420/44 da

I think it's a bad idea to buy a boat (any boat!) to use one month a year. Frank is spot on. Boats- especially diesels- need to be used. Corrosion is your enemy...

Besides, your assumption that "buying and holding" now is a good move because prices may be higher in a few years is a pretty big leap- kind of like trying to time the market?
I believe the opposite, that buying now will cost you more in terms of depreciation and maintenance.

If you have only a month or so worth of time each year, why not consider a bareboat charter somewhere?
 
delayed gratification said:
Frank,
The boat would be kept in the Great Lakes, over 1,000 miles from home, until I fully retire. I left you a private message with the details. It would be run for 1 month. Many owners have their boats in dry storage for 8 months. My yearly hourly use would be similar to weekend use for an entire season. If maintanence is a problem, I may just need to wait a few more years. I was hoping to take advantage of the current buyers market, but not a good deal if I can't use it easily.
thanks, nick
Oklahoma City, OK
Click to expand...

I'm sure you have many reasons why you would keep the boat in the Great Lakes; however, If I was in Oklahoma and needing to go 1000 miles to my boat, I would keep it in Florida. At least you could use it all year long- if so desired, without having to winterize it. Good luck with your search.
 
Location for the boat was a no-brainer for us. I would much prefer the 12 month/ year season and boating in paradise, even though we are 500 miles away from our boat for 3-4 weeks at a time.

We have a couple of months in the winter reserved for maintenance and other activities, but when everyone else here is complaining about snow, we are in our spring cruising season. Then in fall when everyone else is worrying about winterizing and bilge heat, we are into our Fall cruising season.

What it boils to is that this level of boating becomes a lifestyle in which you make new friends, explore unknown locations, and enjoy an enviornment normally experienced only by wildlife. If you are a serious boater, you will not be happy with 11 months in storage.
 
I like my bilge heat. It ain't boating until you have to sweep the snow off the decks in the morning.
 
Yeah right,..............you don't see me complaining about the winds, seas, snow, etc. when all your guys are saying "I can't go because of the weather................"
 
Don't folks in Florida haul-out in the summer months for weather......:grin:
 
The point about chartering (tobnpr) is very valid. I have been chartering for several years on lLake michigan, Lake Erie, North Channel, Georgian Bay, etc. I enjoy fresh water cruising and have made several good friends up there. Only trawlers and sailboats available and I want to cruise faster than 6-7 knots. It has been fun, but I'm ready for a less environmentaly friendly alternative. I tried a thread on fractional ownership, but not much enthusiasm there (understandably).
I'm liking the Florida idea. It sounds like I would get less deterioration in salt water, than simply disuse in dry storage. I would also feel more justified in purchasing aboat I could use more now. I can always meet new friends. Boating people are great everywhere, as demonstrated on this site. It has truly been helpful to bounce ideas off experienced boaters with sound advice. Ihope I may continue to exploit your experience and enthusiasm as I try to get something done. Many thanks to all. nick
 
Nick,

I never got the PM..........

Care, maintenance and security while away are always problems for absentee owners. In my case, the reason I own a Sea Ray (probably!) is because I selected the dealer first and the boat second. I keep my boat at the local Sea Ray dealer's marina. The boat is in a covered slip about 300 ft. from the service manager's office and 200 ft. from the dock masters office so they can see it every time they come and go during the day. The marina has 24 hour security and the watchman's shack is behind my boat. I've been a customer for 20 years and bought 2 boats from the dealer. The other aspect of this situation that works extremely well is that the dealer has an excellent service department and haul out facilities. If there is something I can't or don't want to do myself, all it takes is a phone call to the service manager.

Maintaining a boat by phone (i.e. you call the service manager with your credit card number) can get very expensive, so I do most of my own maintenance. But this is a way to keep a boat hundreds of miles away from location without worrying about it. A lot of my slip neighbors live as far away as I do, come in on the weekend and their boats are clean, fueled and ready to go. Sure makes it nice if you either are not inclined to work on your boat or if you just don't have time.

Another fact to keep in mind is that Sea Ray dealers are only required to work on boats they sell. You cannot just assume that because its a Sea Ray that every dealer will service you. Current economics have a effect on that, but for the most part, a dealer will work on his customers boats first, then on customer's boats who did not buy from that dealer. In my location, in the winter when business is slow, they take in anyone who will pay a bill; however, from Spring to Fall, boats not purchased from the dealer have a very long wait for service........sometimes 3-4 months. But this is a big marina with about 100 boats in the water and another 650 in dry stack storage.

Slip space for a wide beam boat is sscarce in some locations. There is normally a waiting list for slips for a 14+ ft. beam where we are. This alone may make a case for buying from a ddealer who has slips since you can make your deal contingent upon his storing your boat for you.

Absentee ownership is a little more complicated than just writing a check, huh?
 
Absentee ownership definitely complicated. Frank, your advice is invaluable. I was concerned about security and have heard stories. I will definitely consider who I purchase from. It would be very worthwile to have an interested party assist in maintanence and security ( I can't even send a PM correctly---I'll try again). Thanks
 
Skip said:
My wife, aided and abetted by a financial planner (who is probably a ragboter) assures me that there is no "next boat" in the near term.
Click to expand...

Come on Skip - my crystal ball says you have some MAN's in your future... on a bridge boat of course...

:grin:

Ryan
 
Nick...have you considered keeping the boat closer to home until you completely retire, and then moving the boat elsewhere? Since you are in OK City, you could use Grand Lake, Table Rock or Lake of the Ozarks. You would just be a few hours from home...and maybe get a lot more use from the boat. When you retire, have the boat hauled to the destination of your choice. Good luck with the hunt...
 
Nick, you could put it on Keystone and I'd be happy to run her for you.... :grin: There are several couples at our marina from OKC area that are weekenders.
 
It makes sense to have a boat much closer, in fact alot more sense than 1000 miles away. I'm originally from the Lake Michigan area and it has been a 20+ year dream to own a yacht and spend my summers cruising the Great Lakes. The Market/economic crash hit and I was too heavily weighted to equities to retire now. I have been searching Boats,Brands, websites, and boatshows for 2 years and I have been closing in on the dream and have settled on the Sea Ray brand after very close looks at Tiara and Riviera. I am not complaining AT ALL about not being able to retire. I am responsible for my decisions and I feel much more fortunate than many. HOWEVER, this boat fever just won't go away, and I keep trying to rationalize something that is not rational. I appreciate you letting me vent my ideas. It is helpful to hear from the only group of people who would understand-- other boat enthusiasts. I've waited this lon, and I am willing to wait a little longer as I consider all options. To parphrase an old Sea Ray motto, I don't want the thrill of new boat to be overshadowed by the sting of poor decision. Many thanks, nick
 
If you think you have boat fever now, wait until you demo a 420/44DA. It is quite a thrill to hear the turbos spool up, get pushed back in your seat, and to feel 45' and 14 tons of boat lift her tail and go. Three years owning a 420DA with 410 hours at the helm and I am not tired of the rush.

Skip
 
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