Most boat owners are a bit nuts, but holding on to a boat you’re not getting enough enjoyment from is plain stupid. If there’s something else you can comfortably own that will give you more pleasure, go ahead and make the change.

RR

Thanks for everyone's feedback. A new boat will be bottom painted and on a mooring or in a slip. I want to be able to get to the water 24X7 if the mood strikes. Yes, I will have a trailer for the occasional lake trips and cleaning, but no boater commuter duties!

The Fountain is question is a 2006 496HO 35 Lightning twin step. Ours since new and it has....wait for it....160 hours.

Life changes and so does boating styles. I am going to downsize this year as well. We aren't weekending in a marina anymore and have a lake house. Our old boating friends now have families and aren't out as often, and many went to pontoons.

I absolutely love my 380, it really is my dream boat, but as you said, trailer boating seems to be a lot of trouble some days, especially when I hardly have the time to wax that much hull. It really is overkill for a day boat river-runner which is how I have used it the past couple years.

I will be replacing it with two boats though, one fishing boat in the water all the time, and a 28'-ish single engine rocket at home in the garage that can be pulled out on a whim for a river run and cleaned quickly.

If I can swing it I would be interested,,,,, 160 hour 496HO's,,,, and a trailer that works in salt. Yup

I went through this dilemma.

Grew up on bass-boats, my first boats were cabin cruisers, then bought a ski boat. Found my way to a 31, then 38 Formula.

I sold the 98 mph 38 and bought a 21 ft CC with a 150 yamaha 12 years ago. Loved the switch and still have that boat. Had been trailering for 15 years at the time so that did not impacted boating.

A couple years ago I wanted a "big" boat again and bought a Formula 400ss kept in a slip. All summer I leave work on Fridays (sometimes Thursdays) and head straight to the bay (75 miles away). I spend 60+ night a year on the boat and have put 400 hours on it in 3 summers. It's one of the best decisions I've made!

So........Different boats are made to do different things WELL. As our boating desires change, buy a boat that does THAT well. Sure, I miss a fast cigarette boat once/twice a year.....but I LOVE this boat the other 50 weeks a year! (actually, I wish I could bring it home in the winter to tinker with but the advantages outweigh that negative)

If you no longer have fun, sell the boat.

I have been in a different situation: I was sport boat-less for more than 10 years after rolling a small cat, taking a helicopter ride to the hospital and selling the wreck to someone who was good with fiberglass repairs. When the time was right and the right boat crossed my path, I got back into a bigger cat. But I missed having a fast boat of my own the whole time.

In your case, it does not seem that you get that much pleasure out of the Fountain any more.

A big bowrider with the largest engine available is sometimes a nice compromise. For me, with kids it made more sense to have the space and a full head compartment. But I still have a big block & thru hull exhaust. It's not fast by any means but it's not bad for a family boat. I keep it in a slip and pull it every month to clean the bottom (freshwater). Performance CCs are the wave of the future. However, for me, I can't seen not having the roar of a big block!

Sold the Skater 15 yrs ago when to a center console, getting tired of that now, just can't decide whats next. Have a small house on the lake so I would rater sleep in my own bed so. Cuddy cabin is a hard pass. I trailer always and the boats live in a barn 24/7. I think change is good, but not sure what that is.

Good luck with your change.

If you're gonna have toys, they oughta be toys you like playing with.

this is deceptive, You never owned a cigarette. You were a Formula guy!!!!