Thinking about getting a boat? There are plenty to choose from and one of the best ways to narrow down your choices is to go by price range.
We’ve done some of the research for you by compiling a list of great boats that will run you anywhere from $30,000 to about $50,000.
Table of Contents
3 Bowriders Under 50 Grand
A bowrider is a type of power or motorboat which has a seating area near the bow (or the forward portion of the boat).
They’re generally used for recreation but can vary in style and amenities other than in regard to their seating. Most of the boats in this category are strictly for relaxing with your friends and family (water skiing, inner-tubing, sunbathing, etc.).
1) Four Winns Horizon 190 ($40,000)
Four Winns Horizon boats have been popular for a long time. But did you know you can own one for less than $40,000? A 19 foot Four Winns Horizon 190 fits just in our price range.
It can seat up to nine people comfortably but that doesn’t mean that it sacrifices power for comfort. It has a Stable V Hull which will allow you to make some mighty tight turns without losing stability. You can choose a range of engines with the fastest getting up to 270 horsepower.
Yup, we’re talking about a Volvo Pento engine.
The bucket seats with wrap-around back ensure that you’re as comfortable as your passengers as you park it right out in the middle of the lake so your guests can slide right off the swim platform and climb right back up again on the deep swim ladder.
You’ll also have plenty of storage for your cooler and gear. Just don’t forget the sunblock.
2) Yamaha SX210
For decades, Yamaha has been known for making quality products. One example of this is the Yamaha SX210. It’s a great bowrider that has both premium amenities and power (which should come to no surprise to anyone who has ever owned a Yamaha vehicle (two wheels, four wheels, or propelled boat). The SX210 comes with two 110-horsepower engines.
It can definitely get up and go.
In addition to all of its power, it also has comfortable seating, a two-tiered swim platform, cupholders, backrest cushions, hinged storage compartments, and can accommodate up to ten people. It comes in a variety of different colors and includes and matching painted trailer with a swing-away tongue and disc brakes.
It’s got style, power, and comfort. What more can you ask for?
3) Bayliner 215 BR ($33,600)
The Bayliner 215 BR bowrider is a spacious and powerful boat at 20 and a half feet. It is built for relaxation, fishing, or water skiing. The comfortable bucket seats and the large L-shaped settee is great for relaxing and soaking in some rays.
Not to mention, it has a large sunbed (in the aft) as well as the convertible sunbed in the bow.
You can lay back and wait for the fish to bite or just lay back with a book.
Meanwhile, the powerful engine can easily handle any sort of water sport you want to throw at it. The 215 BR is a jack of all trades.
4 Center Consoles Under 50 Grand
Center console boats are named after the central location of the steering column. These little boats are great for runabouts or relaxing. But if you want to use it at its full potential, center consoles make great fishing boats.
The deep V-hulls make for smooth rides, even if you’re far away from shore. The outboard motors are durable and can handle its fair share of choppy waves. These normally have some great seating as well.
Some of the styles come with a cover to help in the hot sun, which comes in handy no matter what you’re doing out in the water.
Center console boats are generally pricier than $50,000 but can fall in our price range when we look at used boats. We’ve scanned a few of the listings online to see which pre-owned center console boats are on the market for under $50k.
4) Boston Whaler 28/290 Outrage (~ $40,000 to $80,000)
This is a great multipurpose fishing boat that was in production between 1999 and 2003. It has wide walkways that circle the cabin, which make it easy for passengers to get around without bumping into each other. Her forward seat is cushioned, as is the foldaway transom seat. There is a functional cabin below-deck which can sleep three.
Other features in the cabin include an electric toilet, microwave, storage locker, and a fridge. As for the rest of the boat, common amenities include a standard factory hardtop, rod holders, bow pulpit (molded), two insulated in-deck fish boxes, a 30-gallon live well (lighted), bait prep station with sink, transom rod holders, gunnel rod holders rod storage in the co*ckpit, tackle drawers, deluxe helm seats with flip-up bolsters, a transom door, and trim tabs.
5) Pursuit 3070 (~ $40,000 to almost $100,000)
The Pursuit 3070 was in production between 2001 and 2007 and was one of the most popular 30-foot center consoles in that time frame. These boats are a great mix of performance and quality. Even for a 30-foot boat, she feels much roomier because of her oversized co*ckpit, a large and uncluttered deck layout, and her large console.
She’s a fishing boat at heart, however, with her 40-gallon baitwell in the transom, co*ckpit bolsters, fish/storage boxes under the seats and aft in the deck, lockable gunnel rod storage, and a transom rigging center that is complete with a cutting board and a sink.
Inside the console house, you’ll find an electric toilet, a hand-held shower (when you get to fish all over you), a sink, and a holly and teak sole.
6) Grady-White 263/273 Chase
Both the Grady-White 263 and 273 Chase models were in production between 1994 and 2011. When you get a chance to look at one of them, you’ll see why they were in production for so long. These trailer-able center console boats had the quality that Grady-White was known for, as well as a versatile layout.
The Chase has a pretty conventional layout for her deck with the console head compartment with a Porta-Potti, a freshwater sink, and some forward seating.
It’s a fisherman’s dream with a 32-gallon lighted live well in the aft port portion of the co*ckpit, and a large 185-quart insulated fish box right in the transom. There are also two 104-quart fish/storage boxes forward, under the bow seats. The electronics console at the helm pops up, which is a pretty handy feature. The fiberglass insert fits in the middle of the forward seats. This helps form a casting deck.
Some of the other standards include a leaning post with backrest, rod holders, co*ckpit bolsters, lockable rod storage, foldaway stern seat, and transom door.
7) Juniper 27 Open (> $50,000)
You’ll have to do some searching, but you can find a few Juniper 27 Open’s under our $50,000 limit.
It’s easy to see why it’s so desirable and why the asking prices are so high (even for boats which were in production between 1998 and 2006), when you see the amenities it comes with.
The 27 Open is a center console from Juniper, which is one of the most well-known brands in the business. are known for their well-built boats and the Juniper 27 is no exception. The console is oversized and houses a head with sleeping berth — which is pretty unique, especially in a small boat like this one.
It also boasts of a unique construction which uses no wood in the hull. Not to mention, the bottom incorporates a lifting pad which stretches from the stern forward. This helps with high-speed efficiency.
The Jupiter 27 has a few different amenities which you can rarely find on smaller boats including two big electronics boxes at the helm, an in-deck insulated fish box just forward of the transom, forward seating, a 40-gallon transom live well, Lenco trim tabs, transom sink, electric head with holding tank, three in-deck storage lockers, bait rigging station, pop-up cleats, and transom door.
She is powered by a Yamaha 225s which top out at over 45 knots.
Deck Boats
Deck boats are somewhat similar to bowriders because they’re both fairly sleek.
However, deck boats have even more seating. The other difference is the rounded V-shaped bow, which allows it to have more space.
This makes it perfect for fishing, entertaining, or just plain relaxing.
8) Hurricane SunDeck 2200 DC OB (used ~ $32,900)
We found the 2017 Hurricane SunDeck 2200 DC OB for just under $33,000 in Florida. The SunDeck 2200 DC OB has a great helm dash with an instrument panel that has fog-resistant gauges to help keep you safe while you’re out on the water.
It also comes with an exterior anchor locker ladder, stern telescoping lighting, bow telescoping ladder, stainless steel protective boots, a half canopy to keep the sun off of you while you’re cruising along, and an entertainment center with Infinity Bluetooth color screen, and four speakers.
Bass Boats
We’re going to talk about two different types of fishing boats: ‘
- The bass boat
- and aluminum fishing boats.
You can easily find these boats for sale between our price range of $30,000 and $50,000.
Bass boats and aluminum fishing boats can be fairly similar. However, the difference between a regular fishing boat and a bass boat is that these high horse-powered boats have strong trolling motors to help them catch largemouth bass. You can also cast in the back or the front in order to get just the right angle for the fish.
The low profile designed bottoms allow bass boats to move swiftly in shallow water.
Usually, there is some sort of built-in storage for tackle and rods as well. Not to mention extra floor space for fishing chairs.
Aluminum Fishing Boats Under $50,000
Aluminum fishing boats are great for avid (hobbyist) fishermen who just want to get out on the water. These boats are sleek and streamlined. They generally have outboard motors that are easy to steer. In turn, the boat moves swiftly and easily through the water.
There generally isn’t a lot to these boats. By that, I mean that there aren’t a not of bells and whistles.
It gets you from the shore, out to your favorite fishing spot, and back.
They’re durable and strong, which means that you don’t have to worry about the boat. You can just worry about the fish.
Aluminum fishing boats are at the cheaper end of the fishing boat category. They can be anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000. This, of course, depends on what sorts of amenities and extra fishing gear you want to put in the water with you.
9) Lowe 22 Bay (> $50,000)
Lowe is a company known for making some great aluminum fishing boats. The Lowe 22 Bay is just under $50,000, once it’s fully rigged (complete with a dual-axel trailer).
Included in this are:
- Twin live wells (a 30 gallon in the aft and a 16 gallon in the bow),
- a built-in tackle stowage,
- a Motorguide VariMax V55SW (which is a type of electric trolling motor),
- a seven and a half foot locking rod box, fore and aft casting decks,
- and a Lowrance Hook2 fishfinder.
You’ll definitely be able to catch a couple of fish in this baby.
10) Smoker Craft 162 Pro Angler (< $30,000)
Just like the Lowe 22 Bay, the Smoker Craft 162 Pro Angler is right in our price range after it is kitted out. This beautiful aluminum fishing boat is just as gorgeous as the fiberglass boats out on the market right now. If you opt for the motor with the higher horsepower from the dealer and get the Helix Graph 5 GPS, Fisherman’s Top, Integrated Gunnel Track System with accessories, you’ll be right in the middle of our price range.
It also comes with two seats with movable seat pedestals. It can seat 5 total and has a swim platform with a 3-step ladder and two live wells. A stern aerated 25 gallons and a 15-gallon bow live well.
11) Nitro Z19 Pro ($41,895)
The Nitro Z19 Pro is a great, high-performance bass boat. It is one of the most popular upgraded versions of the Z-series line which Nitro offers. The Z19 Pro comes stock with a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor in order to get you out on the water in no-time, while not causing a lot of waves.
Another thing which comes stock on a Z19 Pro is the Humminbird HELIX fishfinder, to help you catch the fish that’s been eluding you all morning.
The NITRO Vortex Technology (NVT) hull is shaped perfectly to make the boat faster, gives it better life while on a plane, and helps aid in turning on the fly.
It also has six drink holders, four stainless steel pull-up cleats, four grab handles (one at each seat), fold-down stainless steel reboarding ladder, and comes with a horn and paddle.
Pontoon Boats Under 50 Grand
Pontoon boats are flatboats which rely on pontoons to float . There are many versions of pontoon boats, from personal inflatable pontoons to catamaran type boats that can accommodate many people and can even accommodate fishermen. Pontoons are often made of some sort of abrasion resistant PVC and/or nylon that has steel, plastic, or aluminum frame.
12) Bennington SX 24 Swingback ($40,000)
The Bennington SX 24 Swingback costs around the same price as the Four Winns (up above) but has a few different features for you. First of all, it’s a pontoon boat which means that it’s great for sightseeing and for water sports. You can either lounge and take in the scenery or you can bust out the water skis and inner-tubes and go for a ride.
The seats boast of blue two-tone vinyl with stitching that’s incredibly detailed. The vinyl flooring looks posh while also being easy to clean. It has a mercury 150- horsepower outboard motor to help this beast move along the water. To help it along is a 24-gallon fuel tank. With 24 gallons, it can take you about 100 miles at a cruising speed of 15 mph. It also handles well and is a great versatile boat for any family.
2 Sailboats Under $50,000
Sailboats are just that: boats with sails. They use the wind to maintain speed while out on the water. Some sailboats have an inboard or an outboard motor to help them power through rough waters.
Some have mono-hulls, others have two hulls (these are called catamarans) and yet others have three hulls (these are called trimarans). In addition to these differences, there are also categories of daysailers, racing sailboats, and cruisers.
They’re often used for cruising around overnight (they always have cabins or sleeping quarters unless it is a small pocket sailboat. They are also used for day-sailing, and competitions.
13) Bristol 40 ($29,000 – $49,000)
The Bristol 40 might be a little older compared to a few other boats out on the market now, but if they are taken care of, these sailboats are as strong as they are beautiful.
The early Bristol 40s came with an Atomic 4 gas engine. But the Westerbeke diesel was also an option. Other versions were re-powered with a Yanmar diesel.
They generally have matted and woven roving and have a ballast of 6,5000 lbs.
14) Island Packet ($35,000 – $50,000)
Island Packets are wonderful sailing yachts. They are strong and well-constructed. The deck is made of polyester resin and micro-balloons (PolyCore) instead of a balsa core. This means that it won’t rot and there is no fear of delamination. It is unique and beautiful. The sail area is roughly 531 square feet and it has a beam of 11 and a half feet.
Floating House/Cabin Under $50,000
At the time of this article, we were ecstatic to find a couple of great floating houses on the market, which fit just under the $50,000 cap.
15) A 432 square foot Floating Home in Lake Cumberland, Kentucky ($49,900)
Yes, okay, this one just made the cut-off at $49,900. But this beautiful college (with a queen bedroom and fold down bunk and loft beds) is a great home for someone who wants to live a simple life on a floating home.
There is also a full bath, microwave, a two-burner stove, electric fireplace, a 28-gallon water heater, 160-gallon waste holding tank, composite decking, beautiful cedar siding, and is wired for cable and satellite TV.
16) A 450 square foot Floating Cottage in Norris Lake, Tennessee ($34,900)
This compact little floating home is complete with a full bath (with an incinerator toilet) and electric refrigerator, a double stainless since, a four-burner oven (electric), a queen bet, a window air conditioning unit, a 20-gallon hot water heater, and Styrofoam floatation. It is quite the steal at under $35,000. If you’re looking for your first floating home, this is a great place to start.
You can move in, use it as a vacation home, or even just use it as your office (a unique touch to help aid you in wanting to go to work).
17) A 400 square foot Floating Cabin in Norris Lake, Tennessee
Tennessee seems to be home to a lot of great floating houses for sale. This one comes with a bunk bed, a full bath, fridge, oven, microwave, a double sink a 32’ HDTV, Blu-ray player, surround sound, a patio set (table and chairs), and a covered patio (with some shades for privacy).
This is a great home away from home. If you want to drop all of your material possessions and move into this houseboat, we wouldn’t look down on that. Living minimally on a houseboat sounds like the perfect dream.
How much do boats normally cost?
When it comes to the price range for most boats, it can vary by design, style, size, manufacturer, and features (just to name a few).
It can be difficult to calculate but—as a jumping-off point—here are a few numbers to get us started:
- Bowriders: $15,000 to $50,000
- Cabin Cruisers: $100,000 to $500,000
- Cuddy Cabins: $100,000 and up
- Deck Boats: $20,000 to $50,000
- Fishing Boats: $9,000 to $100,000
- House Boats: $100,000 and up
- Pontoon Boats: $15,000 to $100,000
- Sailboats: $4,000 and up
- Speedboats: $75,000 and up
- “Yachts”: $300,000 and up
By definition, yachts are medium-sized sail, powered (or otherwise small ship or) boat which is equipped for private cruising, racing, or for official use.
This can encompass a lot of boats. The boats covered in this article are colloquially considered too small to be a yacht but not in its technical sense. However, they are not considered yachts in the public eye because they are not luxurious enough.
Here’s an extensive guide we’ve made with prices for each boat type. It covers each boat type in more depth.
Final Thoughts
Now that we’ve covered the different types of common boats and the models that come in this price range, it’s time for you to decide which type of boat is right for you. If you’re having trouble deciding, consider some of these questions:
- How much are you willing to spend on a boat?
- What are you going to use a boat for?
- What sorts of amenities are you going to need for yourself? Will your guests need anything specific as well?
Buying a boat is a big investment. It isn’t just about splurging and buying the first boat you see. It’s about finding out what boat works for you.
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