Buying & Owning
Bowrider prices span an enormous range, from a few thousand dollars for an older stern drive runabout to well over two hundred thousand for a premium 26-footer. Here is how the bands break down.
New and used bowrider boat price ranges by size, brand and build material, with guidance on where the value sits.
The bowriders that come up most often when readers ask us where to start.
The world's best-selling bowrider size, in its most accessible form: light, simple and easy to tow.
US$38,000 - US$52,000 new
The refined mainstream benchmark: quiet, dry, and beautifully finished for the money.
US$72,000 - US$95,000 new
The previous-generation classic. Millions of families learned to boat in one of these.
US$8,000 - US$22,000 used
Bayliner VR4 and VR5, Quicksilver Activ, smaller Stacer and Quintrex alloy rigs. Modest power, simple finish, but everything a family needs.
Sea Ray SPX, Chaparral SSi, Four Winns H2, Yamaha SX210, Quintrex 540-590 Cruiseabout, Bénéteau Flyer. This is where build quality, ride and features step up sharply.
Cobalt R-series, Sea Ray SDX and SLX, Malibu towboats, larger twin-outboard day boats. Superb finish, strong resale and features that genuinely change how you use the boat.
A five to eight year old mainstream bowrider from a strong brand, with full service history and low hours, typically costs 45-60 percent of new and has already taken the depreciation hit. This is where the smartest money in the market goes.
