Anyone familiar with boats?

[LuvOrlando]

So we totally love the water but aren't familiar with boats and are considering getting one next year. I'm thinking we would spend way more time in a lake than a bay, but the bay would probably happen once a year. I love being on the ocean but don't trust it so open water isn't likely.

The trouble for us is we are landlocked so whatever we get would need to have a cabin that can fit 4 adults to avoid hotel costs. I would also like some seating above the cabin because the kids are getting older and will be bringing friends, a boyfriend & a girlfriend soon enough.

If anyone has any models to suggest I look at during the research phase I'd be very appreciative. Thanks.

 

[Monte Cristo]

I am going to assume you are talking about motor boats. Sounds like you would want a cuddy cabin or a full cruiser based on you saying it would need to sleep 4. That's going to be tight in a cuddy. We have a 28 foot cruiser and that would be doable with 4 adults.

The difference between the 2 is a cuddy cabin you won't be able to stand fully up in while the cruiser you will. The cruiser will also have a lot more amenities....like full toilet, shower, Air conditioning, cooking facilities, and more. Both will have cockpits that are very friendly for entertaining.

What are you going to do with it? Water sports, or just motoring around and hanging out? If you want water sports, you have to make sure you have a strong engine. The most we have done is tubing, and my boat is heavy and she GUZZLES gas when doing the tubing. It's ok for the limited amount of times tubing, but if I were going to do that a lot, I would get a smaller boat designed for that.


Also, are you going to trailer it or keep it at a marina? Lots of costs involved with either choice. If you are going to trailer it, do you have a vehicle that can safely pull it? If you are going to keep it at the marina, there are slip charges that around here are $150 per foot for slip space.

Lots of maintenance costs as well....winterizing, spring commissioning, supplies, etc. My engine just overheated 2 weeks ago and it cost me $800 to fix it. (Barnacles in the outdrive).

The most popular brands out there are Sea Ray, Chaparral, Four Winns, Monterey, amongst many others. Sea Ray is the most popular, but I stayed away from them as I didn't think their quality was up to the level of the Chaparral which is the brand I bought.

Now with all that said, we have a lot of fun. We joined a yacht club in RI and we have made a lot of new friends. With a boat, it's easy to make friends and entertain. We go to Block Island often, go up on the sand bars and go quahogging almost every weekend, and just sit back and enjoy.

If you don't know a lot about boating, please take a boating safety course. The Coast Guard auxiliary offers them around here.

Let me know if you have any other questions....I do know a lot about sailboats also....as I have a 24 Hunter for sale. I could give you a deal on that if you're interested!!!

Check out www.boattrader.com and www.yachtworld.com for boats for sale. I found mine on boat trader and bought it from a guy in VA and had it shipped up to RI...A lot of great deals out there right now with people wanting to get out from underneath their boats.

 

[minkydog]

Boat: A hole in the water you pour money into.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Boat: A hole in the water you pour money into.

Cliche, but true. As long as you go into boating knowing that...

 

[minkydog]

Cliche, but true. As long as you go into boating knowing that...

Yeah, my brother is a boat mechanic in the Outer Banks.He goes to work in his 27ft cruiser. Lucky for him he can work on his own boat, cuz it costs a MINT if you have to get it worked on. He says he doesn't even roll out of bed for less than $45/hr.

 

[tonilea]

Boat: A hole in the water you pour money into.

That is exactly what I was going to say.

Plus in our case, boat trouble is big trouble. I don't know what it is, but my normally mild mannered husband turns into a raging idiot with boat trouble.

The first year we used our boat quite a bit, then next year not so much and by the third year, it was a very expensive lawn ornament.

Now, if we want to use a boat, we rent one. It is so much cheaper that way.

 

[Ceila]

Whatever you buy, make sure you take boating safety courses. I can't believe the number of clueless and dangerous boaters I see every year.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Sounds like getting a boat is a huge undertaking. From what you've all said maybe finding boats to rent for a season might be a good place to start. $200 for 1/2 or $400 for a whole day is $$$ but cheaper then all the expenses. Thanks for being so honest everyone, our friends with boats keep saying it's easy.

Boat safety courses are on the books whether we rent or buy, I have a healthy respect for the water which is why I want no part of the open ocean.

 

[msmayor]

I think its easier and cheaper to make friends with people who own boats.

 

[kristilew]

I think its easier and cheaper to make friends with people who own boats.

All of the joy, none of the pain. We give our friends a nice check towards gas bills each summer, always bring the drinks and snacks, and enjoy the heck out of their boat!

 

[J3nn78]

Break Out Another Thousand

Just be prepared for it being a money pit, no matter how new or expensive it is to start with

 

[mhsjax]

Here is another one,

The 2 happiest days of your life, the day you buy the boat and the day you sell the boat.

Seriously, please make sure this is something you want, we heard off of the above warnings and we live within minutes of the water, we have friends with boats, we are on them all the time, We bought one. OMG, What a pain in the butt.

You love it at first, then if you don't go out you feel guilty because you spent all this money for it, so you just can't justify doing something else for fun, and yet to take it out takes a ton of money. OUrs was only 27 feet with a large tank and it took about $350.00 to fill it up. Then all the cleaning you have to do after you pull it out.

Some people do live it but for the size you are getting it sound like it will be even more expensive. We had friend that had a boat with a cabin, 150 gallon tank, it took about $800.00 to fill it up.

Just be sure it is what you want and something that you will want to do instead of vacations, because you will probably feel like you have to get you money's worth out of it and we began to fell trapped by the boat.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Not to mention the times you cannot get out. The rivers are up here and boating becomes a little more dangerous. We usually go out on the Mississippi River. We have not been out yet. Of course we have been busy, which stinks. We do take our boat to Branson on TableRock as well.

You are looking at getting a very expensive boat that is not transported easily. As a boater, I would not want that. I don't have that kind of money.

We have a 24ft Crownline deck boat and 2 jet ski's. And yes they are a money suck.

 

[Pumbaa_]

we have a 22 ft boat with a cuddy cabin - good for napping, too small for 2 adults to sleep. We keep the boat in a marina during the season

the expenses add up fast! You look at a boat and see the price tag and say, hmmm, that is doable. Then you have to factor in all the other costs. Marina fees, insurance, bottom paint (if you leave it in the water this is a MUST), gas, winterizing, etc. For our boat, expenses run about 12k a year.

Sometimes I wonder if it is worth it, but my DH loves it and uses it at least 1-2 a week. I get down about 1 or 2 times a month and love it when we go out

Good luck and do lots of research!

 

[Snoopymom]

We bought a little place on a lake first so getting a boat was the easy decision

I don't think I'd own one if I had to trailer it or pay to store it, and if I could afford to spend 12K a year on one as someone mentioned, I'd definitely invest in a lakehouse, some great real estate deals out there right now, you might be surprised. Just a thought.

http://www.lakehouse.com/

 

[a1tinkfans]

we just SOLD ours this week

 

[mikehn]

If they are available in your area, maybe join one of those boat clubs for a year or two to see if your family is into it, then go from there. There are also a number of boating forums you can visit, such as, Thehulltruth. I also recommend attending a local boat show where you can see, climb aboard, and learn more about all the different makes and models. The local marinas will also be on hand to educate you on their services as well. Buying a boat isn't like buying a car. There's a pretty lengthy due diligence period.

 

[crazyme5kids]

My father was a fisherman and was a boat owner for as long as I can remember. For him, owning a boat was a joy, the expense was well worth it. It wasn't until his later years that having the boat wasn't feasible, not so much from a financial point, but it became more of a physical problem.

 

[Mimi1965]

Why do you have to sleep on it-is the water that far away?

We've always had a boat-but its open-18 foot-on a trailer.Dh uses it to fish-but we also use at lake to pull body boards or tubes behind-we keep it at home.

Its keeping it at a marina that is probably more expensive that the motel cots you are anticipating

Wanted to add-smaller boat requires smaller ( but still powerful) motor-much cheaper to run

 

[Disneycrazymom]

The only thing more expensive then our boat was the dock! Wow! $25000 for a hole with water with a little wood walkway! And then the upkeep\on both. Keeping DH from coming down with 2footits is a full time job too! If you love it then it is worth every $ (no need to use penny here) but be sure you LOVE it before you make the jump. Renting for a summer first is good advise.

I will add that for us all the money spent has really been an investment in family time for us. The time we spend at the lake is really peaceful and quality time for all of us. I am thankful for that time and that we have been able to do it.