New boat owners leaving the hobby

[Scott Danforth]

Interesting article, I personally disagree with its last line
"We have to find ways to show people that this is an option for them.”

It's selfish, but I do not want to encourage many OTHER PEOPLE to be out on the water

Those of us in the business need more people buying boats and boating accessories.....it pays our salaries

 

[Lou C]

It's not surprising given the price of purchase and running & storage costs.
I went to the Long Island Boat Show at the Nassau Coliseum and the bottom of the market is nearly gone. I saw 2 18' center consoles I would consider, everything else is way too expensive, if buying new.

 

[Mc Tool]

Interesting article, I personally disagree with its last line
"We have to find ways to show people that this is an option for them.”

It's selfish, but I do not want to encourage many OTHER PEOPLE to be out on the water

Yep me too . Im lucky that I can get out during the week when its not busy . We aint the fastest peeps at the ramp ( Mrs doesnt drive the boat or reverse the trailer ) and I dont like holding others up if its busy . Busy at our ramp means 10 cars/trailers in the carpark .

 

[FLATHEAD]

Yep me too . Im lucky that I can get out during the week when its not busy . We aint the fastest peeps at the ramp ( Mrs doesnt drive the boat or reverse the trailer ) and I dont like holding others up if its busy . Busy at our ramp means 10 cars/trailers in the carpark .

Eh, I launch solo a good bit. I’m pretty efficient and quick. If it’s busy I figure so be it. If I’m not fast enough for someone that’s their problem, not mine. I never allow myself to feel intimidated at the ramp

 

[Pmt133]

So long as I set everything up in the staging lanes (like you're supposed to) It's maybe 2 minutes between truck hitting the water and pulling out when solo? I'm usually gone before the three guys in front of me even have their boat running up at the lake but I just push off dad and he circles while I park. Bow in at the end hop on and back out. I also typically go down the middle since no one ever wants to do that at a 3 lane ramp...

 

[cyclops222]

The PM crapolla at several hundreds of dollars per hour ? + 300 % overcharging on parts. INFLATION every year is more than the last year.
DUUHH
Why I am only owning & using the bought brand new Lowe 16' with the bought brand new Evenrudes of 9.9 and 30 hp. Good enough for 600 ' from the dock and back.

 

[RGrew176]

I plan to keep boating as long as my health allows me to/ I am 75 and I have been boating since if was 15.

Now I did downsize to cut operational costs. My last cruiser was a 1981 Carver 3007 Aft Cabin. Operational costs were pretty high. A trip from Gibraltar Michigan to Put in Bay Ohio cost me $700 just for fuel the last time I chose to cruise there.

In 2021 I sold the Carver and bought a 2021 Tahoe T-16. I had lots of problems with the motor and it was pretty much a lost season. I only got out 4 times where the motor did not break down.

I traded in the Tahoe and bought a 2022 Stingray 182 SC that I have used for the past two seasons. I had a lot of fun with that boat but this past February at the Detroit Boat Show I traded in the Stingray for a 2023 Demo Sun Tracker Party Barge 22 DLX pontoon boat.

Because I launch and retrieve by myself most of the time I am hoping that I did not bite off more than I can chew by going this big, 24' overall length.
I guess I will find out when the season begins.

Looking forward to the 2025 season.

 

[jlh3rd]

My '06 twin tube pontoon is 24'. My tow vehicle is an'08 extended cab, long bed silverado. It's a long combination. Regardless, I load/unload myself.

 

[FunInDuhSun]

I plan to keep boating as long as my health allows me to/ I am 75 and I have been boating since if was 15.

Now I did downsize to cut operational costs. My last cruiser was a 1981 Carver 3007 Aft Cabin. Operational costs were pretty high. A trip from Gibraltar Michigan to Put in Bay Ohio cost me $700 just for fuel the last time I chose to cruise there.
In 2021 I sold the Carver…….
…….Looking forward to the 2025 season.

I’m in a similar situation. Have had our 34 footer for 21 years, I’m currently 68 and (fairly) healthy. We originally bought her to take at least one cruise per summer, but over the years they have reduced in length significantly due to a number of issues. With my age, I’m starting to wonder how much longer I can keep her. These days the big boat is essentially an apartment with a view, but I do take her out regularly because I love to sea kayak and use her as a mothership, often anchoring for a few days at a time- but not venturing more than about 50 miles from homeport. I usually go solo but can handle her just fine. Luckly, my cruising area is huge with tons of protected anchorages to run to if weather is an issue.
I do keep a modified 14’ jonboat (and probably put more hours/ season on it than the biggie), but it’s only good for fishing or a short day trip. I’m giving serious thought about finding a small cuddy that can be trailered so when the time comes, I can let go of the biggie without much regret.

The current stable:

 

[redneck joe]

remember, we have to have people that buy new boats to allow to buy used boats.

Dad has slides of me in diapers in his first wood boat with an 18 rude. 1967.

I have downsized to my retirement boat and at 59 I do not plan on changing and still have the physical ability to allow me to do (current) resto and mods to what I think i will need until i'm dead which is looking to be maybe around 80. We'll see.

Promised my wife if I decided this one is not what I want at some point in the future that I'm done and will bow out of the boating business and will hopefully die on a park bench at the lake with a beer and a pole in my hands, probably with a bag of bacon by my side.

All that said, i think pandemic money and reality is setting in and is why we see boats flooding the market.



***edit, if I win the lottery i wont say anything but there will be signs.....

 

[jlh3rd]

remember, we have to have people that buy new boats to allow to buy used boats.

Dad has slides of me in diapers in his first wood boat with an 18 rude. 1967.

I have downsized to my retirement boat and at 59 I do not plan on changing and still have the physical ability to allow me to do (current) resto and mods to what I think i will need until i'm dead which is looking to be maybe around 80. We'll see.

Promised my wife if I decided this one is not what I want at some point in the future that I'm done and will bow out of the boating business and will hopefully die on a park bench at the lake with a beer and a pole in my hands, probably with a bag of bacon by my side.

All that said, i think pandemic money and reality is setting in and is why we see boats flooding the market.



***edit, if I win the lottery i wont say anything but there will be signs.....


View attachment 406150

that's a downsize ?!.....

 

[jbcurt00]

that's a downsize ?!.....

No, that'd be the boat the lottery winnings provide...

 

[bajaman123]

Like many others on this forum I am sure, over the decades I have been boating I have introduced many, many people to the 'sport/hobby', I guess you'd call it. Just talking recreational boating, inland lakes...no offshore or commercial stuff. I would say that the number of people from that group still remaining is maybe 40%? And really, it comes down primarily to (3) things:

• loss of interest
• unexpected expense level - payments, fuel, insurance, maintenance, storage fees, marina fees, etc
• health

When the so-called "pandemic" hit and people were buying boats and campers and all sorts of similar items, there was bound to be a reciprocal fall-off, which was expected.
To me, the saddest stories are about the guy, maybe his wife as well, that truly LOVED boating and had all the happy memories of the kids and/or grandkids growing up on the boat, doing all the "lake things" until one day, those children were no longer children, and had lives of their own, and their interests no longer included lake time. Kind of like 'Puff the Magic Dragon' story...

 

[Pmt133]

Like many others on this forum I am sure, over the decades I have been boating I have introduced many, many people to the 'sport/hobby', I guess you'd call it. Just talking recreational boating, inland lakes...no offshore or commercial stuff. I would say that the number of people from that group still remaining is maybe 40%? And really, it comes down primarily to (3) things:

• loss of interest
• unexpected expense level - payments, fuel, insurance, maintenance, storage fees, marina fees, etc
• health

When the so-called "pandemic" hit and people were buying boats and campers and all sorts of similar items, there was bound to be a reciprocal fall-off, which was expected.
To me, the saddest stories are about the guy, maybe his wife as well, that truly LOVED boating and had all the happy memories of the kids and/or grandkids growing up on the boat, doing all the "lake things" until one day, those children were no longer children, and had lives of their own, and their interests no longer included lake time. Kind of like 'Puff the Magic Dragon' story...

For me it was actually the opposite. Most of my childhood (5~14 years old) dad worked 7 days a week and I didn't get to spend the time with him. Now (29) I do everything in my power to spend every waking minute on or at the boat with him. Don't get me wrong, it was a huge part of my childhood before 5 when he owned the marina and could do it but when we moved and he changed careers it was a maybe a once a month occurrence if we were lucky. When he got the 33 in 2010 that was game over. Sleep out on it, cook outs, it was a vacation without the extra expenses as it was comparably cheap for the year. It kills me when he talks about selling it and it really was what brought us back together.

My friends enjoy it too but like if I call dad and say let's go out, he's there always.

 

[RGrew176]

I have a lottery boat too if I were so lucky. Probably a 45' Formula or Cruisers. I also might look into a catamaran. One can dream.

 

[cyclops222]

My retirement boat would be a top floor apartment in the Clayton Hotel. Facing the St. Lawrence River below me. Spend all day watching the boats and freighters pass by.
I have had my brand new retirement boat and shared it with the wife to boating parties. Loss of hand and eyesight coordination has reduced my boating sizes. Been great fun.
The best to all of us.

 

[cyclops222]

On topic again.
It is impossible to buy a new car, house, 2nd house for summer, pay some of a education loan and have all on variable interest rates.
And have a storm destroy all / most of the items.
Luck is most important in a long life span.