Buying a boat can be rather intimidating. You might be able to find a boat’s MSRP, but how accurate is that sticker price? Does it offer a good deal? When shopping for a boat, you may be able to negotiate a price below the MSRP. This is especially true if you buy a boat at the right time. When looking to complete a new boat sale you should ask a variety of questions and also figure out the real cost of boat ownership.
OEMs can often dictate to dealers the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP).
That said, that price isn’t necessarily what you’ll pay. Most manufacturers also don’t let dealers put prices on the Internet. If they do allow prices to be displayed, it’s often the MSRP. Manufacturers do this to keep prices high.
Some manufacturers set a high MSRP with a large margin, say 35%. Then they can offer big discounts. Other manufacturers set a lower MSRP and thus a lower discount. This is common among mid-tier boats. Then there’s the nationally advertised price, which often features a low margin and less room for negotiation.
How much you can negotiate is often impacted by margins and the manufacturer’s pricing strategy.
