Have you always wanted a speed boat, but never knew where to start looking or what exactly to look for? Here’s the things; speed boats come in all varieties and sizes, with different performance models, some of which will cost millions of dollars.
To answer this question, I looked into some of the most expensive and highest performance speed boats of the last few years, and here’s what I found:
Table of Contents
High performance speed boat prices and costs
In the table below, you can see how much a speed boat costs if you are shopping at the very high end of the market.
| Speedboat Name | Year of Manufacture | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Outerlimits SL41 | 2015 | $625,000 |
| Mercedes-AMG 50’ Marauder | 2018 | $1,200,000 |
| Mystic C4400 Habitual | 2018 | $699,999 |
| Wright Performance Powerboats 360 | 2017 | $450,000 |
| MTI V-42 | 2016 | $585,000 |
| Skater Powerboats 388 | 2014 | $699,950 |
| DCB Performance Boats M35 | 2015 | $685,000 |
| Adrenaline Powerboats ZRX47 Carbon Series | 2018 | $1,000,000 |
| Cigarette Racing Tirranna | 2019 | $3,500,000 |
| Midnight Express 60' Pied-a-Mer | 2017 | $1,600,000 |
However, don’t let those insane prices put you off thinking you can own a speed boat.
The range of boat prices obviously depends on the type of speed boat, amenities, speed itself, and size, and can range from $20,000 at the low end, up to millions of dollars as you can see from the examples above.
How much a speed boat costs depends on the type. The one above could be picked up for the low 5 figure range. Image copyright: https://commons.wikimedia.org
With such variable price differences, it is important to go into purchasing one knowing exactly what you’re looking for as well as all the fees associated with it.
Buying a speed boat is like making an investment.
This means that aside from the original purchase costs, you will also need to understand the annual costs it will take for maintenance, operation, and up-keep.
The different types of speed boat
There are two main different types of speed boats you can choose from: outboard and inboard. These boats vary from $20,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on what you’re looking for.
Compare that to the price of a pontoon boat (click here for examples) where the average price for a brand new, 22-footer is around $35,000.
Pontoons aren’t build for speed (apart from these ones) and are typically used in lakes and rivers. You can also find pontoons for less than $20,000 and more than $50,000 depending on the size.
The average price for an outboard speed boat without a cabin and that is designed for fishing costs about $20,000. High performance models, even secondhand ones, will start at $30,000.
Large inboard speed boats that have cabins are often known as cruisers because they are not quite large enough to be considered yachts.
These boat prices start at hundreds of thousands of dollars, or even millions if bought knew (see the cost examples at the top of this page). Many used cruisers in good condition can be found for less than six figures.
Other types of speed boats
- Bowriders
- Trawlers
- Runabouts
- Watersports boats
Speed boat running and maintenance costs
As well as how much it costs to buy a speed boat, there are other aspects you will need to consider and budget for such as:
- Boat trailers
- Boat fuel costs
- Mooring fees
- Insurance
- Winter boat storage
One of the most important annual fees of the boat, aside from proper maintenance, is the average annual mooring fee.Once you buy a boat, you will need some place to store it, such as a dock or harbor space.
The cost will depend on your local marina and the size of the speed boat.
The annual mooring range is also quite vast, ranging from $3,000 a year to well over $15,000.
You may also want to consider having a boat lift to prevent your boat from corroding and therefore avoid spending more on maintenance fees.
If you do not want to pay the fees for docking your speed boat at a marina, you can also consider buying a boat trailer.
A boat trailer typically costs between $2,000 and $5,000. Having a boat trailer also keeps you from investing in a boat lift to avoid corroding.
Even though it’s cheaper to buy a trailer, you will have to continuously haul your boat into and out of the water and that is also important to keep in mind.
Unless you live in Florida, Hawaii, Southern California, Texas, or another all-year warm state in the country, you will not leave your boat in the water all year round.
You’re going to need to protect it from the winter weather and that can cost several thousands of dollars. This process is called winterizing (read my guide).
The costs add up in the form of shrink-wrapping fees, draining or changing the oil, fuel, and other fluids, storage fees, and other general maintenance required will the boat is put away for the winter weather.
Just like paying for gas for your car, you must also do so for your speed boat.
Most speed boats use a lot of gas, and the price of fuel on the water is much more than that on land. The average base rate for fuel across the country is about $2.50 per gallon, though it will be much higher than that in different states.
Many fast speed boats use between 20 and 30 gallons of fuel per hour, and average at about 25 gallons per hour.
To put that into perspective, a five-hour trip could cost you more than $300 per outing.
Assuming you go out in your boat at least once a week, this will cost you more than $16,000 annually.
If you choose to use a slower boat, such as a pontoon, it will cost you much less.
Pontoons use closer to five gallons per hour and therefore have a cost of about $3,000 for the same scenario as described above. You can read more about how much fuel a pontoon boat uses elsewhere on the website.
Inboard and outboard differences
Outboard characteristics
- Easy to service
- Engine can be lifted out of water
Inboard characteristics
- Quiet
- Powerful
There are many differences between inboard and outboard speed boats, demonstrating several advantages and disadvantages to each. Regardless, inboard speed boats usually tend to be more expensive due to their more unique characteristics.
Outboard speed boats have engines that can be lifted out of the water, which makes storing easier. Given this easy accessibility, these speed boats tend to be far easier to service than inboard boats. This aspect also allows for more shallow fishing.
Outboard boats are also easier to steer without power because they have directional thrusts.
Inboard speed boats are often quieter than outboard ones, making them a better option for leisure outings and entertaining guests. They can also be more powerful, as the engines are often designed after large car engines.
Since the car engines are so large, this type of boat will require a large box to house the motor in the center of the boat and therefore, take up more space. This also poses a greater fire hazard.
Sterndrive speed boats are also in option which mixes the concepts of moth motor types. They have automotive style engines, which act as both transmission and propulsion to the propellers of the boat.
Related questions
Here are some additional questions you may want an answer for relating to speed boat costs, speed boat running costs, and overall maintenance.
How much does boat insurance typically cost?
You should never operate a boat without insurance, given that there are nearly 5,000 recreational boating accidents each year and costs can be astronomical. Fortunately, most boat insurances total up to about a few hundred dollars per year, depending on the boat and your history with it. The number of people, and ages, are also a factor.
What legalities should I worry about?
When buying a boat, it is important to also pay for registration, licenses, and any local taxes that may be associated with your state. They won’t necessarily add a ton to your total cost, but still important to know.
Which boat is safest?
Any boat you buy will come with its risks and knowing how to properly use one will depend on how safe the boat is. No boat is safer than others, as it mostly all depends on how you personally handle it. Aside from inboard motors that have some fire risks, it is important to know how to safely operate speed boats before using them.
The last word…
Now you now how much a speed boat costs, with examples of some of the most expensive ones in the world, it might be time to take the plunge and make a purchase.
You can pick up a cheap speed boat for $20,000, but before you do buy, make sure you read this guide to buying a used boat.
