I have been meaning to write this thread for awile and just never took the time. The purpose is not to say "look at me and how much I spent" the purpose is to inform people who are thinking about making the jump of the maintenance woes that can come. I will say that I have a good job that makes me work long hours so 70% of my heavy boat maintenance is out sourced. I change oil etc but if it gets into multi day projects I just don't have the time.

One big question is "Is it cheaper to buy an older boat and fix it up, or is it better to buy a newer boat with less problems?" Well for my second boat I chose a 1989 Sonic 30SS that was honestly in great shape. Only 400 hours on the boat and cost me half of what a 2000 and up model would cost. I haven't had the privelage of owning a newer boat but I have to beleive some of the same things would go wrong and need replacement. I would say I have $13k in "extra goodies" and I have $15k in purchases I had to make to continue boating. The $15k is spread out over 3 years of ownership which is roughly an extra $400 a month. This does not include gas etc just day to day maintenance to keep a 1989 twin engine boat up and running. You can look through the attachment below at some of the cost incurred and how pricey they can get. When they said Bust Out Another Thousand it's not a joke. I beleive you could probably get by cheaper than I have but I am a neat freak and can't stand for things to get done half way. You wont find duct tape or zip ties holding something together on my boat. Rather I do the work or a shop all the right tools and parts are put in place.

I hope someone out there finds this information useful. On top of these cost you can add gasoline which will run you a minimum of $50 when you launch. We have an island that is 6 miles downstream and I never put in less than $50 just to be safe. In reality its probably a $30 ride or so but you never want to run out in a boat this size. A holiday weekend can quickly turn into $300-$500 or more. If you are familiar with Kentucky Lake it takes us $200 to run to Fat Daddys to eat lunch.

I hate to see beautiful boats go to waste because someone wasnt prepared/aware of the upkeep cost. If anyone has any comments on the cost of owning boats less than 10 years old compared to my maintenance run ins I would love to hear them.

Nice job! I have a bucket of reciepts but if I ever have the idea to add it up Ill burn the bucket and start a sweet meth habit LOL.

I bought a 97 31 Sonic 2 years ago and have spent more than that but most was on fresh motors. I am still ahead of the game because of no payments along with repairs. Glad to see I'm not the only one that documents the expenses but it does hurt when I review the "Folder"

Two thoughts:

- Boating is not an investment, it is closer to a disease
- Never save your receipts

Can't help it nature of the beast....all my toys I save every receipt on for resale. I always like to know where something has been and who worked on it.

Not to mention its in the shop right now getting new swivel pins, rebuilt gimbals, new steering helm, tilt steer adapter..... Eventually everything but the hull (hopefully to God not the hull) will be replaced.... Then the first thing I fixed when I bought it will break again... vicious cycle

i would say this to people that are getting ready to buy a older boat.if you dont have the time/money and experance to work on a boat,or the desire,dont buy it.if you got alot of money,and dont mind spending it,buy a older boat.if you dont have alot of money,and do not know how to work on a boat,learn.the two go hand and hand.i wish that i had alot of money.i would have a new boat,and not working on a boat.jus my 2cents.

oh yea,one more thing.try not to think too much about the money.you going to blow someway.may as well be boating.

Yup....

Reads like a pretty normal list of stuff for a used boat "in great condition."

Been there.

Nice post.

Uncle Dave

Great post.

I remember sitting on the back deck of one of my cruisers on Lake Erie yrs ago having a cold one w/my dock neighbor. He asked what I was doing while I was doodling in a note book.
Told him I was figuring out what it cost per weekend (w/the short Ohio seasons) to sit on the boat.
He told me if I finished my math I'd sell the boat. He was right and I did.
I did that with one other boat and sold it soon after as well. I've never done it since.
I've got a 3" thick folder from the restoration of my current Sonic but refuse to add them up.
I am very lucky in that I am able/willing to do 100% of my work myself so there is no real (apparent) labor charge.
Even w/free labor you could buy a damn fine, 5 yrs old, virgin 30' offshore boat for what I've got in my 27 yr old antique.
One thing I've learned the hard way in life is that just because I "can" do the work myself doesn't mean it's the right/smart thing to do. I look at my friends that hired their work out while they put in the extra effort at work so they could afford to pay the help.
Wish I'd have been as smart as them.