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Best boat loans of March 2025

Updated Mar 12, 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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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
6.70- 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
300

LightStream: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner For Best Home Improvement Loan

4.5
Est. APR
6.49- 13.89%
Loan term
2-12 yrs*
Loan amount
$5k- $100K
Min credit score
Not disclosed
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A closer look at our top boat loan lenders

Taking an even deeper dive into our top boat loan lenders, we focus on how each lender differs from one another and why they stand out. When available, you’ll also find data on how Bankrate users use their loans to give you extra insight to help you choose the right lender and loan for your marine-craft financing plans.

LightStream: Best overall

LightStream
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: LightStream is one of the few lenders that offers unsecured loans up to $100,000 — enough to cover the costs of some higher-end boats. However, you will need good to excellent credit to access its lowest rates.

Est. APR
6.49%–13.89%
Loan amount
$5k– $100k
Min credit score
Not specified

Upstart: Best for low or no credit 

Upstart
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7

Overview: Upstart is an online lending marketplace that connects applicants to over 100 banks, lenders and credit unions. It claims its flexible lending model allows it to offer significantly lower rates than a traditional lending model would. 

Est. APR
6.70%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $50k
Min credit score
300

Achieve: Best for consolidating debt for future boat financing

Achieve
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: While many lenders offer consolidation loans, not many offer a discount just for taking out the loan. Individuals who use at least 85 percent of their Achieve funds to consolidate debt are eligible for a rate discount. 

Est. APR
8.99%–29.99%
Loan amount
$5k– $50k
Min credit score
620

Upgrade: Best for buying boat accessories

Upgrade
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: Over the last five years, Upgrade made over $24 million in credit available to its customers. The online consumer lending platform is headquartered in San Francisco and opened its doors in 2016. Unlike many of our best online lenders it has multiple offices across America.

Est. APR
7.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $50k
Min credit score
580

Prosper: Best for fair credit boat loans

Prosper
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: Prosper started in 2005 as an online peer-to-peer lender. It specializes in low-interest loans and is the only peer-to-peer lender in our fleet of best boat loans. In almost 20 years, the company has connected customers with $27 billion in loans. 

Est. APR
8.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k– $50k
Min credit score
600

SoFi: Best for buying a luxury boat

SoFi
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7

Overview: SoFi is an online lender offering a suite of member benefits and competitive loan products. It's one of our newer boat loan lenders and was founded in 2011 by Stanford graduates. Since then, it's become one of the most popular companies in the personal loan marketplace with over 7.5 million members. 

Est. APR
8.99%–29.49%
Loan amount
$5k– $100k
Min credit score
300

What is a boat loan?

A boat loan is financing you take out to buy a new or used watercraft. It’s typically an installment loan, meaning you receive all the funds at once and make fixed, monthly payments on it for a set period. The funds may be used for the boat itself or all the bells and whistles you need for fishing, water-skiing or entertaining. If you are required to make a down payment, it is typically between 10 and 20 percent of the boat's purchasing price. However, not every lender requires a down payment for a boat loan.

You can use an unsecured personal loan to buy your boat, or you can get financing through a dealership. Exactly how your boat loan works will depend on whether you get a secured or unsecured loan. While most personal loan lenders provide unsecured loans, dealerships will typically require you to secure the loan with collateral, typically the watercraft you're purchasing. If you fall behind on loan payments, the lender can seize the collateral used to back the loan. 

On the flip side, loans secured by collateral are typically easier to qualify for than unsecured loans — and are generally available in larger amounts. If you have a secured loan, you may have a longer repayment term, too. These loans typically have terms up to 15 or 20 years, while unsecured loans have terms lasting between two and seven years. Shorter terms could make your monthly payment more expensive.

When considering your loan options, be sure to compare personal loan rates and terms from various lenders and watercraft dealerships to find the option that works best with your financial goals and budget.

Types of boat loans

The lenders featured on our rate table mostly offer unsecured personal loans to buy boats, with amounts up to $100,000. An unsecured loan generally comes with higher interest rates than secured loans because the lender doesn’t have any collateral to sell if you default.

When an unsecured boat loan makes sense

  • You don’t qualify for dealer boat financing.
  • You have negative marks in your credit history.
  • You’re buying a used boat that dealers won’t finance.
  • You don’t have cash for a down payment.

How to get a boat loan

The process for getting a boat loan can be relatively quick if you know what to expect. Before starting your search, have a clear idea of exactly how much you need to borrow, what you need from the loan and the rate you can afford. This can make qualifying for a boat loan easier.

  1. Create a budget: Research how much a boat costs to purchase and maintain and calculate how much you can afford. Besides the monthly payment, consider how much cash you’ll need for a down payment if you plan to buy a new one from a dealership. If you can’t afford to own a boat or only want to use it once or twice a year for a few days, consider renting a boat instead.
  2. Check your credit score and employment stability: Like any loan, the best credit scores will get you the lowest rates, largest loan amounts and longer terms. You’ll also need to document a steady income to qualify.
  3. Decide on the type of boat you want: A new boat will typically come with a high price tag, a down payment requirement and a secured loan. If you’re buying used, it may be easier to budget for an unsecured loan since the loan isn’t based on the boat’s features. 
  4. Shop around: Look at multiple lenders before completing full applications. Make sure you meet the basic credit score requirements and that the lender offers a loan for the amount you need. From there, create a list of the top three to four lenders. 
  5. Prequalify: Find lenders that allow you to prequalify for a loan first. Prequalification is a process that allows you to check your predicted interest rates and approval odds without any negative impact on your credit score.
  6. Compare offers and apply: Banks, credit unions and marine dealer finance companies usually require that you be present for certain portions of the process. After applying, most lenders let you know within minutes if you’re qualified. Funding timelines will vary by lender and loan security.
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Where to get a boat loan

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How to compare boat loans

What makes a lender "best" for a boat loan depends on your plans for boat ownership. Look at these factors when choosing the best boat loan lender.

  • Learn the lending requirements: Know the lender's credit score minimum, fees, loan amount range and loan terms before you apply.
  • Used boat restrictions: Check the lender's age and model requirements beforehand. Secured lenders may not finance a preowned boat, making unsecured loans a better choice.
  • Member benefits: Banks and credit unions may streamline the boat loan process or offer rate discounts if you’re a regular customer.
  • Rates and terms: The annual percentage rate (APR) and terms may vary significantly between secured and unsecured lenders and impact how much you'll pay each month. A high credit score and stable income typically get you the best rates and terms.
  • Fees: Consider fees when applying for a secured or unsecured loan, which can run into the double-digits at some lenders.

Pros and cons of getting a boat loan

Green circle with a checkmark inside

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.
Red circle with an X inside

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?


Contributor, Insurance, Loans

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.

Alternatives to boat loans

There are other ways to enjoy boating on the open water without going into debt or taking on the full commitment that comes with a loan and a boat. Some boat loan alternatives allow you to get your feet wet before diving in.

  • Paying in cash is less expensive than financing because you don't have to pay loan fees or interest. Used boats may be easier to fund and can be found at many boat dealerships or for-sale-by-owner, online marketplaces.
  • Renting a boat can be a good idea if you only plan to use the boat a few times each year without paying for additional expenses like maintenance, storage and insurance. You can rent boats from local marinas, watercraft rental companies or through peer-to-peer rentals.
  • Boat clubs work through a membership that provides access to several kinds of boats. You pay a monthly fee to cover storage, maintenance and use of the club's fleet. Boat clubs can be a good option for those who live in places where boating isn't possible year-round.
  • Boat sharing is similar to a boat club, but instead of an organization with several watercraft, you purchase one boat with friends or family members and split the expenses — and a boating schedule that ensures equal time with the vessel.

Frequently asked questions about boat loans

How we made our picks for the best boat loans

Bankrate's trusted personal loans industry expertise

48

years in business

30

lenders reviewed

20

loan features weighed

665

data points collected

To select the best boat loans, Bankrate’s team of experts evaluated over 30 lenders. Each lender was ranked using a meticulous 20-point system, focusing on four main categories: