To buy a boat . . . or not . . . can't decide

[Sho'Nuff]

I cannot fathom being at a camp on the shore of a lake and not having a boat. Tubing, water skiing, fishing, going for a ride (presuming a decent sized lake, and not some 4 square mile pond) - and Maine appears to have plenty of lakes where you can actually go for a ride and it not be like going for a ride in a car and driving from one end of a parking lot to the other.

Get the boat. I'm completely unfamiliar with the one you're looking at, but would caution you to compare replacement parts with other brands. Apparently, Volvo-Penta parts are hella more expensive than other brands - not by a margin of 10 or 20%, but more like 200-300% more expensive for certain parts. E.g., multiple boat mechanics amazed that the water pump on my boat needed to be completely replaced for a leaky seal. It was impossible to just replace the seal. Other boats: $25 d-i-y; my boat: $400 d-i-y.

Thanks for your comments. The lake we are on is over 12 miles long and if we want a longer trip, we can go through a series of locks into one of the largest and deepest lakes in all of Maine (deeper than Winnepesaukee, though a bit smaller). FWIW - I used to own a jet ski and it would take 12 minutes to go from end to end at wide open throttle (~60 MPH). So - we wouldn't be going in circles all day.

Also FWIW - the boat would be stored and permanently docked at our camp dock - easy access all summer. Will only have to put it in and take it out once.

As for the engines - Yamaha marine engines are really easy to maintain. The hardest part is getting to them!

 

[3chordcharlie]

Understood. The maintenance is one reason I am looking into jet drives, as they are really easy to maintain and winterize. And the Yamaha marine jet engine has a reputation for reliability.

As to renting a boat - there is a place to do that on our lake. But it is VERY expensive. As in $500 a day.

Compare that to purchase, maintenance, depreciation insurance, etc. I bet renting the boat 2-5 times per year is much cheaper than owning it.

I mean buy it if you want to own it, but it won't make any financial sense.

 

[tynopik]

maybe get a sailboat instead

 

[3chordcharlie]

maybe get a sailboat instead

I've never had more fun than being 12 and booting around a lake in a little laser II or sunfish with a buddy. Something you can safely capsize and recover.

BUT this was before seadoos were common and I'm not sure how safe and fun it would be on a modern busy cottage lake.

 

[JoeyM]

I live on a lake, I have a boat, I use it almost every day in the summer and would immediately buy another boat if something happened to my present boat. We fish, ski, cruise and visit neighbors/other boaters all the time. My kids are getting old enough to take the boat out by themselves and often go out with their friends. Other than cleaning, I do very little to no maintenance. I have the marina guys fix anything that breaks, winterize it, detail it as needed. It probably costs about $2000/year to maintain. My boat is a 21 ft outboard (Yamaha 150hp) from 2007.

If you live on a decent sized lake and can afford it, you should buy a boat.

Joe M

 

[olds]

Before:

After:

There's no way I'd stay on a lake without a boat.
That being said, it it's cold in the winter there, storage is tough on them. They need to be indoors, not parked in a driveway or anywhere outside.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

The low speed handling issues have largely been addressed in the newer dual engine boats. I've driven and docked many jet boats and they honestly are not that much different from an inboard outboard if you ask me. In fact once you get used to pulsing the throttles I think they are MORE maneuverable at low speed.

FWIW - this boat if purchased will be a exclusively a freshwater lake boat.

Sounds like you've got it all figured out. good luck, enjoy, and post pics

 

[IronWing]

If it flys, floats, or f*cks then rent don't buy is how the saying goes.

The version I learned was:
If it feeds, floats, f@#%s, or flies; it's cheaper to rent than buy.

 

[cbrunny]

Get a sail boat. We have a 16 ft hobie cat at our summer place. Hella fun. We got that sucker up to a bit under 15 mph on nothing but wind, and we are really just learning how to sail it still. Plus no motor, no electrical, no repair bills.

We have a laser that we've had since the 60s. Other than a few patch jobs, the thing is good as new. That is a fun boat to learn on. Really agile and great sensation of speed when you hike out in a good wind. Just watch out for the boom. That thing hurts.

 

[olds]

Get a sail boat. We have a 16 ft hobie cat at our summer place. Hella fun. We got that sucker up to a bit under 15 mph on nothing but wind....

What else would you use?

 

[slag]

Webster: Boat- a hole in the water that you throw $$ into.

That said, if you're there a lot, go for it. The one I got rid of a couple of years ago was a garage boat.:\

Edit: I see Hank beat me to it.

That's actually not the definition of boat in the merriam webster dictionary. Boats are fun. People who don't take care of things have problems with their boats. Like anything, maintenance is key and if you own a boat, you should know how to do simple things like keep it dry so it doesn't rot, change out batteries, outdrive and oil fluids, change bellows, water pump impellers, etc. Normal simple mechanical things.
If you don't maintain what you have, you will have issues.

 

[highland145]

That's actually not the definition of boat in the merriam webster dictionary. Boats are fun. People who don't take care of things have problems with their boats. Like anything, maintenance is key and if you own a boat, you should know how to do simple things like keep it dry so it doesn't rot, change out batteries, outdrive and oil fluids, change bellows, water pump impellers, etc. Normal simple mechanical things.
If you don't maintain what you have, you will have issues.

 

[Beer4Me]

If you got the money, go for it. IF you can afford the maintenance, and you've done your research, do it. Who cares what these guys say, it's your money and your family. Go make some memories.

 

[Markbnj]

If you can afford to own, maintain, and operate it and you'll have the time to use it, why not? I wouldn't personally own a boat as a recreational vehicle or toy (as opposed to living/traveling aboard one for extended periods), but lots and lots of people do. Having worked in a boatyard for a few years I've seen all different sorts. My favorite people were the folks who could barely afford the storage and mooring fees, but they were down there every weekend working on their baby because they love the water. My least favorite were the wealthy douchebags who never used their million-dollar bauble but if they did happen to show up it better be freaking perfect in every detail.

The other posters aren't exaggerating the costs, btw. Boatyards and marinas are efficient extractors of wealth from the well-heeled and aspirants to that class. Expect 10%, roughly, of hull value in yearly maintenance costs.

 

[tynopik]

What else would you use?

oars

 

[GagHalfrunt]

That's actually not the definition of boat in the merriam webster dictionary. Boats are fun. People who don't take care of things have problems with their boats. Like anything, maintenance is key and if you own a boat, you should know how to do simple things like keep it dry so it doesn't rot, change out batteries, outdrive and oil fluids, change bellows, water pump impellers, etc. Normal simple mechanical things.
If you don't maintain what you have, you will have issues.

That's the whole point. Boats are either a shitload of work or a shitload of money. If you're not completely committed to boat ownership you're going to resent doing the work which will lead to spending a lot of money which you're also going to resent.

 

[Artdeco]

LOL, agreed, you need 2 boats, you can score a used Hobie for next to nothing, and I promise the kids will love it. Either a 14 or a 16. I've had a 16 and a handful of sailboards, great exercise, teaches you some discipline and fun as hell.

 

[nk215]

I would buy a boat if I were in your shoe.

Growing up, my best childhood memories are with my dad doing awesome things together. The memory is priceless.

A lake, a summer cabin/camp and a boat are just the correct ingredients to build great memories on.

Realistically speaking, you only have a few years until your kids start playing summer sport to forge a bond. The kids will eventually come back during college summers if the bond is strong enough.

 

[purbeast0]

if you can afford it and will use it, i say go for it. boats own and there is nothing better than being out on the water.

if your kids are into sports, they will definitely be into water sports. knee boarding, water skiing, tubing. all of that stuff is so much fun. and you can go fishing with the kids as well.

EDIT:

my dad had a boat for some years while we grew up and some of my best childhood memories were on that thing. we would go out with the whole family from when the sun came up and stay out until nearly when the sun went down. long fun days out on the water.

 

[JulesMaximus]

oars

Or pedal power! Cyclists unite! :sneaky:

 

[RGUN]

The answer of course is yes buy a boat. Personally I don't think the Yamaha jet boat (or any jet boat) makes a compelling argument over conventional drives. My recollection is that they use considerably more fuel than OB or IO, and the claim that they can tolerate shallow water is dubious. The owners manual likely states that you risk sucking up sand/rocks into the jet damaging wear rings / impellors in any water under 3ft. Combine that with potential clogs from weeds / growth and I'd be more comfortable running a trimmed OB or IO in any questionable water.

Another point - if it is going to be stored in water all season you might consider aluminum. Check the owners manual, but I believe most recommend 3 weeks max in the water at any given time for an unprotected (fiberglass) hull.

 

[cbrunny]

Or pedal power! Cyclists unite! :sneaky:

Your wife will love it.

 

[GRIFFIN1]

Water skiing, wake boarding, tubeing, fishing, and teenage girls in bikinis are all the summer sports your son will need.

 

[Ns1]

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that's next level shit right there.

 

[NoCreativity]

You misunderstand me. I love the water. My kids love the water. I grew up on the water as a kid.

I do not like a giant floating deck that you put around on at 2 MPH. I.e., my father in law's Pontoon boat. Not my idea of fun. Its plenty of fun when we are parked and dive jump off. But otherwise I can't imagine owning ANY type of pontoon boat.

This looks promissing