Study: Owning A Boat Not Worth It

I know boats are a leasure toy. You can add RV/TRAILERS, MOTORCYCLES, JET SKIS, ATV'S, AND SNOMOBILES. You don't here about the people who have these TOYS AND HOW MUCH THEY COST.

BAMBAM
1974 SRV 193
GREAT BOAT!!!!!
 
That's 'cause they cost less than the house : )
 
Boating is FUN, MEMORABLE, PEACEFUL, ETC... thus...

the times I've spent on a boat have been...

PRICELESS!
 
Some of my favorite times are just like tonight's going to be. Leaving work at 10:30pm, and going straight to the boat for a drink, some music, and a great night's sleep at the dock - with the wife.
 
OK, one more. Read it today flying back from San Diego

"You cannot control how you die, but you CAN control how you live"

No more words needed.
 
Wait a minute... I bought the boat strictly as a monetary investment.... Now I'm screwed :smt021
 
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370Dancer said:
"You cannot control how you die, but you CAN control how you live"
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Although I could argue the dying part-I won't. The truth about owning a boat,for me anyways is: one day-my kids will be all grown up. The times that we have spent(and will spend) together on the boat are PRICELESS! The memories,the pictures,the feelings,no amount of money can buy that. So screw it. I own a hole in the water that I throw money into-wouldn't have it any other way.:smt001
 
Mike-n-Jolie said:
Although I could argue the dying part-I won't. The truth about owning a boat,for me anyways is: one day-my kids will be all grown up. The times that we have spent(and will spend) together on the boat are PRICELESS! The memories,the pictures,the feelings,no amount of money can buy that. So screw it. I own a hole in the water that I throw money into-wouldn't have it any other way.:smt001
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Well said. Time flies, kids grow too fast.

Take a "decent" vacation and you can easily invest $10-$15k (i.e. a 7 day cruise). When you get home, you have memories and a handful of photos from the trip. Depending on where you went, you may still be nursing a nasty rash as well!

Famlies that play together, stay together. (We hope!)

We have so many great memories from not just this summer, but from all the others. Our kids and their friends just love the boat and all that comes with it. Boating is more than wax and gas, it's stolen moments spent with those close to you and the opportunity to really focus on what's important. Life moves so quickly. When we cast off and have less than 400 sq feet in which to move about, we learn an awful lot about what's going on in our kids lives. We talk, we listen and we love it.

It costs money? Sure. But so does everything else from Disney to the local summer fair. At the end of this journey, the boat won't be worth much, but it will be worth something, and the day we sell/trade it, I will remember the times we are having and how special they were.
 
Against The Wind said:
I DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ THAT STUDY.... GOTTA STOP FOR GAS IN MY TRUCK ON THE WAY TO THE BOAT, AND AT THE BEER STORE, AND AT THE DELI, AND AT THE BOAT SUPPLY STORE FOR SOME CLEANERS, WAXES, FLUIDS, DOCK LINES ETC., SHOOT OVER TO THE TACKLE STORE FOR SOME NEW LURES THAT WE LOST LAST WEEK, HURRY AND GET TO THE FUEL DOCK TO FILL 'ER UP, HANG THE NEW DECORATIONS THE ADMIRAL GOT FOR THE BOAT,

SOOO. THIS STUDY BISICALLY SAYS BOATING COST $$:huh:
I'M CONFUSED, I'LL HAVE TO READ THE STUDY....:lol::smt043:lol:
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:lol:

I love "the onion"...they have some good spoofs in there. Good find Doug.
 
On a serious note, we grew up with a Maine lake house that had belonged to my great grandparents. And while completely paid for somewhere in the 30's or 40's, my parents and my mother's siblings and cousins, insisted that every waking free moment was spent at this place. Which while beautiful, and where I began to learn to boat and fish, got very tedious at a young age. This is in part why I voted to sell to some yahoo who wanted to build a McMansion because there were too many cousins and too few days in the year.

It also explains why my wife and I made the effort to vacation in places like Tuscany and Provence. In part because my work took me to Europe, but also because we had never had the opportunity to vacation outside of New England growing up.

In light of what is clearly a very privileged childhood, and even more privileged adult life, I an say that the best bang for the buck has been the purchase of Bella. Will it work out economically? I doubt it. My only regret is not doing it sooner.

Henry
 
The study reminds me of one they did on dryland wheat farming in Eastern Washington back in the 80's. The result of the study was that farmers should grow more fallow to maximize profits. Well, fallow is the year we DON'T grow crops to allow the ground to recover! Sheesh! What a bunch of baboons!

You can't put a value on boating. It beats sitting around in the A/C staring at the boob tube!
 
I'm sure most have not seen my posts about the problems I've had with my SB engine. It's been a nightmare. But the truth of the matter is that we have missed two weekends this entire season...and that was with me kicking and screeming. We arrive Friday night and leave Sunday night. Total nights spent in slip...2. My boat wintered right next to the lift because it was one of th last ones out. The generator is to make breakfast and charge the batteries (darn Dora the Explorer!). We boat until three blankets just doesn't cut it any more. Our kids love it. My 19 month old jumps off the swim platform already. I can't live without it. The Sassafras River on the North end of the Chesapeake Bay is my slice of heaven.

Some say it's an expense for sure. I say it's a lifestyle. Boaters don't like to boat, or even love it...they simply can't do without it.

Work to live...live to boat!

Jon
 
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I'll finish the season with about 60 hours. That's 120 hours in the 2 years that I have owned my 300DA. All things considered, ie payment's, insurance, slip, winterization, storage, Spring commisioning, etc. I figure it's only about 800.00 an hour... not counting gas (no joke) That said, I think it's definately worth it!:grin:
 
Bridog said:
I'll finish the season with about 60 hours. That's 120 hours in the 2 years that I have owned my 300DA. All things considered, ie payment's, insurance, slip, winterization, storage, Spring commisioning, etc. I figure it's only about 800.00 an hour... not counting gas (no joke) That said, I think it's definately worth it!:grin:
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My 340 costs more than a twin engine airplane, when determined by the operating hour. But, when you get to the destination airport, the plane sits. When we get to our boating destination, the fun continues - on the boat. So, If you figure it by the hour on the boat, I think I got it down to $20/hour. At that, it's a good thing I don't include food and drinks or the price would go way back up!
 
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