Boating getting too expensive

[ricohman]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

This is a lot cheaper than my other hobby, which is rock crawling in my off road toys. I've busted over 2K worth of parts on consecutive weekends.
And its far less stressfull.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Smaller boat, smaller motor = a lot less money for fuel, maintenance etc.

 

[Lakes84]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

If you start adding dollar amounts to hobbies, regardless of what they are, you'll put yourself quickly into a deep depression, I'm afraid. Having a boat allows me to escape the hum-drum/stressful aspects of everyday life. I get paid to work, because quite frankly, I have no choice but to do so. Since I commit 40+ hours to doing something I wished I didn't have to, I never add up the cost of the time spent doing the things I love. After all, it's only money and at the end of this journey, I won't be measured by dollar signs and decimal places. I'll be measured by how many happy days I accumulated over the years.

Man,aint that the truth! We use our boat from mid May to early Oct. We have a 33 foot camper sitting on Lake of the Woods. We drive 7 hours to get to our place from where we live. We do it virtually every weekend. Why? Because we work in Minneapolis and we love our down time and the world famous walleye fishing that LOW affords. It's about having a place that's your own, that you can go to and not go broke with the hotel prices (we lease a spot for 1100.00 a year). We stay up there a lot as we both work in high schools, so summers off. Yes, boating does off set the cheap living some what, but I've learned over the years that going a reasonable speed and missing 5 minutes of fishing sure beats having to fill up that tank a day sooner by going wot. That adds up quick. We leave the boat up there (400.00 a year for a slip) and take our car, so we use 75.00 in gas to go rest 7 hours away. We estimate, it costs us around 5000.00 a year total for everything. We cut corners to conserve like everyone else, but there comes a point where you just have to tell yourself. This is what I love doing and the memories made are going to be priceless one day. -Joe

 

[JimS123]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I figure it costs me about $225-300 each time I use the boat in the summer. More if something goes wrong. This includes fuel and amortized maintinence/repair costs. I do not have a boat payment.

...

OMG, do you only get out once a year? Or, do you have a yacht? Or, are your maintenance costs that high because you have a money pit? If you do proper PMs, use indoor storage and keep the boat in pristine condition what can go wrong?

You got me to thinking, so I crunched the numbers. I have several boats, so each doesn't get the use that our single boat did years ago. In any event, I used the "family" 19 footer to make the calcs.

First of all, I do 99% of the maintenance. About every 5-6 years i have a mobile mechanic come over and go thru everything. That's usually about $500, so I have to amortize that over 5 years. In between the PMs keep the boat in such good condition that maintenance costs aren't much beyond winterization. The boat was bought brand new for cash and is now 28 years old.

Anyway, its $76 per trip. That includes fuel, maintenance, insurance, registrations, gas for towcar, etc. If I divide the capital cost over 28 years that amounts to another $25-30 per trip.

With the price of divorce lawyers and shrinks,the serenity of the boat would still be worth it at your $300 trip price. If you have kids and take them too, you'll have a better chance of raising responsible adults, so that's another added benefit.

If gas goes to $20 a gallon maybe i'll get rid of the 5th boat...or maybe both the 4th and 5th. But if I have to give up boating altogether just shoot me.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Maybe consider getting a brand new boat so you don't have to worry about maintenance much. +1 for a smaller engine.
My pontoon boat doesn't cost me nearly that much, and I am financing it. Like "emoney" said, I am not going to count it out, but I am estimating that it comes in well under $100 per trip. If you are in a slip, that makes a huge difference though. Mine is on a trailer in a storage yard 3 miles from the launch.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

If it's not fun anymore stop doing it. Life is too short. Find something new and quit yer bitchin'

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

and any time the wife starts complaining about the cost of boating or similar hobbies, remind her it's cheaper than a girlfriend (something her mother should have taught her).

LOL. Just read this to the wife, no response. I agree, if you're not having fun anymore, get out of it. As been said, life is too short. Thing is, no matter what hobby, rec activity/vehicle a person gets into, it will cost money. Some just more than others......

 

[Flysfloatsor]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

So Ill give you an example.
Last week:
I changed the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and Ignition sensor (mine was really corroded). Not a big deal. I too like to tinker. Basic tune up, right?
I then took it to the mechanic shop to make sure the timing was correct because I dont own a timing light.
$385 later the timing was adjusted, oh but the carb had a vacume port that needed capped, and it a correct cap was SOOO hard to find. (literally said that)
I pay him, then I take it out, still not running right. I take it back. Maybe after $500 ill get to take it out next weekend.
This is how years of boating has gone for me, with multiple shops.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Good dial-back timing lights are usually <$75 there i just saved you one trips' worth

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Well, the rate is usually higher if you touched it yourself first

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

This is why I own an aluminum boat with a 50 hp 4 stroke that sips gas. It pushes me along at 32 mph and that's fast enough for me.

I wouldn't catch any more fish with a 300 hp motor.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Sounds like you could use a more honest shop. Yelp.com for the win!

 

[Flysfloatsor]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Well, the rate is usually higher if you touched it yourself first

I KNOW!!!

Oh, well. Ill prob try a toon for a little before I get out of the game totally.

 

[Quit It]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

If you start adding dollar amounts to hobbies, regardless of what they are, you'll put yourself quickly into a deep depression, I'm afraid.

Sad, but very true. The more fun it is the more it seems to cost. Even inexpensive hobby's costs add up.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I definitely agree the more you can use it the less occasional maintenance bothers you. I am on my boat 3+ times a week and this year I bought a battery at the beginning of the season and a new 12 gallon gas tank(treble hook found the last one).

Not bad for probably 50+ trips this season.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Genius - do they actually sell those new or is it a repurposed 2 stroke oil bottle?

I sell them new (without the clever labeling, of course).

 

[Flysfloatsor]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

The funny thing is, even with the 502 Mag, I only use about $40 in gas a trip, which I find reasonable. I trailer, so I am able to fill up at land gas stations.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

If you can trailer a boat you can set your timing.

My advice would be to brush up on your mechanical skills.

Tell that mechanic he is a con artist ... $385.00 to set the timing and plug a vac port.... come on!

 

[Flysfloatsor]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

If you can trailer a boat you can set your timing.

My advice would be to brush up on your mechanical skills.

Tell that mechanic he is a con artist ... $385.00 to set the timing and plug a vac port.... come on!

I agree, but I didnt have a timing light.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I agree, but I didnt have a timing light.

LOL.

Yea, but you could get a hell of a nice one for less than $385.00. Even off the tool truck!!!

I'm guessing you had know idea he was going to charge that much.