To Boat Or Not To Boat

[Garandman]

A boat, as in one?

I bet there is a substantial used market. You save a lot not only on the boat but used boats usually have additional gear like lines and GPS etc. 18' you can probably find someone going bigger.

Note that the weight capacity of that boat is 1220 lbs of people and 1750 total.

 

[bucktaker]

GO used!! you can find some good deals on lightly used units...... Think about your intended uses, 40 Hp is aweful low and slow... I would look for a 22 ft with 90=115 hp with a 4 stroke outboard. search CL and you can find plenty of options.

 

[square1]

The alternative is to use one of my 3 barn bays, and this would keep the boat out of the weather.

Yes, would not want it to get wet

 

[Looking4new]

Boats are a lot of fun and enjoyment, but remember that the bigger you go the more safety stuff you need. Like flares that expire after 4 years and you gotta replace. BUT you cannot get rid of the expired ones.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Sure boats and the associated costs add up. But you only live once. Get something and enjoy it.

I agree to look for something gently used. I don't know what the lakes are like near you
. See what other people on the lake have and get their opinions. Some place to tie it up at the lake rather than trailer it every time will cost more but add to the amount you use it and will add to your enjoyment.

 

[/pine]

There's an old saying..."the two happiest days in a boat owners life are the day they buy a boat and the day they sell the boat"

Also the definition of 'boat' : A hole in the water into which one pours money...

Being on the water is great fun but be sure to take a water safety course if you have no prior experience operating a boat etc...

 

[SSdoxie]

I have been avid boater for 20+ years. If you have hobbies that include being on/in water go for it. Pontoons are great for larger number of people, have grandkids smaller children on board, or just like to cruise and have the abilty get up and walk around in. I have both a 24' pontoon and a 20' fish & ski. Whcih one goes to the lake depends on what we plan to do or who goes with. Keep any boat under cover when stored and best if good venilation can get to it to prevent mold/mildew build up on the carpet and seats. Tracker is a decent product, most of them now have all aluminum deck so no worry aobut deck rotting with age. I rented a 24' pontoon one day before buying, that one had a 50 hp 4 stroke on it. After that day use I knew I wanted more HP because a strom came up guickly when we were 10 miles from the dock. We made it back before the storm caught up to us but just barely. I have 120 HP on my 24' and sometimes wish for more mainly for tubing, but that is why I now own a Fish & Ski for just going fishing or when the family comes along we will take both out so have pontoon for relaxing and swim deck and the boat for tubing.
I have thought about downsizing the potoon to an 18', but would not consider less than 60 HP 4 stroke on it.
Is a boat a "money pit"? Depends on maintenance. I have had the pontoon (purchased new) for 12 years and not counting gas & oil it has cost me $150 for a new rectifyier, $12.50 to have starter cleaned and rebuilt, and new battery @ about $100 every 4 years (take battery out every Fall, recharge it and let it sit on shelf until Spring.

One caution about trailering to the landing; make sure the landing has sufficient slope/water depth to off load. It does take deeper water to get my pontoon loaded and unloaded than my boat. We have one boat ramp in the area that has fairly flat ramp and is hard to use and in mid-summer if lake is down I can't use it.

And I agree with looking at well maintained used. There are alot of those out there, purchased new that after a few years sat more than ever uesd so people have decided to part with them.

 

[EddieWalker]

I grew up with boats. My parents love having a boat and taking us out for family camping trips at the lake a couple times a month. They had several types of boats, but always something related to family and water skiing. Then after the Marines, I had a job where several friends had boats, and I could go just about every weekend for just pitching in for gas money. Then I moved to Texas, bought some land and started a new career working for myself remodeling homes. Ten yeas later I meet a lady with a very nice, brand new ski boat. We go out to one of the local lakes and I start water skiing. It was then that I realized I no longer cared for it. In fact, it wasn't fun at all. I found out the same thing with roller coasters too!!!

Several of my clients have pontoon boats and sometimes after I'm done for the day, I get an invite to go for a ride and have a beer before heading home. This is a very nice experience and it got me to thinking I wanted a pontoon boat. The more I looked, the more I got into the search for the best boat out there. And the very day I was going to go and buy it, I looked back over the last couple of years and realized that I didn't have one single weekend that I didn't spend it doing something on the land. It stopped me cold, and I realized at that moment that while I wanted a boat and wanted to spend time out on the water doing nothing, I wanted to be home on the land, doing stuff there A LOT MORE!!!

It's been a couple years since I made that decision not to buy a boat. I don't regret it at all, and think back on it and realize that it would have been used a couple of times and then just sat there, in the way.

If you haven't been for years, you probably really are not that into it.

Eddie

 

[dmccarty]

A boat is a hole in the water in which you pour money.

A new boat will depreciate a good 30% in a few years.

Sounds like the wife got BuyerItis at the boat show which might cure itself if you leave the boat idea alone for a bit. :laughing:

Can you rent a boat somewhere? Even if you have to drive a few hours to rent I would do so. And rent different types of boats you are interested to see what you like and don't like. Try a rental for awhile and see what happens.

Later,
Dan

 

[DrRod]

Yes - rent a boat for the day at a nearby lake. You might find that that satisfies your curiosity. If not, rent again. Then again. Then again. Go every time you want. Then add it up. You'll be ahead by thousands [and hours]. Probably enough thousands to buy a motor home or camping trailer -- ehhh wait, that's another thing.