NFT: Does anyone own a boat?

It’s a lot of fun to tool around the bay and I do enjoy working on it to keep it up and running, but that can be a hassle as well.

My costs are rock bottom. Buying a 35 year old boat kept the cost down and I do all the maintenance myself (very simple 1980s engine) and I don’t have to pay a marina for a slip. Still can spend a ton on gas, even my 17’ boat will rip through 10 gals of gas in no time.

I would recommend looking into one of those boat share programs for a summer before buying to make sure it’s something you want to invest in.

Fishing with some Tunes and good food/sandwiches.

It’s a lot of fun to tool around the bay and I do enjoy working on it to keep it up and running, but that can be a hassle as well.

My costs are rock bottom. Buying a 35 year old boat kept the cost down and I do all the maintenance myself (very simple 1980s engine) and I don’t have to pay a marina for a slip. Still can spend a ton on gas, even my 17’ boat will rip through 10 gals of gas in no time.

I would recommend looking into one of those boat share programs for a summer before buying to make sure it’s something you want to invest in.

Really enjoyed my time with it. Tubing, knee boarding, fishing. Just fun to get it out for a ride.

Did not use it enough though and was happy to sell it to someone with similar interests as mine through craigslist for fishing and family time. You have to use boats constantly. They don’t like to sit. Growing up I had access to boats and in the summer they were used pretty consistently all docked and ready to go. Garage kept and put in / out every time you use it is not the same.

I thought the same thing as you did with COVID but realistically I didn’t use it enough to justify keeping it in the garage taking up space, plus we recently upgraded to a van because the families getting bigger, I bought a used ping pong table that he takes up the space in the garage and the fact is we get a lot more family time from That then we ever got on the boat.

Didn’t have enough time to fish with it as I wanted. Work and life got in the way.

So you could sum it up by saying the two best days where when I bought it and sold it but that’s really not accurate. I was happy to let it go to someone who was in a better situation to use it.

17 ft bowrider I use.on intercoastal waterway. HOA rules state you have to keep it in your garage.so I was restricted in size. It's easily trailerable and stored it's fast tho cheap to maintain (Merc cruiser I/o).Storage is a pain and it only holds 4 adults comfortably tho it's rated for 7. I use it a few times a month and yes we enjoy it. Only thing to brag on it's the official boat of James Bond it's a Glastron

a few weeks back. Answers many of those questions although was about larger boats.

My advice is pretty much the same from that thread. Start by renting, you will save so much money over ownership in the beginning while learning about what style you like and about boats in general.

When they are working properly there is no better place for your soul than on the water. The sense of freedom and connection with nature is unparalleled.

Look into boating safety classes through your local Coast Guard Auxiliary. You'll get some confidence and learn things that will keep you out if trouble and potentially save your life
BBI boats - ( New Window )

Got it mid-20s and it was great for a few years. Went out at least once a week tubing, skiing, partying with friends. Didn't live on a lake so had to trailer it in/out every time, which wasn't terrible since it got us to try different lakes (I lived in MN at the time) and each has its own "personality".

Then I had kids and by the time you load it up with all the stuff for them, its not worth it and we found ourselves going out less and less so we sold it. If you've got kids that are 8+ it would be different.

has more show-off value.

My son and I went fishing on this beautiful day. If you value things like spending time with family and enjoying nature, then a boat isn't a bad thing.

I have a 16 foot v-hull/bass boat hybrid. The 4-stroke motor keeps maintenance easy. I really don't have to do much maintenance on the boat or trailer, except to get the trailer inspected once a year. I keep it in a shed at the back of my driveway, so it has a nice home when it is not in use.

Always promised to take me and my brothers fishing. I swear that boat never left his driveway.

Boats and hoes. I gotta have me my boats and hoes.

In comment 14908714 Mike from SI said:

Quote:

Boats and hoes. I gotta have me my boats and hoes.

Just LOL...

than own a boat.

1999 Sea Ray Express Cruiser 215. My family enjoys it very much. We only get a few decent months up here in northern New York to enjoy it. We take advantage of every opportunity we get to use it. I actually just got it out of storage yesterday and I’m looking forward to cleaning her up.

I enjoy the maintenance and upkeep, but I can see how it could turn someone off. A few years back, my father and I installed an extended swim platform which has been a great addition. The install was a nightmare! I just bought some carpeting and a new propeller. I look forward to installing them here shortly.

With the slip fee, storage fee, and winterization we are probably in about $1300 for the year.

I think renting is a great place to start.

I have a 2013 Chaparral cruiser.
I live in North Miami about a mile from my marina.
We use the boat(my wife and I)every week and usually get out for dinner at least 1 night a week.
We have cruised to the Bahamas a few times and enjoy going to the Keys.
My grandaughters when they are here love jumping off and swimming around the boat.
They think it"s really cool to do overnighters.
Renting is a good plan but is not boat ownership.
If you own the boat, you have to clean it, maintain it and use it plus a lot of other stuff.
If you let it sit, something will break.
Rent for a year and see if you even enjoy it.
If you feel you want to buy... go to a boat show and get on a lot of different size boats to see what you like.
I dont know if anyone is here from South Florida but if you see a big Giant emblem on the back, thats me.

I don't use it as much as I would like but I like to fish and be on the water if able to so I'm glad I got it. Being on the water is a nice getaway that can be enjoyed alone or with friends but it's especially nice with family. Building memories!

Its a big investment, time and money wise. I am out about 5K between INs\Marina\Towing, and whatever needs replacing each year. I ordered my boat and took delivery of it the summer of 2012, my mid set was as I been on fishing boat my wholelife, I found one that can both do the bay fishing I do, as well as sharking and tuna within reason and good weather. I THOUGHT hey its new, what MORE can I spend on going forward....
5K for a trailer to use 2x a year, upgraded electronics from the entry level including radar another 12K..Anyhow, I fish a lot, and days I just want to relax me and the wife just find a nice stretch of the eastern back of Fire Island and the waters are gin clear, good clamming and we do some BBQing together. Beaching the boat and wading and relax has us bringing family and neighbors along who say they never thought things like this ca be done on LI.. Its a lot of work keeping everything in order every year but you get to do things you just cant experience without a boat...A truer statement cannot be made, " BOAT stand for break out another thousand. Everything "marine" is more $$ so when looking for a boat consider what you can afford to spent yearly and go for it..

My wife and I spend most weekends from April through Thanksgiving traveling around the Chesapeake bay And it’s tributaries and we usually take a long week vacation to explore other coastal waters. It’s camping on the water for us. Most of our social circles revolve around the boat. We love it.

It is an expensive hobby that generally increases in direct proportion to the sized the vessel.