Being Boatless
 

My boat is officially sold. I'm now currently boatless. I don't know if I'll go back to boating again. I decided with the money to investments with some of it to make it grow. Once my car is done for I'll buy another vehicle. I would like a used2013 or older Chevy Silverado 1/2 ton with a crew cab and 4wd.

In 5 years I would not only like to have a place with a garage. But to get into another hobby. I've been getting interested into restoring Farm Tractors. Taking the tractor to parades, cruises, and shows. Get a custom wagon for the back and have my nephews ride in it. Something that's pre 1960. Either from the 40s or the 50s like a John Deere or a Ford.

Sold my PP a few years back, been boatless ever since...horrible. We decided to take care of a few things that financially would keep me out of boating for a while but after the last project this summer I should be back to saving for a new ride. I fully intend to spend the balance of my life on the water if I'm so fortunate. I don't care if I'm 80 and going out in a 12' sh!tbox, I'm a water dude and always will be.

With the sonic gone now and the Excursion listed for sale I am not sure what the boating future hold past something like a small CC to just hop around on as I can't be off the water entirely.

It Def helps having many many friends with big boy boats that I get to go on.

In time I want to say I will go big again but with the new biz, buying a home, selling the diesel truck, and all that. Just not sure what the future holds....we will see though.

I have an 18' 1974 jet boat with a 454. it runs in the 60's but feels like a go kart and is fun but most of all it is paid for and I only have about $2500 in the whole thing. got tired of always buying things that required payments or $500 to run for the weekend and a big building to store them in. we have a lot of fun and my buddy has a pontoon to ride around the lake on. I live out in the country so I do have an old 8N ford tractor and several classic cars to play with but mostly I tired of the expense of and up keep of bigger and better so I downsized.

We are a boating family so it is more than a toy to us. We use it as vacations and time away from work and the daily grind. My kids love it as much as I do so that makes it easy also. If it was a toy that just I could enjoy then it would be hard to justify the expense and the extra work. Actually how I made the jump into a big boat was I had a car that I had a ton of money in that just sat and when I did use it I had to leave my family at home. So I sold that bought the scarab. I still get my gearhead fix but get to do it around my girls. I'm a boater for life!!

Thank you all for your stories. I will say this I do know of people that are very knowledgeable of boats, cars, and tractors which is a good thing. Whenever I look for a toy to buy I always have a expert with me that knows there stuff. It's always good to have a second opinion.

Not having a boat is just crazy, I mean I get a little itchy when I am down to 2. Lol

More power to you for having a boat collection.

ouch sold boat for a john deer .. you will be back enjoy the new tractor .. wish you the best , to each his own you gota lucky nefew,

Rob, I didn't sell the boat to get a John Deere. I sold it because it would nice to have money. To invest my money wisely and let it grow. To really put a bit more money saved up more. Like I mentioned after my car is officialy done for I'll buy a used Chevy Truck. To also buy that time have the money for a down payment for a house that has a garage.

In 5 years I would like to restore an old school John Deere or Ford farm tractor from the 40s or the 50s. I'm sorry if I wasn't to clear. Thank you for wishing me the best of luck.

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!

I grew up around the chain o lakes. My brother and I bought our 1st boat when I was 12. 1972 welcraft tri-hull, we rebuilt and ran that boat for a few years. We moved through a few boats over the next 10 years and then girlfriends came, that turned into wives. I got out of it for awhile but as the kids got older I wanted them to have the experience that I had growing up around here. Damn craigslist sucked me back in about 6 years ago with a 4000.00 mirage 217. Then seeing how much my wife missed it and the kids enjoyed it.... now it's grown to 30ft and twins (292 formula).

I have always bought my toys right. Never over pay or go deeper than you can get out of in a hurry. There is nothing worse than having to get rid of a toy in a fire sale, but to loose money on it stings even more.

My brother....no desire to get a boat again. He doesn't understand the addiction anymore.

:nicethread:

I'm also lucky to have friends that own boats as well. As I mentioned earlier my Dad owns one as well. At least I can still get out on the water. He lets me drive his boat. He knows and trusts me with his boat. I also put gas into it when ever I use it. Which is nice. My Dad very much so appreciates it.

After having my boat on consignment I did pretty decent. I had the boat for 3 years. Only loosing $5,500 in 3 years not bad. Had I would've sold it myself only $2,500 loss. I'm glad I went with consignment. Grand Sport Center did a wonderful job of selling my boat. I would recommend them to anyone.

Which hustler did you buy?

Boated with my family my whole life. Got out of college and started working, parents sold their lake house in 2009. Didn't do much boating for a few years there. Nearly bought 29' sunseeker down at LOTO for a song right after I graduated in 2008 but pussied out due to the logistics. Man I regret that a lot.

On a hot sunny summer day the depression was pretty intense for me knowing there people on the river only miles away. Trying to rely on other people for my boating fix and not captaining was not good enough for me.

Then a buddy and I went in on this old regal that only needed elbow grease for $1k.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps78457fa6.jpg

Had a blast. I sold it to him. He got his GF pregnant and sold it.

Then one of my best friends died at 30 and I decided to start living more in the now.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...pswb28pyem.jpg

Put this on the lift at my parents place in FL during the winter and then up here in the summer. Put 110 hrs on it one year, burned at least $4200 in fuel. Drove it from st pete beach to key west and back, from peoria to STL. Been having a blast. Just did 600hr service on the engines.

Now granted I make almost double what I did when I graduated, I still could have had a reasonable boat those years. My buddies and I have nearly as much or more fun working on old boats. That being said, sometimes I think I want another boat!

A wife and kids could potentially change that, I don't know. We'll cross that bridge when we get there.

The white and orange 32 out of LOTO

http://imgur.com/elJqTtd

nick . I was just playing around .. didn't mean to think I was jabbing on you . I certainly wasn't .. I know you said invest youre money .. I wished you the best I believe and I meant it . youre not the only peson on this site without a float ... best of luck again too you and youre ventures ..

It's ok there Rob. I think when I get a place with a garage. Also a Chevy 1/2 ton truck. Then I'll be looking forward to restoring a farm tractor. Being able to fit an older one in the garage and restore it. Work on it when ever. Not having to worry about bad weather or the offseason getting in the way of me working on the tractor. If I run out of room in the garage for the tractor parts while doing restoration work. I'll use one of the bedrooms to store parts in.

Well thank you it means a lot. I'm the kind of person that enjoys a hobby that needs to be occupied with it. It beats sitting around and doing nothing in the evening or on the weekends after work.

Ive been without a boat before and it just eats me up inside every hot summer day--I just have to be on the water or I'm dying on the inside. IMO you buy your toy cash and enjoy it. The real problem for a lot of guys is the expense of payments, insurance maintenance and repairs.

I'm currently without one. Back in the market finally. Grew up on em. Did a stint in my 20s without as I moved around the country and spent too much time working for peanuts. Made a career change and happen to have get married. Back in with a 272 formula. Loved it again. Divorce and bye bye boat. Been dying to get another since. I currently have my dads 30 scarab sport sitting on my lift. And although I'm beyond appreciative to have this to use. It isn't mine and it isn't a performance boat. I guess for some the addiction is real. Lol. I will have another shortly.

On a side note I have a thread in fountain forum. Looking for 35-42 fountain. 40ish. If it's advertised I've seen it. If you have one or know someone who is selling and hasn't listed yet let me know. Haha. Good luck Nick.

Been boat less for three years , summer,90 degrees and social media make it tough ,,, all our friends still have boats and Facebook posts are tough as well as I'm friends with my last boats owner makes it harder , I'm not a rider I'm a driver so it's not easy , this summer I'm back in ! Found a boat and will be pulling the trigger in the next few months

I'll be going to a boat club meeting in two weeks. I'll let you know if anyone is selling a 35-42 Fountain.

WOW, I didn't realize there were so many that have taken a break! After 16 years of owning a boat I took a break and sold my boat two years ago. I can tell you that I miss being out there tearing it up. But, I don't miss the work and maintenance! And I was lucky and never had any major repairs in the entire 16 years. I have plenty of friends that have boats and they all offer for me to get behind the wheel. But, I don't drive other people's stuff like I drive mine so it's not the same.

I was hoping to get back in soon. But, a "friend" has screwed me out a a fairly large amount of money so a lawyer may be getting my money. :traurig001:

Been there, one of the reasons we got out in the first place.

Sucks doesn't it? I have let myself become obsessed with it and affect my life for too long. Just now starting to get out of the "funk" and just hoping for the best!

It's unfortunette to that your friend is a bad apple. That too would do it for me as far as boating goes. Being shafted like that. Needless to say I wouldn't want to be friends with that person at all anymore.

Sold my boat last month. I've had a boat for 20 yrs. The plan is to take a year off and evaluate how I feel.

Well, I'm already looking. I see a few boats that if they were closer, I probably would of already bought them.

I will say, I am DONE with I/O's and bravo drives. I'm going with OB's next time.

I'm on board with that too. Never again with I/O's

After a year off, my chiropractor called to see if I was still alive. :boat:

I've started helping out friends with their boats, is like rehab for your boating withdrawal...

Same here