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Buying a new boat can be exciting right up until you start comparing prices. One boat might cost $30,000, another $50,000, and another $80,000 or more,

and they may look surprisingly similar at first glance. The difference usually comes down to size, construction, engine, features, and how the boat is equipped.

- New boats can range ...

Lake season in west central Indiana flies by. One weekend, you're floating on Raccoon Lake with the kids, and a few weeks later, you're scraping frost off the truck. Where your boat spends the months in between has a big say in how it runs when the water warms up again.

- Indoor storage gives your boat the best shelter from snow, ice,...

Boat shows can be an exciting place to shop for your next boat, but is buying at a boat show actually a good idea? The answer depends on what you’re looking for, how prepared you are, and whether the boat and deal fit your needs.

The Advantages of Buying at a Boat Show

You can compare boats side by side.

- One of the biggest bene...

Buying a pre-owned boat is one of the smarter moves in boating. Somebody else already took the hit on that steep initial price drop. Paying for one works a bit differently than a car loan, though, and the differences trip up plenty of first-time buyers.

- Most marine lenders reserve their best rates for credit scores near 680 and up, ...

Buying a boat should feel like the start of good weekends on the water, not a math problem that keeps you up at night. Most buyers hit a fork in the road pretty early. Do you finance the purchase and own it outright someday, or sign a shorter agreement with a smaller monthly bill? Both roads can get you cruising, and the right one hing...

Buying your first new boat feels a little like buying a house on water. There's the sticker price, and then there's everything that comes after it. Most shoppers walk into a dealership locked onto one number, but the smart ones map out the whole picture before they sign. A boat that fits your wallet on day one should still fit it three...

When an elite luxury automobile manufacturer designs a track-focused supercar, the result is legendary. When Avalon applies that exact same ethos to the water, you get the Excalibur. This is not just a pontoon; it is a statement of engineering supremacy designed for captains who refuse to compromise between 60-MPH adrenaline and five-s...

Five boats, five ways to own the water. Pontoons have officially thrown out the old playbook. If you still think of them as slow, boxy aluminum rafts meant only for lazy Sunday trolling, the 2026 lineup will completely shatter those expectations.

Modern pontoons and tritoons are aggressive, ultra-luxurious, and packed with automotive-...

Two boats, two very different days on the lake. However, both fit a family of seven, both pull a tube, and both will keep you on the water all summer. So how do you pick?

- Pontoons win on space, stability, and layout options while deck boats lead on speed and rough-water handling.
- Modern tritoons close the gap on performance and ca...

Nothing beats waking up on a Saturday knowing you've got a full tank of gas, a cooler packed with cold drinks, and a boat pointed toward open water. The lake offers a whole menu of things to do, and most boaters barely scratch the surface of what's possible on a single trip out.

- Tow sports like tubing, wakeboarding, and water skiing...

Top 10 Boat Dealerships in Illinois: 2026 Brands & Data

Quick Answer: The top boat dealerships in Illinois for 2026 are SkipperBud’s, Munson Ski & Marine, Carlyle Lake Marine Center, Spring Brook Marina, Busters Marine, and five others listed below. These dealerships were ranked based on five criteria: new boat brand variety, certifie...

Best Boat Dealerships Near Champaign, IL (2026 Guide & Rankings)

Quick Answer: The top boat dealerships serving Champaign, Illinois for 2026 are Twin Lakes Marine Inc., Carlyle Lake Marine Center, Rick’s Marine, Munson Ski & Marine, J&J Marine, and five others listed below. These dealerships were ranked based on five criteria: new boa...