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Best boat loans of February 2025

What to know first: The best boat loans offer competitive rates and terms to help you quickly finance a weekend water getaway craft or a dreamboat with an affordable payment. Some lenders offer high loan amounts with long terms for expensive boats. The approval process is mostly dependent on credit, with the lowest rates going to those with the best credit profiles.

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LightStream: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner For Best Home Improvement Loan

4.5
Est. APR
6.99- 15.89%
Loan term
2-12 yrs*
Loan amount
$5k- $100K
Min credit score
Not disclosed

Upgrade: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner For Borrowers With Bad Credit

4.6
Est. APR
7.99- 35.99%
with AutoPay
Loan term
2-7 yrs
Loan amount
$1k- $50K
Min credit score
580

PERSONAL LOANS

Best for bad, low or no credit boat loans

4.7
Est. APR
7.40- 35.99%
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Loan amount
$1k- $50K
Min credit score
300

PERSONAL LOANS

Best for consolidating debt for future boat financing

4.5
Est. APR
8.99- 29.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$5k- $50K
Min credit score
620

PERSONAL LOANS

PROSPER: BEST FOR FAIR CREDIT BOAT LOANS

4.5
Est. APR
8.99- 35.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k- $50K
Min credit score
600

SoFi: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner For Best Online Lender

4.7
Est. APR
8.99- 29.49%
with all discounts
Loan term
2-7 yrs
Loan amount
$5k- $100K
Min credit score
Not disclosed
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LightStream
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5
Est. APR
6.99%–15.89%
Loan amount
$5k– $100k
Min credit score
Not specified

Upstart
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7
Est. APR
7.40%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $50k
Min credit score
300

Achieve
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5
Est. APR
8.99%–29.99%
Loan amount
$5k– $50k
Min credit score
620

Upgrade
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6
Est. APR
7.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $50k
Min credit score
580

Prosper
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5
Est. APR
8.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k– $50k
Min credit score
600

SoFi
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7
Est. APR
8.99%–29.49%
Loan amount
$5k– $100k
Min credit score
Not specified
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Where to get a boat loan

Find out where to get the best boat loan.

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Pros

  • No down payment for unsecured personal boat loans.
  • Terms of up to 20 years for secured loans or 12 years for unsecured.
  • Unsecured loans don't require a lien on the boat.
  • Quick funding is possible if you’re competing for a used boat purchase with a private owner.
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Cons

  • Loan origination and administrative fees may exceed 10 percent.
  • A large monthly payment on the loan could affect your ability to qualify for other credit.
  • Rates could be higher than other financing options for bad credit borrowers.
  • Secured boat loan lenders may not approve your boat if it’s an older or used model.
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BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

Is a boat loan a good idea?


Nationally recognized student financial aid expert

If a boat is a luxury, as opposed to a necessity, buying a boat with a boat loan may not be a good idea. You may have trouble making the loan payments. The value of the boat will depreciate over time. There will also be ongoing costs involved in keeping the boat even if you don’t use it, such as insurance, maintenance and storage. You may be better off renting a boat if you don’t use the boat very frequently.

Senior writer, Loans

Committing to a boat loan makes sense if you’re more than just a once or twice-a-year weekend water warrior, and don’t have the cash to buy one outright. Like any recreational purchase, make sure you budget for the initial and ongoing costs. You’ll need some way to get the boat to the water, a place to store it and will spend money to maintain it before, during and after your local boating season. Pick the shortest term you can afford so you can enjoy payment-free boat ownership sooner rather than later. If you have a tough time finding a secured loan for an older used boat, an unsecured personal loan may be a good alternative.

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