Who would do it all over again??
 

I often hear people say that the best thing a new boater (someone looking to buy their first boat) could do is find another hobby. Not because boating isn't great, but because of all the time, money, and headaches that come with owning a boat. So this got me thinking....

If you got to start over, would you get into boating? Or would you do something else with all of that time and money spent on the water?

Well, my "previous" hobby was airplanes, so yes, I'd do it all over again :)

I would honestly do the airplane thing all over again too...

I guess I never learn, the three F's:

If it...

Flies
Floats or
F%^&$


...It's cheaper to rent it. I've owned 'em all! :lolhit:

Yes

I didn't make the choice. My parents bred it into me and raised me around it. Without it I would have to go back 42 years and start over.

Buck

Like leave all your money in the bank so your family can fight over it when your gone ? Not a chance the guy with the most toy's win's . :bunnydance::bunnydance:

I know a lot of guys say that the fuel is no big deal but it is going to slow me down this year a LOT. So I am going to get a lot of use out of the 18 Donzi and my wife is looking at Pontoons. That will keep us on the water for a lot less money.

i can,t imagine life without boating,my last 2 boats have been winter projects,that,s how i make it threw the winter,LETS GO BOATING!

In a heartbeat, I grew up on my grandpa's sailboat. Nothing intrigued me more then watching a high performance boat pass by. (god rest his soul)!!!!!

Yes , but i wish OSO would have been around . There is no one around here that knows chit about marine performance . I sure wasted alot of money and time learning what you can and can not do .....:angry-smiley-038:....don't tell the wife....:party-smiley-004:

lol i work with a guy that had planes, he says "i dont mind being a has been"...

i say the same thing about fuel. this year will be the worst without a doubt though. it will make a difference but im still holding on tight to loud and fast...

Thats a really good question! I LOVE my time on the water with friends and family, the road trips, 4th of July, Seafair, poker runs etc BUT I live in Seattle where we only have a 4 month (at best) boating season...That being said there is alot of the year that you pay for the boat that you dont use.

I think I would still want to own a boat but probably go older and skip the payments. That way you only pay for fuel and maintenance which is only incurred when you actually get to use it.

I have no issue with the time I spend working on it or using it!

It is my hobby and my wife and 2 sons love boating as well. I could get out of it and spend my $$ elsewhere, but why???? We all enjoy it as a family. Also, boating is about a lot more than just owning, maintaining and driving a boat around. Its about getting together with freinds on the water and having fun.
I have given up or reduced interest(and $$ spent) in other hobbies to boat. I definately have no regrets and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

i was raised around it my dad and his friends all had boats its some of my best memories of time spent with dad and i hope my daughter will say the same but for me the bug did bite me when i was young although i have strayed with other hobbys i do always end up back with a boat or two

Yep, no question. I grew up spending time on my uncle's 19 foot ski boat and him and all his buddys would race each other to see who was the fastest. Saw the Miami Vice boats and knew I had to have one. Once I had a job that paid enough I bought my first boat and never looked back. that was 20 years ago....the only reason i will ever sell my boat, is to buy another one. Can't imagine how boring my summer would be without one.

Yep,
It's what keeps my sane, especially, since my job these days is INSANE!

I think about this a couple times a day and as of right now NO. Bigger boat and bigger truck this year.As soon as I get on the water for the first time this year Im sure that answer will change to a YES.

I would do it again, but I'm at the point where I could sell it and not miss it...as long as I live SOMEWHERE ELSE. While I am still in Chi-town, it makes sense to use our greatest natural resource.

i love boats and boating, if i had a house on the water and more $$$ I would have more than one, great thing about florida is you can boat year round. Nothing like being out there on the ocean.

I tell my friends that I think drugs would be cheaper, less painful and easier to kick ;)

Agree with the statement above. Did offroad trucks, race cars, planes and boats. I don't regret a single moment but I could walk away.

Strangely enough, if I lived in a much better climate like Florida, I could give up boating a lot easier. I'd probably get sucked in down there as well, but probably only on the West coast. I was debating whether I'd even get a slip this year. Then I started to think about how dull the summer would be without the boat.

No way would I ever get out completely, I have been wanting a performance boat since I can remeber. Grew up on the water. I was 3 days old when my parents first took me out on their formula.

Your freinds boat is the best boat but nothing feels as good as lighting the fires in your own boat and shoving off.

LC

When I think about all the money I've spent on cars and boating over the years I realize if I hadn't wasted all the money on those things, I could probably be really close to retiring today (no joke). Instead it looks like I'll be working for another 15 years or so. I've had some great times and I love having all the 'toys', but everyday while I'm sitting at work I certainly question if it was all worth it!!!

I'm always looking at other boats (typically more expensive), if I had half a brain I'd be looking to sell all my crap and just pick up a nice 28-30' OB CC and learn to be content! At the 'end of the day' I'm sure I'd be a lot happier!

I too have looked at all the $$ I have spent on the 10 boats I have owned over all the years too.... I would probobly be retired now also, except I be CRAZY!:whistle:

I would do it all over again, but I would go bigger....and faster...and louder...:evilb:

I've been without a boat for 5 weeks of my entire life (not by choice, fire).

When the tornado crushed my winter boat (yes, we have a boat just for use during the winter), I had a replacement before we even got the other boat out of the water.... It isn't really an option to not have some way to get out on the water.

No I wouldn't want to give it up. Been on the water my hole life. retired after 27 years in the Coast Guard. Been flying for 20 years years, sold last plane 3 yrs ago. Still miss it some. Can't kick the boating thing. Live on the water, have a 50 ft long covered boat house with lift 40 feet from my back door. Too many great memories with great friends to give it up. The good out last all the bad. Been working on the Top Gun for a year, new Kondrads drives, build two new Merlins tall deck 555 cuin engines over winter, dyno 630 tq last week. New transom last summer. Maybe a couple weeks of afternoon work and engines will be going in. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't think it is a train comming at me this time. After all the money and time over the years it's only going to cost me a pontoon boat for the wife, she has waited years forme to get her one. Still keeping the Top Gun. Let the party start next month.

Didn't have a choice...brought up around offshore racing and fast boats....it was something we did as a family. Unfortunately my dad was also into quads and snowmobiles...and well, I've followed in his footsteps there too. Sold my performance boat last year, and just have a little bow rider to get me out there in the meantime....I guess my priorities have shifted some in the past year or two (for now). I think as long as it's not ruining you financially, go for it. My mechanic used to joke that it's too bad my dad wasn't a world champion knitter, because I'd have a lot more $$ in my pocket.


And the old saying is true, you can't put a price on a good time.

DIng Ding WE have a WInner!!!!!

I have had a fantastic time with it. Adventures and stories to tell unavailable by any other venue.
I centered around "the life" for 20+ years and got some of the best it had to offer...
with that said, as I get older and try to cover many more interests on a 'lil less energy and seemingly alot less time than 20 years ago...
I question the extent of the committment. I'd never loose my affinity for getting out on the waterand would like to pass it on, but a sinpler, easier, less expensive mode would be OK and enjoyable for me now.
plus I'm 3 years into a relationship that brings 4 children. The perf thing is just impractical
Now that's a life I've never lived, one of those other newfound interests I spoke of...

so yea I'd do it again, of course!
but at different places in life I'd be doing it differently.

I'll always own a boat, it's in the DNA !!!!!!

I would do again also, but if I had the knowledge of the boats I do now, I would definately do it differently......

"There is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".

I can't imagine not being on the water. It is the motion that comes from being in a boat that I enjoy. While I love performance boats as being the most capable boat simply for the sake of boating, I have never met a boat I did not enjoy being on. Sail, cruise, pontoon, dinghy etc. They're all great.

As mentioned in a previous post on this thread, the only problem is finding others to share this passion. Around here, the only boaters are fishermen or skiers. The boating is secondary.

Dan

I too was brought up boating, Drag racing and snowmobiling. With 2 young kids, I sold the Mustang when my son (4) born and just sold the last snowmbile, last fall. We are on our 3rd boat and injoying every minute of every summer as a family.

My favorit saying is, cant put a price on fun!!!!

I am living the dream I had as a kid watching all the offshore races and go fasts of my youth! I love being on the water and couldn't imagine not owning some type of boat and with my lack of patience, it has to be somewhat quick! Down the road, the hardcore go fast may soften a bit but there will be a performance background in it some where.

I'm out right now (sold the boat a couple months ago) but will get another (bigger) boat as soon as I can. I even thought about buying a cheap little run about just to cruise the harbor until I can get another performance boat.

I do a lot of other stuff (Harleys, off roading, hot rods, etc) but I find boating to be the most exhilarating and relaxing hobby. There is nothing like running high speed in big water in the ocean. And the thrill of running with a bunch of other boats can't be beat. Watching the other boats wave jumping at the same time you are just puts a smile on my face. When you see one of your buddies hit a big hole and hang in the air I just grin because I know the exact feeling they are experiencing.

At the same time, there is nothing like running out a few miles off the coast and then just shutting down and floating. We almost always see dolphins when we go out and it is so cool to stop and watch and listen to them as they go by you.

Or just sitting in the boat at the dock, having some drinks and eats, relaxing with good friends. I love hanging at the marina in the evening after all the non-boat people have left. We'll set up the tables on the dock with our BBQ grill, coolers, etc and have a little party. Other boaters will drift by and join us regardless if the they are cruiser people or even blow boaters.

And it's always fun to go dingy cruising around the marina, taking your cooler of drinks to share with other boaters.

So for me it's not just owning a boat but the experiences you have because you boat.

Well said...you just saved me a lot of typing.lol

I say the same thing. But we also know tey would be less fun than boats.

Great post!!