Best Boats Under $100,000
Which are the best boats under $100,000? These top picks are a good place to start looking.
Buying a new boat is not a small endeavor, so naturally you want to thoroughly shop the market before making any decisions. And for most of us, budget will be the limiting factor on just what boats we can consider. The $100,000 mark is bar that many people will be looking to stay under and fortunately, there are plenty of boats out there that cost less. But, which is the best boat under $100,000? That’s a question that has a different answer depending on who’s doing the asking. These 10 picks, however, certainly belong in the conversation.
- Axopar 29 XC Cross Cabin
- Boston Whaler 210 Montauk
- Ikon VLX21
- Jeanneau Leader 6.5 WA
- Moomba Mondo
- Pathfinder 2200 TRS
- Scout 215 XSF
- Sea Ray SPX 230 OB
- Triton 206 Fishunter
- Yamaha 252SE
Axopar 29 XC Cross Cabin
Axopar is known for beating out the competition on pricing, and the 29 XC Cross Cabin is one of the largest boats you’ll find that keeps cost below the $100K mark. It’s also one of the best performers, capable of running over the 50 mph mark with the right power package. Starting base price is advertised at slightly over $65,000, which gets you a very basic setup with a single outboard and few accessories. But with another $35,000 in the budget you can bump the power up to twins and add some goodies and gadgets before cost gets out of hand. Plus, that means this is a highly customizable boat and you can have it rigged to your taste for anything from fishing to socializing.
See Axopar 29 XC Cross Cabin boats for sale on boats.com.
Boston Whaler 210 Montauk
Few builders are as legendary as Boston Whaler, and few models are as legendary as the 210 Montauk. The advertised starting point is $76,735, though you’ll surely want to add things like seating, trim tabs, and electronics. While it’s true that you don’t get a huge amount of LOA for the dollar in this case, Boston Whalers tend to hold their value far better than virtually any other brand. As a result, when you eventually resell the boat you stand to recoup much more of your initial investment. Plus, every time you leave the dock you’ll do so with the confidence of knowing that Boston Whalers are completely unsinkable thanks to their glass-foam-glass sandwich construction.
See Boston Whaler 210 Montauk boats for sale on boats.com.
Ikon VLX21
Freshwater anglers in search of a topnotch bass boat that doesn’t break the bank will want to check out the Ikon VLX21. This rig promises 70-plus-mph speeds, more tackle stowage than most boats twice its size, and a monstrous foredeck for casting. Like most bass boats it’s designed for a pair of anglers so temper your expectations for taking out a bunch of friends, but you and your buddy will be spending your day at the lake in comfort thanks to bucket seats, bike-style fishing pedestal seats, and a padded foredeck and cockpit. Base MSRP is under $75,000 and even fully outfitted with all the angling options you want, it’s easy to stay under our price ceiling. See our full review of this boat, Ikon VLX21: Blast to the Bass.
See Ikon VLX21 bass boats for sale on boats.com.
Jeanneau Leader 6.5 WA
It’s tough to find a boat under the $100,000 mark which you can spend weekends aboard, but the Jeanneau Leader 6.5 WA has a cabin with a V-berth and room for a portable MSD. It also comes in well under the $100,000 cap and even when well-equipped, doesn’t get too far north of $90,000. On top of that cabin there’s a huge sunpad for stretching out and relaxing, and the cockpit features L-shaped seating plus pedestal seats for the helm and a passenger. If you’re on the lookout for a cabin boat that has what it takes for weekend getaways this one will be on your short list.
See Jeanneau Leader 6.5 WA boats for sale on boats.com.
Moomba Mondo
Watersports lovers will want to see the Moomba Mondo, one of the few dedicated wake sports boats that keeps pricing in check to the point that it makes this roundup (list MSRP is $96,800). This 20-footer has high-end wake-sculpting abilities, with the SmartPlate, Flow 2.0 and 3.0 Surf Systems, and 3,700 pounds of ballast. It also features high-tech touches like a seven-inch touchscreen display, Roswell’s Elite 2.0 R-Flex suspension board rack, and an Indmar Raptor inboard powerplant.
See Moomba Mondo boats for sale on boats.com.
Pathfinder 2200 TRS
Saltwater anglers who enjoy probing the shallows for redfish and speckled sea trout will find the Pathfinder 2200 TS more than a little bit attractive. This bay boat has fore and aft elevated casting decks, a dozen rodholders, a 35-gallon livewell (with the option to add a second 35 gallons), and locking rod stowage boxes. Base MSRP begins at around $79,000 so there’s cash left over to add a few additional angling options like an electric trolling motor on the bow, an MFD at the helm, and a Power Pole at the stern. Also note that this boat is a strong performer. With the stock 150 horses it will break 40 mph and if you upgrade to a 250, speeds well over 50 mph are in store.
See Pathfinder 2200 TRS boats for sale on boats.com.
Scout 215 XSF
Scout boats have a reputation for packing a lot into each and every hull, and the 215 XSF is a great example. It’s the only boat in this roundup that manages to include both forward-facing bow seating and a center bow sun lounger. Add to that the swing-down transom seat and the leaning post with flip-up bolsters, and it’s clear that despite the boat’s diminutive size you can haul a big crew in comfort. Starting price is a hair under $70K so you have plenty of room in the budget to add some upgrades, the boat comes fully equipped for saltwater fishing, and even with base power (a 150-hp outboard) performance is spiffy with a cruise of over 30 mph and a top-end in the mid-40s.
See Scout 215 XSF boats for sale on boats.com.
Sea Ray SPX 230 OB
The Sea Ray brand has a storied name in the world of boats, and the SPX 230 OB is at the core of what they’re known for: high-quality bowriders. Starting in the mid-$70s for the base model, the SPX 230 comes stock with a 150-hp Mercury outboard, boasts an enclosed head compartment in the passenger’s side console, and features gobs of seating. It also has a very high level of tech for a bowrider, with a Simrad touchscreen helm display and Mercury VesselView and VesselView Mobile. We also love Sea Ray’s five-year stem-to-stern “SURPA5S” warranty and lifetime limited structural hull and deck warranty.
See Sea Ray SPX 230 OB boats for sale on boats.com.
Triton 206 Fishunter
If you want a fiberglass multispecies fishing boat that has the chops to take on big, open waters but still doesn’t feel out of place at the reservoir, Triton’s 206 Fishunter will be a top pick. With a MSRP of $71,995 you can add on a full suite of electronics, upgrade the stock 225-hp powerplant to a 300, and even add on a kicker motor without busting the budget. And note that this rig comes with several big-ticket items already included, like a tandem axel trailer with Vault hubs, a 112-lb. thrust Minn Kota electric motor on the bow, and an onboard four-bank battery charger. It may not be a huge boat for the price but the 206 Fishunter will make you king of the lake.
See Triton 206 Fishunter boats for sale on boats.com.
Yamaha 252SE
Starting at $93,299, the Yamaha 252SE will be an easy pick for family boaters who would rather have jet propulsion as opposed to a spinning propeller beneath the waterline. That gets you the sporty handling of a jet boat, too, and since Yamaha trims out their models to different levels the 252SE is a complete package and there aren’t a bunch of cost-adding options to worry about. Setting all of those advantages aside, we also have to point out that this is larger than most of the boats in this roundup, and is one of the few that has room for you to take out both family and friends with a seating capacity of 12.
See Yamaha 252SE jet boats for sale on boats.com.
Everyone’s budget is, of course, quite different. And if you say yours isn’t anywhere near the $100,000 mark, never fear — there are boats out there priced right for everyone. We can help you find 10 new fishing boats for under $20,000 and we have a few options to check out even if you need to find a boat for under $1,000. On the other hand, maybe your budget is more than a little bit healthy and you’d be interested in checking out the best family cruisers under $500K. However your bank account might look remember one thing: life is indeed better with a boat, and the perfect boat is out there for everyone.
