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Best boat loans of May 2025

Updated May 01, 2025

What to know first: The best unsecured boat loans offer rates as low as 6.49 percent with terms of over a decade — if you need up to $100,000 to finance your dream boat. The approval process considers your credit, income and debt, among other factors.

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Upgrade: Best for buying boat accessories

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

Upstart: Best for low or no credit

4.7
Est. APR
6.70- 35.99%
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Loan amount
$1k-$50K
Min credit score
300

PERSONAL LOANS

Achieve: Best for cosigners

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 peer-to-peer loans

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

SoFi: Best for buying a luxury boat

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: Best overall boat 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

Upgrade: Best for buying boat accessories

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: Upgrade's low minimum credit score and loan amount makes it a good choice if you want to finance some bells and whistles for your new boat but have bad credit. You can even add a joint applicant if you need a larger amount. 

Est. APR
7.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k–$50k
Min credit score
580
Est. APR
7.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k–$50k
Min credit score
580
Loan term
2-7 yrs
Origination fee
Not specified

Upstart: Best for low or no credit 

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 is unique because it considers factors beyond your credit score for approval, including education and career history. That makes it good if you're not a heavy credit user or don't have enough credit history to generate a score. 

 

Est. APR
6.70%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k–$50k
Min credit score
300
Est. APR
6.70%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k–$50k
Min credit score
300
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Origination fee
Not specified

Achieve: Best for cosigners

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
Est. APR
8.99%–29.99%
Loan amount
$5k–$50k
Min credit score
620
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Origination fee
Not specified

Prosper: Best for peer-to-peer loans

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. Its unique peer-to-peer lending model gives you access to more potential lenders at once and even allows joint applications if you don't qualify on your own. It may be a good alternative if you don't qualify for boat dealership financing. 

 

Est. APR
8.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k–$50k
Min credit score
600
Est. APR
8.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k–$50k
Min credit score
600
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Origination fee
Not specified

SoFi: Best for buying a luxury boat

Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7

Overview: If you're looking for an unsecured loan to purchase your boat and prefer a top-notch digital experience, SoFi offers member-exclusive benefits and rate discounts with potential same-day funding on weekdays. You can also add a cosigner or co-borrower to borrow up to $100,000 if you're buying a luxury boat.

 

Est. APR
8.99%–29.49%
Loan amount
$5k–$100k
Min credit score
300
Est. APR
8.99%–29.49%
Loan amount
$5k–$100k
Min credit score
300
Loan term
2-7 yrs
Origination fee
Not specified

LightStream: Best overall boat loan

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: LightStream offers both the lowest rates and longest terms of the boat lenders Bankrate has reviewed. Its 12-year maximum term will give you the lowest payment for loans of up to $100,000 — other personal loans are capped at seven years. 

 

Est. APR
6.49%–13.89%
Loan amount
$5k–$100k
Min credit score
Not specified
Est. APR
6.49%–13.89%
Loan amount
$5k–$100k
Min credit score
Not specified
Loan term
2-12 yrs
Origination fee
Not specified

Calculate your monthly boat loan payment

Enter your loan amount, preferred repayment term and potential interest rate to see what your payment will look like. Try longer terms for a lower payment. Shorter terms will keep your interest charges to a minimum if you can afford the higher monthly payment. Once you have an estimate of what you can afford, you can begin comparing personal loan options or boat loans from dealerships.

Monthly Payment

$93.22

How to compare boat loans

What makes a lender best for a boat loan depends on your plans for boat ownership. When choosing the best boat loan lender, consider factors like the lender's minimum requirements, maximum loan amount and total cost.

  • Learn the lending requirements: Know the lender's credit score minimum, fees, loan amount range and term lengths before you apply. This can help you choose lenders that are more likely to offer you terms you can afford.
  • Check for lender perks: Banks and credit unions may streamline the boat loan process or offer rate discounts if you’re a regular customer. Some lenders may also give you special rate discounts if you sign up for autopay. 
  • Compare rates and terms: The annual percentage rate (APR) and terms may vary significantly between secured and unsecured lenders. That said, a high credit score and stable income typically get you the best rates and terms, regardless of if you choose a secured or unsecured loan.
  • Add fees to the loan amount, if applicable: Some unsecured personal loan lenders charge double-digit fees which are deducted from your loan proceeds. Adjust your loan amount so you don’t come up short when you need to deliver funds to the boat seller. 

Bankrate tip for used boat loans

If you prefer a used boat, be sure to check the lender's age and model requirements beforehand. Some secured lenders may not finance a pre-owned boat, making unsecured loans a better choice.

Current boat loan rates

Unsecured boat loan rates vary depending on the lender, with most ranging from 7 percent to 36 percent. Rates for secured boat loans will be similar — although it may be easier to qualify for lower rates with a secured boat loan if you have less-than-perfect credit.

These lenders offer unsecured personal loans up to $100,000 at competitive rates. This can give you an idea of how rates are trending based on each lender’s strengths. 

Loan feature Minimum rate Lender Strengths
Lowest overall minimum rate 6.99% LightStream 12-year maximum term, No origination fees
Second-lowest rate for high loan amount limit lender 8.99% SoFi Low minimum credit score requirement, No origination fees
Same-day funding available 8.99% Alliant Top credit union, 24/7 customer service
Top-tier digital experience 10.14% USAA Good choice for military members and their families, In-house refinancing available

What are boat loans?

A boat loan is financing you take out to buy a new or used watercraft. The most common boat loans are installment loans, meaning you receive your funds at once and make fixed monthly payments for a set period. Lenders may allow you to use your funding to cover both the cost of the craft and any other bells and whistles you need for fishing, water-skiing or entertaining.

You can use an unsecured personal loan to buy your boat, or you can get financing through a dealership. Unsecured boat loans won't require you to use the boat as collateral, but this means the amount you can borrow will be limited — usually to $100,000 or less. Secured boat loans use your boat as collateral, but you may be able to finance significantly more. Exactly how your boat loan works will depend on the type of lender you choose.

Types of boat loans

The majority of lenders featured on Bankrate's table offer unsecured personal loans to buy boats. 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. Unsecured loans may also be limiting when searching for newer watercraft because of their limited funding range — except for a few rare examples, the maximum loan amount is generally capped at $50,000.

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.

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.

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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BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

Is a boat loan a good idea?


Bankrate Expert Contributor, Student 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.

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: