How Much Does a DGS Monster Boat Cost?

Updated on October 2, 2026 | Written by Alec Pow
This article was researched using 9 sources. See our methodology and corrections policy.

A DGS Monster boat can cost roughly $115,000 to $300,000+, based on current and recent market evidence. Used and demonstration Monster 22 boats have recently been advertised around $115,000 to $140,000, while a 2020 Monster 28 was listed around $259,000. A highly customized professional DGS PRO 28 SAR fire-rescue vessel was awarded by the City of Coral Gables at $300,062 in late 2025.

DGS does not currently publish fixed retail prices for its new recreational Monster 22, 26, and 30 models, so a factory quote is necessary for an exact new-boat price. Engine choice, electronics, seating, fishing equipment, navigation gear, shock-mitigation equipment, trailer requirements, and other custom options can move the finished price substantially.

Article Highlights

• Current used or demo DGS Monster 22 examples are approximately $115,000 to $140,000 (at $30 per hour, earning that amount would take about 1.8 to 2.2 years of full-time work, before taxes).
• A used 2021 Monster 22 with 53 engine hours was advertised at $118,000.
• A 2020 Monster 28 listing was approximately $259,000.
• A custom DGS PRO 28 SAR fire-rescue vessel was awarded at $300,062 by Coral Gables in 2025.
• The current recreational DGS lineup consists of the Monster 22, Monster 26, and Monster 30.
• The Monster 26 comes standard with twin 250-hp outboards, while the Monster 30 uses twin 300-hp outboards.
• Fuel, insurance, engine service, storage, electronics, and trailer or marina costs can add thousands of dollars per year beyond the purchase price.

How Much Does a DGS Monster Boat Cost?

There is no current public MSRP table covering the entire DGS Monster lineup. DGS instead asks prospective buyers to contact the company for a quote, which makes current used listings and documented government purchases especially useful for establishing real-world price benchmarks.

DGS Example	Price Evidence
2023 Monster 22	About $115,000-$140,000 (about 1.8 to 2.2 years of full-time work at $30 per hour)
2022 Monster 22	$118,500
2021 Monster 22	$118,000
2020 Monster 28	About $259,000
2025 DGS PRO 28 SAR fire-rescue vessel	$300,062 contract value

A current listing from The Registry advertises a 2023 DGS Monster 22 at $140,000 and a 2022 example at $118,500. Those boats provide much stronger evidence for today’s Monster 22 market than the old $26,000 to $51,000 low-end estimate.

A separate Galati Yacht Sales listing has advertised a 2023 Monster 22 around $115,000.

Another used 2021 Monster 22 listed through DailyBoats was offered at $118,000. That vessel had a 300-hp Mercury outboard and only 53 recorded engine hours.

Older Monster 28

Previous-generation Monster 28 boats can be substantially more expensive than the smaller 22.

A 2020 DGS Monster 28 advertised in Fort Lauderdale carried an asking price of approximately $259,001 (about 4.2 years of full-time work at $30 per hour). That does not establish an official MSRP, but it demonstrates that better-equipped larger DGS boats have traded in a completely different price tier from the old article’s $76,000 starting figure.

The Monster 28 is no longer one of the three recreational models featured in DGS’s current public lineup. The present recreational range centers on the Monster 22, Monster 26, and Monster 30.

A $300,062 DGS

One of the strongest current price references comes from an unusual source: a municipal procurement.

In November 2025, the City of Coral Gables approved DGS Boats to supply a custom 28-foot DGS PRO 28 SAR marine fire-rescue vessel.

The city’s official documentation placed the estimated total award at $300,062. The vessel was specified for fire suppression, emergency response, patient rescue and transport, dive operations, shallow-draft canals, and low-clearance bridges.

This should not be interpreted as the retail price of an ordinary recreational Monster 28. A search-and-rescue vessel carries professional emergency equipment and mission-specific customization that a leisure boat does not require. It does, however, provide a documented example of how far a custom DGS platform can move beyond $250,000 once outfitted for specialized service.

Current Models

The current DGS Monster lineup consists of three recreational models:

• Monster 22
• Monster 26
• Monster 30

DGS markets the boats as recreational and fishing vessels derived from technology and construction developed for tactical and military customers. The manufacturer’s wording is that the Monster is a “certified military boat designed for leisure and fishing use.”

That military positioning should be understood as a manufacturer claim about the boat’s design heritage, materials, testing, and professional applications rather than as an indication that purchasing one requires military connections or special access. Current used boats are publicly advertised through ordinary yacht brokers and marketplaces.

Monster 26

The current Monster 26 measures approximately 27 feet overall with a 9.5-foot beam.

DGS lists twin 250-hp outboards as standard equipment, giving the boat 500 hp in its standard configuration. Maximum permitted power is listed at 600 hp.

Other published specifications include:

• 150-gallon fuel capacity;
• 10 seated positions;
• approximately 6,200 pounds dry weight;
• 3,300-pound maximum load capacity;
• hybrid HDPE center console and hardtop;
• premium non-skid marine flooring;
• JL Marine audio.

No current MSRP is published on the manufacturer page. Given the current $115,000-plus Monster 22 market and the larger twin-engine powertrain of the 26, buyers should expect a substantially larger budget than the old article’s generalized $76,000 starting point, but an exact figure requires a current DGS quote.

Monster 30

The Monster 30 is approximately 31.5 feet overall with a 10.5-foot beam.

Standard propulsion is currently listed as twin 300-hp outboards, while the hull is rated for up to 800 total hp. The boat also carries a much larger 214-gallon fuel tank.

DGS lists seating for 12, dry weight of about 6,614 pounds, and maximum load capacity of 4,400 pounds.

The standard equipment list includes two military-style SHOXS shock-mitigation seats, an HDPE center console and hardtop, premium flooring, and a larger JL Marine audio setup.

The twin-engine arrangement alone gives the 30 a very different cost profile from the single-engine Monster 22, both at purchase and throughout ownership.

What Changes Price?

Boat size is the obvious first factor. Moving from 22 feet to 26 or 30 feet increases hull material, seating, deck area, fuel capacity, hardware, and transport requirements.

Propulsion is an even larger factor. The Monster 26 uses twin 250-hp outboards and the Monster 30 comes standard with twin 300s. A twin-engine package costs much more to purchase and maintain than a single-engine installation.

Electronics can add thousands. Large multifunction displays, sonar, radar, VHF equipment, autopilot, night vision, cameras, premium audio, and additional navigation equipment can materially change the final build.

Seating and mission equipment matter. Shock-mitigation seats are much more specialized than conventional marine seating. Fishing equipment, dive hardware, commercial or emergency gear, storage, lighting, and communications systems can further alter the quote.

Professional configurations are in another category. The $300,062 Coral Gables rescue boat is a useful demonstration of what happens when a recreational-size platform becomes a specialized working vessel.

The Hidden Price

Purchase price is only the beginning for a boat with 300 to 600 or more horsepower.

The Monster 30’s 214-gallon fuel tank is a useful illustration. If marine gasoline were $5 per gallon, filling an empty tank would cost about:

214 × $5 = $1,070.

At $6 per gallon, one complete fill would cost $1,284.

The Monster 26’s 150-gallon tank would cost about $750 at $5 per gallon or $900 at $6.

A full tank does not mean every outing consumes the entire capacity, but these numbers show why fuel deserves its own ownership budget on twin high-horsepower boats.

Insurance, registration, marina or dry-stack storage, trailer costs, engine servicing, batteries, electronics, cleaning, safety equipment, winterization in colder regions, and depreciation add further recurring expenses.

Current boat-ownership guidance from YachtWorld suggests budgeting broadly around 10% to 20% of boat value annually for maintenance and operating expenses as a planning rule, although an individual trailer-kept DGS can land well outside that range depending on usage.

Worked Example

Consider a buyer purchasing a used Monster 22 for $118,500.

First-Year Item	Example Cost
Used Monster 22	$118,500
Pre-purchase survey / inspections	$1,500
Registration, tax and initial fees	$7,000
Insurance	$2,000
Engine and routine service reserve	$2,500
Storage / marina reserve	$4,000
Fuel budget	$5,000
Example first-year total	$140,500

This hypothetical owner spends approximately $22,000 beyond the purchase price in the first year, or about 19% more than the $118,500 listing price. Taxes, marina rates, insurance, fuel use, and service requirements vary enormously, so the example is meant to show the categories rather than predict every owner’s bill.

At earnings of $30 per hour, a $118,500 Monster 22 represents 3,950 hours of gross earnings. A $259,000 Monster 28 represents about 8,633 hours, while the $300,062 professional SAR vessel equals roughly 10,002 hours.

Maintenance Claims

DGS strongly markets the hull as a low-maintenance alternative to conventional fiberglass construction.

The company currently describes its hull material as having high impact resistance and low marine-growth adhesion and uses phrases such as “zero hull maintenance.”

Those statements should be interpreted specifically as manufacturer claims regarding the hull material. They do not mean the entire boat costs nothing to maintain.

Outboard engines still require scheduled oil and filter changes, gearcase service, water-pump and impeller attention, spark plugs and other maintenance according to their manufacturer schedules. Batteries, steering, pumps, electrical equipment, electronics, upholstery, flooring, trim, and safety equipment also require maintenance or eventual replacement.

A twin-engine Monster 26 or Monster 30 effectively has two major propulsion systems to service rather than one.

Damage and Polishing

The old claim that owners never need to spend money repairing or polishing a DGS is too broad.

DGS does specifically promote high impact resistance, low fouling, and a hull construction intended to tolerate harsher use than conventional recreational boats. The company also says fouling can be cleaned from the hull after time in the water.

But no recreational vessel should be treated as incapable of damage. Engines, propellers, lower units, electronics, seats, windshields, consoles, wiring, pumps, and hardware remain physical components that can wear, fail, or be damaged.

The more useful financial distinction is that the DGS hull may avoid some of the gelcoat cracking, polishing, and cosmetic fiberglass work associated with conventional fiberglass hulls, while the rest of the vessel still needs normal marine maintenance.

Warranty

DGS’s current public model pages refer buyers to the company’s Limited Warranty terms, but the current pages we verified do not clearly publish a blanket 10-year structural warranty with enough detail to support repeating the old article’s promise as written.

A buyer should therefore obtain the current warranty document directly from DGS before purchase and confirm:

• the structural-hull warranty period;
• whether it transfers to a second owner;
• which hull components are covered;
• commercial versus recreational exclusions;
• whether impact damage is excluded despite the impact-resistant construction;
• the separate warranty on engines, electronics, seating, and accessories.

The outboards normally have their own manufacturer’s warranty rather than being covered entirely by the hull manufacturer’s structural warranty.

Buying Used

Current evidence does not support the old suggestion that a typical used DGS costs only $70,000 to $120,000. The used and demonstration Monster 22 examples we found cluster more tightly around $115,000 to $140,000, while larger previous-generation boats can cost much more.

A 2021 Monster 22 was advertised at $118,000, a 2022 example at $118,500, and a 2023 example has been offered around $115,000. Another 2023 factory-demo boat was previously listed at $130,000.

Because production volume is low, there may not be enough used DGS boats on the market at any one time to establish a reliable depreciation curve.

A pre-purchase survey is particularly valuable on a specialized boat. Buyers should verify hull condition, engine hours and service records, lower units, steering, electrical equipment, electronics, fuel system, shock seats, pumps, trailer if included, and all title and registration paperwork.

What Is Military Grade?

DGS’s military background is real enough to merit discussion, but “military grade” should not be treated as a universal technical specification by itself.

DGS says it has designed and manufactured tactical boats for military customers since 2007 and currently describes the Monster as a certified military boat adapted for leisure and fishing.

There is also recent public-sector evidence that professional agencies continue to evaluate DGS equipment. Coral Gables selected DGS for its 28-foot SAR vessel after a competitive 2025 procurement process involving four submitted bids.

The city’s specification called for a high-performance, low-maintenance fire-rescue boat capable of operating in shallow canals and coastal waterways. That supports DGS’s continued professional application much better than simply repeating marketing language about a boat being indestructible.

Monster or Conventional Boat?

A DGS Monster does not compete on price with an ordinary entry-level center console. Buyers are paying for unusual hull construction, styling, limited production, specialized engineering, and in the larger models, substantial twin-engine power.

If the objective is simply fishing or family cruising, many conventional fiberglass boats cost substantially less. The DGS proposition is more specialized: a rugged recreational boat with tactical design heritage and uncommon construction.

For comparison with another working fishing vessel, see our guide to the cost of a tuna boat. For much larger specialized military equipment, our articles on the cost of a submarine and cost of a battle tank provide additional context.

What We Verified

We checked the current DGS lineup and specifications, live and recent used-boat listings, dealer inventory, and a 2025 municipal DGS procurement. Current evidence supports a market starting around $115,000 for used or demo Monster 22 examples, with larger and more specialized DGS platforms reaching approximately $250,000 to $300,000+.

We also corrected the old model lineup and removed unsupported certainty around used prices, zero maintenance, damage resistance, and warranty coverage. DGS currently advertises the Monster 22, 26, and 30 recreational models, while the verified $300,062 price relates specifically to a custom professional DGS PRO 28 SAR vessel.

Answers to Common Questions

How much does a DGS Monster boat cost?

Current market evidence puts used or demo Monster 22 boats around $115,000 to $140,000. Larger previous-generation and professional DGS boats have reached approximately $259,000 to $300,000+. DGS does not currently publish fixed MSRPs for its new recreational lineup, so new boats require a quote.

How much is a used DGS Monster 22?

Recent examples include approximately $115,000, $118,000, $118,500, $130,000, and $140,000, depending on year, condition, engine hours, seller, and equipment.

What engines does a DGS Monster use?

The current Monster 26 is listed with twin 250-hp outboards as standard equipment, while the Monster 30 comes with twin 300-hp outboards. Engine configuration on Monster 22 and older boats can vary by build and year.

Are DGS Monster boats really military boats?

DGS says its recreational Monster range is derived from the company’s tactical boat experience and describes the boats as military-certified designs adapted for leisure and fishing. DGS also continues to supply professional vessels, including the DGS PRO 28 SAR selected by Coral Gables for fire-rescue service in 2025.

Are DGS Monster boats maintenance-free?

No boat is literally maintenance-free. DGS promotes its hull material as having very low maintenance, high impact resistance, and low fouling, but engines, propellers, steering, electrical equipment, electronics, pumps, batteries, seats, and safety equipment still require service and eventual replacement.

Is buying a used DGS Monster worth considering?

Yes, particularly because current used Monster 22 prices can be well below the cost of larger DGS configurations. However, the market is small, so have the boat surveyed, verify engine hours and maintenance records, inspect all equipment, and confirm title, warranty transfer, and build specifications before purchasing.