To Boat Or Not To Boat

[bigtiller]

Boats with outboard motors are noisy, if you are moving, no one is talking. Pontoon boats are probably the most difficult boat type to load onto a trailer and need 2 people working in tandem, (boat & truck) to land.

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

We have a cottage on a lake that has been in the family for 45 years. We have always had a couple boats. Currently we have a early 90's pontoon with a 40hp Mariner two stroke that we recently replaced all the seats on. The other boat is a 2013 Bayliner 175 I/O that I use to pull the kids around with. Both boats have their advantages and disadvantages depending on what you want to do. As far as maint is concerned the two stroke can be winterized in about 20 minutes. The Bayliner takes a few hours. If you don't want to do any water sports the pontoon will be your best bet. You will definitely enjoy it. Couple of suggestions, get a bunk trailer instead of a cantilever trailer. The bunk trailer is a lot more stable because of the wider wheel base. As far as motors go a two stroke will be a little louder than a four stroke but since they are so simple they are easier to maintain than the four. If you keep the boat in a barn the cover will last a very long time and you won't have to mess with shrink wrap in the winter. If you do want to keep it outside in the winter you can buy shrink wrap kits and do if for a fraction of what people charge. The shrink wrap will keep it nice and dry all winter long.

 

[Looking4new]

If you try to run a pontoon boat through locks in a wind, have fun. They are not called 'wall bangers' for nothing.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Thanks for all the comments and insights. A lot of good points to consider have been posted and they will help us in making a decision.

After a little research, it looks like slip rental would run about $150mth. Not sure if the expense would be justified. Also found rentals for an equivalent pontoon run about $400+ per 6 hour day. If I knew I would be using the boat at least 7 or 8 times through the summer, the cost of new would cover itself in about 6 years.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Thanks for all the comments and insights. A lot of good points to consider have been posted and they will help us in making a decision.

After a little research, it looks like slip rental would run about $150mth. Not sure if the expense would be justified. Also found rentals for an equivalent pontoon run about $400+ per 6 hour day. If I knew I would be using the boat at least 7 or 8 times through the summer, the cost of new would cover itself in about 6 years.

Shoot for $150/month for a summer (?6 months?) why not try it. Of course you could trailer it the first season but I think the hassle of launching it and putting it back on the trailer will cause you to forego some trips to the lake that otherwise you would take.

Also if you get a used boat and determine you don't really use it often enough you can sell it in a couple of years and not loose what you would had you bought new.

I truly enjoyed my 30' sailboat I had for a few years. Bought it from my brother when he took ill. Had great times with him and later. I sold it a few years ago because my wife of a few years was just not into it and she had a cabin on a river and we just weren't using the boat enough. But I used the heck out of it for several years and never regret getting it.

Like I said earlier, you only live once. Do what makes you happy if you can afford it.

 

[Country Geek]

I live within 2 miles of a public boat launch myself and my family has owned lake property for decades so it seemed like a natural to get a boat. Big mistake.

Living close to the boat launch only reduces the hassle of the time it takes to drive there. It's still a major hassle to put in and pull out and you won't do it nearly as much as you think you will. Maybe I was just spoiled by the family lake house but if the boat isn't on the water full time, it's not going to get used as much as you think. And sitting unused is bad for any vehicle, including boats. In my case I would get the boat in the water and then 1/3 of the time it wouldn't start, likely from not being used enough. So haul it back out and take it in to be fixed. It got old quick but the straw that broke the camel's back was when I was towing it back from the repair shop, fresh and ready to go for the new season with everything finally working, and a dump truck going in the opposite direction lost a rock that shattered one of the boat's front windshields. It was a sign, I was happy to dump that boat and have never looked back.

 

[s219]

I have to admit, pontoon boats are really good for a lot of things, including fishing. My mother in law has one, and it makes a darn good fishing boat because of the flat floor and good walk around space. The rest of the family loves hanging out and cruising on it. Downside is limited speed, so it takes my mother in law 1 hour to make it from her dock to our dock, when it takes me 20 minutes in my center console boat. And also, the pontoon boat is mainly for calm waters, and doesn't have much rough water capability, so there are times when they can't take it out.

The funny experience I had -- after buying a nice family-friendly 19' center console fishing boat that is fast, has lots of seats, a big gas tank, and a very good rough water capability, is that my wife prefers that old slow pontoon boat. She complains about my new boat, and comments about wanting a pontoon all the time. Here I thought I was buying the ultimate boat, and really what she wanted was the old family clunker.

Since my new boat is called the "family sportsman", the whole situation sort of reminds me of the scenes in National Lampoons where Chevy Chase brings home the "wagon queen family trickster". They both look good on paper, but the family is not so thrilled....

On the subject of owing a boat, I'd say do it if you will have fun. You only live once, and you can't take the money with you when you croak. Financially it's probably never a great idea to own a boat, but they can be fun. They also create lots of chores and maintenance tasks, so make sure you're ready for that.

I agree with recommendations to look around for used boats first. Sometimes you can find a gem and save a lot of money.

 

[Ted Summey]

Never expect your boat to "hold value" they always depreciate with exceptions for classic or collector boats.

The only way to get your money's worth is to use the boat often. My family has owned boats for almost 40 years. I've owned my current boat for 15 years. It has thousands of hours on it. Any hobby costs money as does boating. The beauty of boating is multiple people can share the fun. Take your time and learn all you can about safe and fun boating. The return on investment is in memories with family and friends.

New outboards, especially the four strokes, are very reliable and extremely quiet. The Yamahas and Mercurys are nearly as quiet as the Honda outboards. I have an old two stroke 200 hp which is louder and less fuel efficient - if a boat can be fuel efficient.

Used is okay if you have confidence in evaluating used boats. New has the advantage of reliability and warranty but as mentioned above, will depreciate significantly in the first couple of years. If you expect to own a boat for a long time, new is the way to go. If you aren't sure about owning the boat for more than a few years, used will be better, assuming it is in good condition.

I will never go without a boat, boating is that much a part of our lives.

 

[Tollster]

Think about your storage, and trailering options. Pontoons can be large to cover and take up a lot of space when not in use. Be sure the decking is all aluminum, as mentioned, they are difficult to tow, and I have seen them roll off the trailer, requiring repair.

Try to get a four stroke mostly because performance is not a big need, and the gas mileage will be a big gain, maybe step up from the base engine so you can get it on a plane when needed to conserve fuel.. typically everyday loadout has a lot to do with this decision..

 

[Garandman]

Boats with outboard motors are noisy, if you are moving, no one is talking. Pontoon boats are probably the most difficult boat type to load onto a trailer and need 2 people working in tandem, (boat & truck) to land.

Beg to differ, the new four strokes are very quiet at low and moderate speeds and there's no smoke. Most pontoon boats seem to be operated at a leisurely pace.

We still have two small two stroke outboards for weight and performance reasons but the difference between the Yamaha 200 Ox66 we had and their new four strokes is night and day.

Try to get a four stroke mostly because performance is not a big need, and the gas mileage will be a big gain, maybe step up from the base engine so you can get it on a plane when needed to conserve fuel.. typically everyday loadout has a lot to do with this decision..

Anything newer than 2005 or so is going to be 4 stroke.

The new boat he was looking at had the Mercury Big Foot 40, a high torque model.