Boat Loan Calculator

There is no definitive minimum credit score required, but there are some banks that will consider applicants with scores in the 600 or 640 range. You will typically need a credit score of at least 600 to get approved for a boat loan. The higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate will be, which will save you money over the term of the loan. Additional credit limitations and requirements will typically be required for scores under 700. Use our boat loan calculator above to determine your estimated monthly payment based on your FICO credit score.

The amount of boat that you can afford depends on a number of factors. It will depend on your income, your credit score, and your liabilities. You may qualify for a million dollar boat solely based on your income, but when you factor in your monthly expenses, that number may change drastically.

The lender will take a look at your overall financial profile including your debt-to-income ratio to ensure that you can afford to purchase the boat and keep up with the monthly payments. You can check out a boat loan calculator to get an idea of how much boat you can afford. The calculator is a great place to start when you’re boat shopping, but don’t forget about additional expenses such as boat insurance, marina fees, and ongoing maintenance costs.

Yacht loan terms typically go up to 20 years, but you may find one for 25 years if you and the boat meet certain qualifications. A yacht loan is different from a mortgage, it’s more comparable to an auto loan, just with a longer loan term.

The yacht serves as the collateral and you typically use your own funds for a downpayment and finance the remainder of the purchase price. You will pay monthly payments throughout the life of the loan. Like auto loans, yacht loans require insurance and each lender will have their own qualifications that need to be met in order to be approved for the loan.

A good credit score to finance a boat is typically 700 or higher. Most marine lenders only work with creditworthy borrowers who have what is considered great or excellent credit. Sure, you may qualify for a loan with a lower credit score, but the maximum loan amount may be lower, the monthly payment may be higher, your loan application may take longer for credit approval, and you may be required to put down a larger down payment than a borrower who has a higher credit score. 

If you’re not sure what your credit score is, or you want to know if you will get approved for a boat loan or not, apply with Trident Funding online in just a few minutes. The initial application only requires a soft-pull on your credit score, and you will quickly find out if a boat loan is in your near future, or if you need to raise your credit score first.

The length of the loan is referred to as a loan term. Loan terms vary depending on the loan product, the type of boat, the age of the boat, the loan amount, and your financial standing. However, most boat loans range from 10- to 20-year terms. A 20-year term is usually the maximum term for a boat loan, however, sometimes a lender will consider a 25-year loan term. The next most common boat loan terms are 15 and 10 years. Typically loan amounts over $50,000 can go to 15 to 20 years and loan amounts under $50,000 can go to 12 to 15 years.

The amount of the down payment on a boat loan varies. It’s usually anywhere from 10% to more than 30%. It depends on the borrower’s credit score, income, and overall financial profile. It also depends on the loan amount and the loan term. Generally, borrowers with lower credit scores will be required to put down a larger down payment. This is to mitigate some of the lender’s risk and it shows ‘more skin in the game’ because the borrower has more to lose if they default on the loan. 

If you like to know the numbers and want specifics, here goes. The average cost of a new boat is around $70,000. If you have excellent credit, expect to put down at least $7,000. If your credit is less than excellent, you may need to put down anywhere from $14,000 to more than $21,000. This is just the amount needed for the downpayment and doesn’t include closing costs or insurance etc.

Every borrower is different and their credit score and income will affect the boat payment. The interest rate, the boat term, and the purchase price of the boat will also affect the amount of the monthly payment. If you want to roughly estimate what your boat payment will be, calculate 1 to 1.5% of the value of the boat. For example, if you buy a boat worth $100,000, expect to pay between $1,000 and $1,500 per month. Keep in mind, this is just a rough estimate, and you can get a better idea of your monthly payment, by using a boat loan calculator.