On 1/5/12 8:21 AM, Tim wrote:
On Jan 5, 6:57 am, wrote:
On Jan 5, 3:02 am, wrote:









On Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:51:48 -0700,
wrote:

The cheapest way to own a boat is to use it a lot. Then your per hour
cost drops to a very low number.

Or rent it. Also saves patching up road chipping and the like. Better
gas millage too when getting there.

--

Most of the people I know would be thousands of dollars a year ahead
if they just rented a boat on the dozen days a year they actually go
out. By the time you amortize a $40,000 boat over the 40 or 50 times
they use it before it just rots on the lift and toss in the
maintenance headaches from stale gas and other things sitting around
unused causes, $150 an hour rental is a bargain. They usually end up
getting a few thousand on a trade in and start over, promising
themselves they will try to use the boat more next time.
We get out 3 times a week for a couple hours each and I figure boating
costs me less than $8-10 an hour, all costs including maintenance and
gas in the computation. Gas is the biggest part of that number and
when we go slow in manatee season or when my wife says it is cold
(below 80) that can get me closer to $6-7 an hour.

round here, there's not much chance on renting a boat that is unless
it's some giant houseboat. The marina liabilities won't allow it.

But used boats go reasonamble. I've got $1500.00 (plus some repairs)
in my 18'r and even less in my 23' Marquis which is actually a bigger
and better boat.

The small one is great for a fast hitch-n-go. The bigger one, is a
real tug to pull behind my car, so It's geting built for a river
cruise short vacation....

Still less than going to Kings Island, Dolly World or 6 flags.


In this area and elsewhere, there are boat timeshare operations. The
dealer from whom I bought my Parkers is part of a national operation of
such. I asked my salesman there about it once, and was surprised at how
expensive it was. Of course, they send you out in new Gradys and
Parkers. But it still cheaper than buying, maintaining and either
trailering or slipping a new boat of similar quality.

wrote in message ...

On Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:26:42 -0500, X ` Man
wrote:

In this area and elsewhere, there are boat timeshare operations. The
dealer from whom I bought my Parkers is part of a national operation of
such. I asked my salesman there about it once, and was surprised at how
expensive it was. Of course, they send you out in new Gradys and
Parkers. But it still cheaper than buying, maintaining and either
trailering or slipping a new boat of similar quality.

I had a friend from work who was a member of one of those boat clubs.
It worked out well for him because he could arrange his work schedule
to get out in the middle of the week. He got a boat just about any
time he wanted it on a week day. You were in a virtual lottery on the
weekend.


--------------------------------------------------------
Admin assistant I had at one time, thought $180 for a 1/2 day of bass
fishing with a guide, including tip on Lake Fork, TX was excessive. Cheap
compared to what it costs for me to own and run my boat. And he furnished
the gear, and cleaned up at the end of the day. I would fish a 1/2 day with
him, which was a very generous 1/2 day and then drive to DFW to catch a
flight home. Was nice that way to go to Dallas for business meetings. Stay
in a $170 / day room for business and then grab a nice $50 room in Alba for
a night. Company paid for the car rental anyways.