Feeling the boat less pain lately after selling my dad's 25 feet Senator Council.it was way too handy having it dry stacked a mile from the house. 14 years of good fun though.

I have one of our 18 foot hot rods that we used to build but it has been years and it needs a full resto and I neither have the funds or place to do it currently.

Thank god I have many many friends with boats, But there is nothing better than taking the helm of your own boat ,whether it is a 12 footer with a 15 horse or a Beak Boat with some skanks and worn out 330s in it.

When ever I see someone getting out of boating on this site they are usually ditching some monster money sucking 40 footer with big power.

My thought is buy a 18 foot Donzi. All the fun ,all the style, and dirt cheap to own and run.

F *#CK IIIIT!!!!!!!!

http://www.fitsnews.com/wp-content/u...ning-money.jpg

Wrong thread.

This past summer I sold both of my boats and was power boat less for the first time in 15 years (I don't count the sunfish ). It was a really hard summer for us, lucky I knew a few people who had boats so I could borrow some and spend time on the water. Mid summer my brother and I went in on a cheap pontoon and rebuilt the seats, motor, deck and got on the water by the end of summer. In December I bought my hustler. I just picked up an 200hp outboard so now I got to find a hull to put it on! From zero to 2.5 boats!

It is too much of our ways of life to be without one. I felt lost with no boats and spend way too much time looking for new ones. And I'm still always looking! It's an obsession.

Find a smaller, cheaper boat to get out on the water again and save your pennies until you can get back into it!

Had boats for 30+ years. Sold my 336 Formula 2 years ago (Member here) and spent that last 2 years remodeling the house and sprucing up the grounds. Promised myself when all was done (To wifes satisfaction) I would buy another. Picked up a sweet 21' Cat to play with this year. Did I miss the boat??? Hell yes, but the old Nag became the sweetheart I married again.:whistle:

While were confessing. After 27 years of 5 different boats and a corvette in the garage, I sold them in
2014. I live across from a small lake and get to go out as much as I want. Buddy keeps his boat
On my street. Must be getting old.

Needless to say I'm lucky that my Dad has a boat that I can drive in. It's an 18' Checkmate. When I use my Dad's boat I go boating for 30 miles each time I'm out in it.

If I should ever get back to having a boat again. It'll be a performance boat that's 22' or smaller. Which would be ideal for where my parents have there lake house at.

I've went through several boats over the past few years, and the one smaller boat that I wish I still had is my XLT-185. They're all you really NEED for an inland lake, even though most of us end up with twofootitis. No big power, Alpha drives, capable of high 50's, a sunpad for the women, and a great hull.

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/5498468487.html
http://holland.craigslist.org/boa/5485959306.html
http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/bod/5487733136.html

We're going to end up turning your boatless thread into a buying guide!

I've been a boater ever since I was 12 and my parents bought a 15' Arkansas Traveler w/40hp Johnson, it was the mid 60s and I was hooked, bought my first boat when I was 21yo and had seven boats since then, somehow they just keep getting bigger.

Other than a ten sint from the mid 80s to mid 90s when I had to sell so I could get away from my first Wife, I've alwyas had a boat, it killed me to go to the LOTO without a boat, those days were like torture.

We've had this 353 for almost 15 years and I tried to sell it, but it's been such a good running perfect boat I just haven't been able to let it go, it's the old adage, if it ain't broke don't fix it, that's me.

I have this nightmare that whatever I buy will be a money pit and I'll be kicking myself in the azz, boats can be a PITA, but they're also the most relaxing enjoyable times I've had in my life with friends and Family.

Hope things work out for you quickly so you can get back into a new ride, good luck.

If you have to explain it, you're trying to convince yourself.

It's okay to take a few years off. Life is lived more than 4-5 years at a time. I sold my boat, truck etc. in 2010 for pennies on the dollar. Made it back at closing on a good house buy and many times over with renovations and other smart time off. Spent 5 years playing house and kids and now back playing with a boat stress free. If the money and expense is what stresses you out, as it did me, it's time for a break not to quit.

Good luck!