With a legacy spanning over 60 years, SkipperBud's has been dedicated to fulfilling our customers' boating dreams and embracing their boating lifestyle. Extending across the Midwest to the West Coast, SkipperBud's proudly stands as the largest boat dealer in the region with ma…
SkipperBud's - Waterford works with financing partners to help buyers secure loans for boats and watercraft. Contact SkipperBud's - Waterford to ask about current financing promotions, available lenders, and whether pre-qualification is available. You can also use Searchshop's built-in payment estimator on any listing to model monthly payments before reaching out.
SkipperBud's - Waterford is located at 3981 Cass Elizabeth Road, Waterford, Michigan, 48328. They serve buyers in Waterford, Michigan and surrounding areas.
SkipperBud's - Waterford specializes in boats and watercraft. Browse their full inventory on Searchshop to see all available listings with year, make, model, photos, and pricing.
You can contact SkipperBud's - Waterford through the contact form or reveal their phone number on their Searchshop profile page. Include the year, make, and model you are interested in for a faster response.
Many boat dealers accept trade-ins as part of a purchase. Contact SkipperBud's - Waterford directly to ask about their trade-in program, how they value trade-in units, and how a trade-in would apply toward your next boat purchase.
Buying a boat from SkipperBud's - Waterford in Waterford, Michigan? Use this guide to evaluate any listing before you commit.
Match the boat to your waters
Pontoons and deck boats suit calm lakes. Deep-V hulls handle chop on larger lakes and coastal water. Center consoles are versatile for fishing. Ask SkipperBud's - Waterford which models suit the waterways near Waterford, Michigan.
Inspect the hull carefully
Look for stress cracks, blistering, or repairs on fiberglass hulls. Check the transom for soft spots by pressing firmly — a solid transom feels rigid. Osmotic blistering costs thousands to repair.
Check engine hours
Inboard and outboard engines are typically rated to 1,500–3,000 hours. Low-hour engines with service records are worth more. Ask to see oil change and winterization records for any boat at SkipperBud's - Waterford.
Request a sea trial
Test the boat on the water before buying. Run it at full throttle. Listen for unusual noises. Check that the throttle and steering respond smoothly. Reputable dealers like SkipperBud's - Waterford will accommodate this request.
Verify title and registration
Ask for the current title and confirm the hull identification number (HIN) matches. Check for any liens with your state boating agency. SkipperBud's - Waterford should be able to walk you through the paperwork.
Marine financing has unique terms. Here is what to know before financing a boat through SkipperBud's - Waterford in Waterford, Michigan.
Typical Loan Terms
10 to 20 years for larger boats. Smaller boats are typically financed over 5 to 10 years.
Down Payment
10% to 20% is standard. Some lenders require more for older vessels.
Pro Tip
Get pre-approved by your bank before visiting SkipperBud's - Waterford — it gives you a rate to compare against dealer financing.
Marine lenders (USAA, SunTrust, Essex Credit) specialize in boat loans and often offer better rates than general banks. Get a pre-approval before visiting SkipperBud's - Waterford to compare against dealer-arranged financing.
SkipperBud's - Waterford is a boat dealer in Waterford, Michigan listed on Searchshop. Browse their full boats and watercraft inventory, view detailed photos, compare prices, and get in contact directly from this page. Searchshop aggregates boat dealer listings across the country so you can compare stock and pricing in one place before you visit or call.
Buyers in and around Waterford, Michigan can browse the full inventory at SkipperBud's - Waterford, read verified buyer reviews, and reach out through the contact form on this page. Each listing at SkipperBud's - Waterford shows year, make, model, condition, mileage or hours, and current asking price. Use the monthly payment estimator on any listing to model financing before stepping on the lot.
The inventory at SkipperBud's - Waterford is updated regularly on Searchshop. Each listing shows high-resolution photos alongside the year, make, model, trim, and price. Mileage, condition notes, and available options are listed on each vehicle detail page. A built-in loan calculator lets you estimate your monthly payment based on purchase price, down payment, and loan term before you call or visit. Save listings you like to compare them side by side. If a unit you are interested in is no longer showing, contact SkipperBud's - Waterford directly — dealers often have incoming trades and new arrivals not yet listed.
Buying from a local boat dealer in Michigan has practical advantages. Local dealers handle state title, registration, and sales tax in-house. Warranty and service work are easier to coordinate nearby. Local dealers carry inventory suited to the region — boats suited to local waterways and seasons. Visiting in person lets you inspect and test ride before you commit. Use the Searchshop dealer directory to compare Michigan boat dealers by city, brand, or inventory.
Use the contact form on this page to ask about a specific listing, request more photos, or schedule a visit. Include the year, make, and model for a faster response. Ask about trade-in valuations, financing promotions, and upcoming inventory. SkipperBud's - Waterford is in the Searchshop boat dealer directory serving Waterford, Michigan and surrounding areas. Browse other boat dealers on Searchshop to compare inventory and pricing near you.
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At a Glance
With a legacy spanning over 60 years, SkipperBud's has been dedicated to fulfilling our customers' boating dreams and embracing their boating lifestyle. Extending across the Midwest to the West Coast, SkipperBud's proudly stands as the largest boat dealer in the region with marinas and stores located in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Washington, and California. As your premier boating destination, we offer a comprehensive range of services and products to meet all your boating needs. From boat service and storage to rentals and sales, we cater to both seasoned boaters and newcomers, prov...
If you’re thinking about storing your boat at SkipperBud’s, especially if you have Sea-Legs or a powered/custom cover, read this first. I stored my pontoon at SkipperBud’s only because they promised they would diagnose and fix my radio while it was there. They never even looked at it until the day I was supposed to pick it up, then tried to charge me and told me I’d have to handle it myself. Then it got worse. They mishandled my EZ Cover. After haul-out they left the powered cover fully open and not strapped down outside. That is NOT how this system is designed to be stored. After I complained multiple times, Brian (one of the managers) finally came out. His “fix” was to disconnect arms from the mechanism so he could force it closed. It worked once. The next time I tried it, the cover wouldn’t close at all. When I called back, I was basically told they weren’t going to fix it and I was on my own. Because they refused to take responsibility, I spent almost the entire summer with a six-figure boat I couldn’t cover. In the end, I had to send it back to my selling dealer and EZ Cover—nearly 100 miles away—and eat over $2,000 mainly in transport costs just to undo the damage that started at SkipperBud’s. My advice: if your boat has anything more than a basic, stock setup—Sea-Legs, a powered or custom cover, or any specialty gear—think very carefully before trusting it to SkipperBud’s. In my experience, they did not stand behind their work, and I paid thousands of dollars and ended up having to leave the boat uncovered for the season because of it.
This was certainly the best experience. We were 9 people and rented out a Pontoon Boat. I must say, the quality was exceptional. Plus the Cass Lake has some nice spots for Fishing and some long stretch of deep waters for a fast boat ride. I highly recommend going over their website for video tutorials on Boating Safety and Pontoon boat operation. I’d come here again for sure!
We bought our boat at the boat show in March were told to get it by April. It is now May 31st, we have had the ins and the slip but still no boat. Everytime the husband calls it's a different person and no one knows what's going on. Had we known it was going to be this long we'd have bought the bigger boat. Never would buy from them again will never recommend them and will definitely recommend people DONT go to them.
Service department sucks. Sucks BAD. I dropped off a running boat that had some slop in the throttle cable causing the prop to not engage. I asked for diag, JUST DIAG. After an entire week I finally get a call saying it needs a new shift cable. I tell them I'm on my way to pick it up and they say its not ready. SEVEN HOURS LATER I get a call that it's ready. I pick up my boat and find massive problems. To start, my air cleaner stem is broken clean off the carb. Next, the shift cable was clearly messed with and is now engaging the prop in neutral, but not in forward or reverse. I have found several loose nuts that were not loose before being dropped off. My boat won't even start. Again, I dropped off a running boat. I asked for diag, not for my boat to be ripped apart. The service manager Brian tells me they didn't take anything apart, another service advisor claims they didn't take anything apart. If you took nothing apart on my boat, then why did it take the entire day for you to pull it back outside? My boat is in FAR WORSE condition than when I dropped it off. I have pictures and videos of the boat before picking it up. Clearly, they took it apart, broke my carb, messed with my shift cable, and now they don't want to admit to their mistakes. Which explains why they didn't charge me for the diagnostic fee or even write up an invoice. As someone who works at a trailer dealership I am appalled by how Skipper Buds conducted business with me. I am even more disappointed to say that skipper buds has come to my trailer dealership for parts and service and we have done nothing but take care of them. 0 stars would be more appropriate for Skipper Buds service department. I can assure you my dealership would NEVER leave customers high and dry like this.
Had an excellent experience renting a boat at SkipperBud's. Interactions with the associates were all positive throughout the experience. Everything was well organized with the reservation and vessel; clear and thorough safety and operator instructions were provided while getting on the vessel; the boat was clean and in well maintained condition. It made for a very pleasurable boating experience on Cass Lake! Would definitely look forward to renting from here again and would recommend SkipperBud's to others as well.
