Boats are arguably one of the most useless vehicle classes in GTA Online.
There's almost nothing a boat can do better than another vehicle in GTA Online. Aside from appearing in certain missions and some races, there's rarely a reason to use boats over other vehicle classes in GTA Online.
They had a small niche in previous GTA games, but are sadly obsolete in the current GTA Online metagame.
Before the Cayo Perico Heist update was released, there hadn't been any new boats since the Further Adventures in Finance and Felony update (released in 2016). Not surprising, as there's not much Rockstar can do to make boats more desirable than other vehicle options like the Toreador.
Do boats have a future in GTA Online?
Boats will always be available in GTA Online, but are unlikely to be significant based on current trends. There are nearly two dozen boats in all of GTA Online, but they don't have the utility that other similarly sized vehicle classes do.
For example, helicopters are exceptionally useful for getting around most of the map, while boats are restricted to the sea.
As it stands now, there's not much reason to invest in boats in GTA Online. Whatever it can do, another vehicle can do better. It doesn't help that most ships are defenseless against the armed terrors seen in the current metagame.
Why boats are not viable
There is rarely a situation where GTA Online players want to use a boat instead of another vehicle. Even the most expensive boats are trumped by another vehicle option in GTA Online.
If players wish to dive, a Toreador will do. Not only can it go into the water, but it's significantly more viable for any free-mode shenanigans the player finds themselves in.
Not to mention most spend their time in the air or on land. Boats are useless for both methods of transport, which makes purchasing boats a very low priority for most players.
Unless they are needed like Kosatka is for the Cayo Perico Heist, most players will not buy boats in GTA Online.
How to make a more viable boat in GTA Online
There aren't many ways to guarantee that boats will become more viable in the future. However, there are some possibilities worth noting. Firstly, there might be something similar to the LS Car Meet from the Los Santos Tuners update, except with boats.
Related: Top 10 expensive bikes in GTA 5: pricing and detailsThe mere fact of having an area where only boats are available would guarantee that they would be the best vehicle possible in that circumstance. However, there would have to be something worthwhile in there that would force players to do so, which would likely be a massive content update in its own right.
More realistically, Rockstar could launch a flying boat. GTA Online is already absurd when it comes to unrealistic armed vehicles, there are already cars that go underwater and motorcycles that can fly.
Having a boat that can drive and/or fly would be silly, but it would technically make it more usable.
Note: This article reflects the writer's personal views.
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