Comparing the cost of a boat to using a guide service

Went fishing with Lowe 175 last Sunday and got the boat fever. So I crunched some numbers. Average boat that I like is $60000.00 with trailer and maxed out outboard. Electronics. Roughly $10 ,000.00. So that puts us at $70,000.00 with taxes and such figured in. I’m going to do this comparison with no fuel , insurance or upkeep of truck or boat figured in.


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ok if we use 70000 at 10 percent for 120 months the payment is $925.00 a month. After payback that’s roughly $110,000.00 for full term. Then there’s associated cost of fishing not figured in and I’ll not try to guesstimate that. I can fish with a pro for 600.00 a trip on his boat using his fuel and gear with no upkeep of my own. Except transportation to ramp. He even cleans fish. So if I go four times a year that’s $2400.00 a year. $110,000.00 divided by $2400.00 is 46 years of guided trips. I’ve always limited out with this guide or very close to it. I don’t have &70,000.00 setting around so I booked a trip every three months all the way through 2024 with him. Probally not for everyone to go this route. But the numbers don’t lie for me. Granted you can buy a used boat much cheaper but upkeep is much higher. Just a thought guys if your looking at new boats. I usually end up with two gallons of fillets every trip cleaned bagged and loaded in my cooler. Ok I’ve opened a can of worms, let’s here the pros and cons. Any comments welcome.

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Originally Posted by BAMA S

Went fishing with Lowe 175 last Sunday and got the boat fever. So I crunched some numbers. Average boat that I like is $60000.00 with trailer and maxed out outboard. Electronics. Roughly $10 ,000.00. So that puts us at $70,000.00 with taxes and such figured in. I’m going to do this comparison with no fuel , insurance or upkeep of truck or boat figured in.


Attachment 462426
ok if we use 70000 at 10 percent for 120 months the payment is $925.00 a month. After payback that’s roughly $110,000.00 for full term. Then there’s associated cost of fishing not figured in and I’ll not try to guesstimate that. I can fish with a pro for 600.00 a trip on his boat using his fuel and gear with no upkeep of my own. Except transportation to ramp. He even cleans fish. So if I go four times a year that’s $2400.00 a year. $110,000.00 divided by $2400.00 is 46 years of guided trips. I’ve always limited out with this guide or very close to it. I don’t have &70,000.00 setting around so I booked a trip every three months all the way through 2024 with him. Probally not for everyone to go this route. But the numbers don’t lie for me. Granted you can buy a used boat much cheaper but upkeep is much higher. Just a thought guys if your looking at new boats. I usually end up with two gallons of fillets every trip cleaned bagged and loaded in my cooler. Ok I’ve opened a can of worms, let’s here the pros and cons. Any comments welcome.

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It runs that way hunting here as well , you can do a nice guided hunt for a mere portion of what it costs to lease or own land.
Good crappie guides here run under 500 a trip if I am correct

My Son guides on several Arkansas lakes in the West Central portion of the state. He has established quite a list of repeat clientele exactly for the reason you speak of. He has several book 4 or 5 trips a year. Some folks just don't want the hassle of keeping up a boat all year and then trying to be successful with only a handful of outings in a year. They really enjoy just relaxing and letting someone else handle all that. Going out with a knowledgeable guide is getting really popular with how expensive everything is nowadays.

I sold my boat last August before building new home here in Arkansas. Now that my home is built and I am in it I mulled over the same thing. New boat..or guided trips. Of course I will be chasing trout mostly. A half day will cost me 275 bucks plus tip. So I figured 325 a trip. The boat I want is 36 grand. My trips come out to 110 trips for that amount of money. So one trip a week for about 2 years. My thing is I want to fish several times a week. Guide fees make that cost prohibitive. Believe me I’ve mulled this over a lot. Where I live bank fishing is almost nonexistent. And I do not want to give up crappie and bluegill fishing. There is a lake 10 minutes from me that has crappie and shell cracker but you really need a boat to fish it. While I have not made up my mind 100 percent which way to go I am going to look at the boat I want next week. While at some point in the future I think fishing once or twice a month will satisfy me but I can’t predict when that will happen.

Regards


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If your time is flexible and can plan ahead, then guided trips make sense. For me, such as during the crappie spawn when the weather is right and I can get off work a couple of hours early, I sometimes tell my bosses that going fishing and will see them on the evening call with Japan or in the morning, and sometimes that call is from the boat from iPhone or iPad on the Teams/Zoom call. I have a 38 year old boat and outboard that my kids enjoy for both fishing and riding around, so no payments—just saving money for the next electronics upgrade, major repair, or repower. For some of us, no matter how expensive, a boat is a hobby.

Certainly gets a fella thinking

If you could be happy with only going a couple times a year then the guide would be the way to go. I go almost every weekend year round. I fish from a kayak and know many fish from Jon boat or other small boats. There are other options other than a larger expensive boat to get one on the water. Each person’s situation will vary but I very much enjoy the kayak. Now with my family all going more I do wish I had a boat for the simplicity, 4 kayaks is a lot of work for me…..lol.

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Originally Posted by SuperDave336

If you could be happy with only going a couple times a year then the guide would be the way to go. I go almost every weekend year round. I fish from a kayak and know many fish from Jon boat or other small boats. There are other options other than a larger expensive boat to get one on the water. Each person’s situation will vary but I very much enjoy the kayak. Now with my family all going more I do wish I had a boat for the simplicity, 4 kayaks is a lot of work for me…..lol.

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Winter time is a great time to find a boat someone is looking to get rid of.

Sounds like there’s room for some middle ground, adjust down into a good smaller used boat enough to allow for at least 20 years of guided trips also. Then you’ll have the option of going whenever your time permits as well preplanned ones when the guide is available.

A lot of good thoughts guys. I’ll Probally keep the guide route in place until I retire. Then take another look at my situation at that point. Another factor I have to consider is I had a blood clot on my brain a year and and a half ago resulting in a massive stroke. My family does not want me fishing by myself. So there’s another vote for the guide trip route. Another factor is my abilities to catch fish compared to my guide. Just a lot to consider. Like I said keep the pros and cons coming. Good stuff guys.

Having someone there is certainly a plus side

I love to fish and do it as often as I can which is 3-5 times a week when possible! I work hard for what I got and I keep my priorities straight God , family, fun I am very blessed and I now fish out of a 2021 Phoenix 819 pro . Do I need a boat that nice to catch fish! Absolutely not. But I am only going to live once and I’m going to enjoy while I can I sure ant going to make it just for someone else to blow. .This boat will last me for the rest of my life . The enjoyment of being on the water whether with myself my wife or my friends is just so absolutely refreshing and enjoyable to me so I think it’s worth every penny I spend . Yes things are so expensive now but enjoy life to the fullest while you can as long as you do it wisely and stay within your means . If you only get to go a few times a year then the guide route would be the way to go.:twocents

A lot to be said to go the guide route. This is especially true for a salt water trip. Nice to shake hands when you come back and take your fish home.
Bob

salt water trips are a no brainer for me , not being near a coast I always take the easy route on that venue .
locally lots of my buds have boats and our "network" of advice on area lakes makes it not a great idea for me to use a guide , some of the folks we get our info. from are guides .
that said there are 2 or 3 guides I wish I could go ketch a few fish with here locally , just can't bring myself to drop the dollars that I could use elsewhere on a guided trip .
one thing for certain ,some of these local guide fellas can load a boat full of slabs really fast ....this is fact ...:highfive

Yea fishing in a boat 4 trips a year isn’t going to cut it for me. Sometimes I go more than that in a single week.

additionally you can get a really nice crappie fishing boat for at least $50k less than your estimate

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

salt water trips are a no brainer for me , not being near a coast I always take the easy route on that venue .
locally lots of my buds have boats and our "network" of advice on area lakes makes it not a great idea for me to use a guide , some of the folks we get our info. from are guides .
that said there are 2 or 3 guides I wish I could go ketch a few fish with here locally , just can't bring myself to drop the dollars that I could use elsewhere on a guided trip .
one thing for certain ,some of these local guide fellas can load a boat full of slabs really fast ....this is fact ...:highfive

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Definitely makes sense for the salt

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Originally Posted by Charman03

Yea fishing in a boat 4 trips a year isn’t going to cut it for me. Sometimes I go more than that in a single week.

additionally you can get a really nice crappie fishing boat for at least $50k less than your estimate

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i can put my hands on a super nice 2 person 14 foot loaded up wide bottom john ,with graphs and an electric start 25 and heavy duty trailer for well under 2 grand and to be sure it is a crappie slaying sled just sitting in the pasture at my friends ranch , no where to park it at home though .....darn the bad luck right ....:Rofl

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Definitely makes sense for the salt

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It also makes sense for me to rent a boat or hire a guide for my 1-3 trips/year on the White River in Arkansas.

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Originally Posted by jjue1979

It also makes sense for me to rent a boat or hire a guide for my 1-3 trips/year on the White River in Arkansas.

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this is true , nothing beats a good guide service if you are only visiting once in while , them fellas tend to stay on fish year round no matter the water or area of the world you are visiting

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Originally Posted by BAMA S

Went fishing with Lowe 175 last Sunday and got the boat fever. So I crunched some numbers. Average boat that I like is $60000.00 with trailer and maxed out outboard. Electronics. Roughly $10 ,000.00. So that puts us at $70,000.00 with taxes and such figured in. I’m going to do this comparison with no fuel , insurance or upkeep of truck or boat figured in.


Attachment 462426
ok if we use 70000 at 10 percent for 120 months the payment is $925.00 a month. After payback that’s roughly $110,000.00 for full term. Then there’s associated cost of fishing not figured in and I’ll not try to guesstimate that. I can fish with a pro for 600.00 a trip on his boat using his fuel and gear with no upkeep of my own. Except transportation to ramp. He even cleans fish. So if I go four times a year that’s $2400.00 a year. $110,000.00 divided by $2400.00 is 46 years of guided trips. I’ve always limited out with this guide or very close to it. I don’t have &70,000.00 setting around so I booked a trip every three months all the way through 2024 with him. Probally not for everyone to go this route. But the numbers don’t lie for me. Granted you can buy a used boat much cheaper but upkeep is much higher. Just a thought guys if your looking at new boats. I usually end up with two gallons of fillets every trip cleaned bagged and loaded in my cooler. Ok I’ve opened a can of worms, let’s here the pros and cons. Any comments welcome.

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I can’t fault your logic. I have also thought I would have been much better off, in the past at least, to apply that program to having a wife - I could have rented a lot cheaper :)

But as much as I gripe sometimes, I do enjoy rigging and maintaining a boat. And just my independent, rebellious personality, but I would much rather go fishing and catch 5 or so for supper my way than pay someone to catch a limit. On that thought, I’ve long realized that I treasure the memories of the times I overcame adverse weather and a tough bite to barely catch a mess, over the beautiful days I went and they were jumping in the boat and I limited in a few hours.


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If cost was all I factored into my fishing, guides would be the way to go. I am soon to retire and will fish with my 1 year old boat at least 3 times a week! When I wanna go, I wanna go. Rain or shine- hot or cold. I like learning a lake and going where I want to go and explore. Guides usually go to their hot spots mostly. I fish several lakes and guides usually specialize on only a couple near them. To me, a boat purchase was worth it. Not $70 grand tho. Fish YOUR way!

I can remember you signature line that said " Can't put a price on a smile". That stuck with me all these years

I've been known to go to a shady spot and sort of nap on the lake when it's peaceful. Totally worth the cost.....lol

70k loan at 10% for 10 year's, no down payment. I know you meant this as hypothetical. But idiots sign their names on those terms every day. That's terms for someone who really can't afford that boat!

Don't need a $70,000 rig. I get what your saying but its nice to be a boat owner. Gives a certain type of freedom especially if you fish more than 4 times a year. Now waterfowl hunting I can attest, it's cheaper to go guided than leasing land, buying decoys etc. But that's only an option for a few months a year. Can hook up to a boat an fish 365 days a year's if willing or able.

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Originally Posted by SuperDave336

I've been known to go to a shady spot and sort of nap on the lake when it's peaceful. Totally worth the cost.....lol

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OK, so now I know that you were the guy I cruised by to make sure you weren't in distress. The snoring gave you away.
A wise man once said, A lot of people can buy a boat, but not everyone can afford a boat.

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I guess if you compare a high end boat like that, it makes sense to hire a guide. But I fished for 40 years in a $800 Jon boat with a 9.9 mercury motor. Caught tons of fish. More than I do now


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Originally Posted by SuperDave336

I've been known to go to a shady spot and sort of nap on the lake when it's peaceful. Totally worth the cost.....lol

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Just asking for a wake boat attack:Rofl

Lol, maybe

My view is that you cannot take your pile of money out on the lake and catch a fish, or go to your pile of money and shoot a deer. It is ok to spend your money.

My second thought is that there are a tone of nice used fishing boats in MN that a guy can pick up for under $10,000 that will catch fish.

Well I own my boat and thoroughly enjoy being able to take it out whenever I want and have the time and opportunity. I generally go out alone and enjoy the peace and quiet on the water. My boat is as fully equipped as I need it to be. Maintenance is almost non-existent. No fuel cost whatsoever. The boat itself cost me $400 used. No monthly payments to make. A twelve foot solo canoe can go anywhere I want to go. Not sure I can find a guide that cheap.

For me I've always owned a boat. It's nothing to do with the cost it just brings me joy. Even when I'm not fishing I can always go to the shop and piddle with my stuff. You can't put a price on it. You are here a short time

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Originally Posted by Snubby

70k loan at 10% for 10 year's, no down payment. I know you meant this as hypothetical. But idiots sign their names on those terms every day. That's terms for someone who really can't afford that boat!

Don't need a $70,000 rig. I get what your saying but its nice to be a boat owner. Gives a certain type of freedom especially if you fish more than 4 times a year. Now waterfowl hunting I can attest, it's cheaper to go guided than leasing land, buying decoys etc. But that's only an option for a few months a year. Can hook up to a boat an fish 365 days a year's if willing or able.

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I get bored sometimes and peruse the new boats. I like to fish big open water, and I like capable boats, get you back in comfort even if the wind kicks up - so I have expensive taste.
But dang, some of the ones I looked at STARTED at over $100,000 and get this - you could finance for I believe 18 years. With a $1,500 down payment, you could have a payment like $970 a month. For 18 years lol.
I’m gonna go home and hug my 20 year old boat haha


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Originally Posted by J White

I get bored sometimes and peruse the new boats. I like to fish big open water, and I like capable boats, get you back in comfort even if the wind kicks up - so I have expensive taste.
But dang, some of the ones I looked at STARTED at over $100,000 and get this - you could finance for I believe 18 years. With a $1,500 down payment, you could have a payment like $970 a month. For 18 years lol.
I’m gonna go home and hug my 20 year old boat haha


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Sounds like a plan !! Think I'll give my 24yo boat a big pat on the gunnel :biggrin

I'm its 3rd owner, with the previous two owners never having used it very much.

And no, I don't think I'd prefer using guides over owning my own boat (& the one I have is the 3rd one I've owned since the 1970's). Main reason is going when & where I want & fishing the technique I want.

I figure my crappie filets cost me about 300.00 a pound but worth it. Lol. [emoji476]


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Don't plan on ever being without a boat. As long as I'm able.

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Originally Posted by Chuck Adams

I figure my crappie filets cost me about 300.00 a pound but worth it. Lol. [emoji476]


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Yep. Deer tenderloin is probably about the same. But still worth it!


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Good discussion and thoughts guys. Like I said when I retire I will evaluate the situation again. It’s getting tough to catch fish around here without livescope technology. The old days are gone lol. I use to limit out on one brush pile. Lucky to catch five off a pile now. May be getting old and lazy. I don’t really want to learn livescope. I have three co workers that purchased livescope and they are sucking wind with it. I’ll keep stalking you guys on here, fish my ponds and do the guide thing until it doesn’t work anymore for me.

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Originally Posted by Chuck Adams

I figure my crappie filets cost me about 300.00 a pound but worth it. Lol. [emoji476]


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At least

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I fish with a empty seat most of the time. We all need to come up with a ride share program so to speak. Be good on both ends. Good learning opportunity as well

I fish atleast 2 days a week . Used to fish 7 some weeks when I was younger . I did not have a fancy boat but rigged out with good electronics . Bet I really spend more on gas for boat and truck than anything these days . If you just buy a used boat and don't go overboard on price it is doable without breaking the bank. But if you only fish a few days a year a guide makes sense .