buying and using a boat in freezing or very cold temperature waters.
Places where the temperature won’t decrease much, most likely, people will use their boats. At those places, the prices won’t reduce much since people are using their boats in winter. Places like in Florida and California, etc. generally, won’t decrease much in the price than in northern regions.
Since there is very little demand for boats in winter, there is a drop in price, and you may get more discounts in winter compared to other seasons. By the middle of the spring, the prices start to pick up, and by the end of the spring, the prices go to normal or even higher prices sometimes.
2. People want to sell their boats before winter (used boats)
If you are looking for a used boat, offseason (winter) would be a great option. If anyone is selling their used boats, they probably don’t want to keep their boats during the winter because the boats need to appropriately maintain during the winter, such as winterization, storage, etc.
Storing the boat over the winter can be a burden for them; it consumes time and takes money as well. So, often the used boats would go down in the price during the winter and at the end of the fall (September to October). Even for buying used boats, winter and fall ending would be a great time.
Since the owners also want to get rid of the old boat quickly, sometimes you may get a great deal, and you will see more decrease in price. If you buy a used boat at that time (fall ending), you may have to spend some money on winterization and for boat storage in winter.
However, winterization and boat storage for winter won’t be expensive, but if you don’t have storage space at home, then you might have to spend more on other storage options. You will get discounts on boats, and you can spend that money on boat storage and winterization.
Benefits of buying a boat in winter
Now that you have got some idea why boats are cheaper in winter and fall. We will now see some of the benefits of buying a boat in winter compared to other seasons.
The primary and essential benefit of buying a boat in winter is you will get some discount on price around 5 – 12% (average), and you will have sufficient time to choose a boat. You can do more research on that boat, unlike in summer, where you may do that in a hurry.
1. You will get the boat on time (start of boating season or before)
- If you place an order for a new boat in winter, chances are you may get the boat on time before the start of the boating season or spring end. It’s because generally, ordering a new boat can take time, and if you want a customized boat, it will take some extra time than usual time.
- Asking for a new color than a regular one, modifications for the boat, extra configurations, etc. will take some extra time to manufacture that boat. If you placed an order in December or January, you might get it in May or June, which is the starting season for boating (generally).
- Then you may not worry about the boat storage issues even though if you ordered a boat in winter. But for a non-customized boat, it might not take much time (generally). Sometimes, you may get in a couple of weeks or a month.
2. You can research more, and you can choose a good one
- The offseason for boating means fewer customers in the boat shops; you can take advantage of that by going to the shops and asking the dealers about the boat, knowing about the boats, etc. By doing all those things, you will get some idea about them.
- If you are new to boating or buying the boat for the first time, you can learn a lot by going into the dealers, and even they will show more interest because there will be fewer customers compared to other seasons (summer or spring seasons).
- In that way, if you walk in around some boat dealers, you can become more aware of the boats, and it is like doing research about the boats, and you can choose the good (suitable) boat for you without any hurry.
3. Make your new boat. Your way
- Since winter is an offseason for boating, orders will be less compared to other seasons. Most probably, there won’t be many orders in the winter. So, you can make your new boat your way. Meaning you can configure the boat way you need.
- Due to fewer orders in the winter, you can customize the boat, and they will do it quickly compared to other seasons (summer or spring). So, you can add all the specifications or features you want, and they will make it quickly.
- As I mentioned before, even if it takes time, you can get it before the start of the boating season. If you order it in summer with extra specifications or features, it can take a long time, and sometimes, they may give you at the end of the boating season like that.
4. Prices will be low
- The main benefit of buying a boat in winter would be you will get it for a low price compared to other seasons (you can expect around 8%). Since boating is an offseason in winter, there will be low demand, and you can take advantage of that by getting good deals.
- But in all the places, the price drop may not be the same. It decreases furthermore (sometimes) in the northern part of the USA than in other regions. Places like in Florida and California, etc. generally, won’t decrease much in the price than in the northern areas.
- So, it depends on the place where you live as well. However, there will be some decline in price in winter compared to other seasons. It is a great opportunity to buy a boat (either a new or a used boat) if you are a bit concerned about spending more money in peak times (summer).
5. You can become more aware with boat shows
- Another thing to do to become more aware or knowledgeable about the boats is by participating (going) in boat shows. Boat shows will bring in a variety of boats from small-sized inexpensive boats to big-sized expensive boats at a time in one place.
- You don’t have to buy a boat at a boat show, you can simply go and look at different models available out there, and you can talk to some experts (real experts who design and manufactures the boats); by doing that, you become more knowledgable, and you will get to know more.
- It is also like a part of the research you are doing in order to buy a new boat. And sometimes, you may find a perfect boat in the boat show, and you may get some discounts as well along with it. So, go for boat shows, if they happen anywhere near you live.
Related post – Check my article on Are boats cheaper at boat shows (link opens in new tab) to know some of the popular boat discounts you may get at boat shows and all the benefits and drawbacks of attending a boat show in a detailed way.
6. You have enough time
- If you rather buy a boat in summer or in the middle of the spring, then there is a chance that you can hurry up the whole process of buying a boat due to external factors. Because many people may like a boat that you are interested in, and many can order it.
- So, to avoid that, you need to make a move quickly, and in that movement of time, you can miss any details to look or research about the boat, and those details can sometimes be crucial because a boat is an expensive purchase and not an inexpensive pick.
- If you do that whole process in winter, you will get enough time, and there won’t be much competition for the same boat that you have liked. So, by doing it in winter, you will have enough time to make a good decision, and that can save some money and time.
Drawbacks of buying a boat in winter
However, besides the benefits you will get by buying a boat in winter, there are few drawbacks of buying a boat in winter. And most times, you will not be affected by that.
The only drawback of buying a boat in winter would be if you get that boat quite early in December or January, you need to store the boat before the use. If you get your boat quickly or before the boating season starts, then you need to provide shelter for the boat.
And it would be like buying a swimsuit in winter and wearing it in the summer. However, if you customize the boat, then it can take some time, and if you are buying a non-customized boat, most probably, it can take a couple of weeks or a month for a boat to arrive.
That would be a bit hectic for you to store a new boat without using it outside. You will get this issue while you are buying a used boat mostly because used boats will be on sale mainly at the end of the boating season (August or September), and they don’t want to keep the boat for a whole winter, and it takes time and money.
The boat needs to be winterized and properly stored, as well. So, most boaters keep their used boats for sale in the fall. If you are buying a used boat, then you need to do winterization and the storing process of that boat for the winter, which consumes money and time.
And you need to wait the whole season (from end to start) to go for a ride on a new or used boat. The money you have saved while buying a boat in winter or fall might need to be spent on the boat for storing and winterization.
However, storing a boat in winter won’t take a ton of money. So, buying a boat in winter will benefit you in many ways than in summer or spring.
The takeaway
New boats are 5 – 13% cheaper in winter, and used boats are 5 -15% cheaper in winter compared to other seasons. And the values are average values, and sometimes if you are lucky, you may get more discount and sometimes, you may get less.
And how much you will get may change form place to place, the brand you are buying, etc. But, you will get it for a lower price in winter than summer or spring. If you got the boat too early before the boating season starts, you might need to store the boat and need to wait for the boating season to begin.
Sometimes, for that storage, you may need to spend some money as well. However, storing a boat in winter won’t take a ton of money. So, buying a boat in winter will benefit you in many ways.