On 05/01/2012 2:02 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.

Exactly. $100/day for 14 days is $1400 (book longer, lower rates). The
things depreciate faster than that. As you say, no stale gas, no
storage, no annual winterization, no road chips to repair, just fun.

Also why I charter. For the price you get the boat and a local expert.
While someone fiddles with their motor to get it started and doesn't
know where on the lake to go, your catching fish.

I can easily put $40K into investments for a 10% return and it pays for
the whole vacation each year.

Now if your retired, living on a lake, going to use it 60 days a
year....owning makes a lot of sense.

Plus without a boat you have flexibility. No obligations. Ocean
fishing in winter, or inland in summer, or the other coast and nothing
to tow. Probably why I lost count on the lakes/places I have fished.

Plus, if you have a boat, they don't let you take in on fly in fishing runs.

For me, it makes no sense to own. Being in southern Alberta, no real
decent lakes (there are a few but crowded) it saves me dragging it all over.
--
No mater how liberally you try to ignore rationality and reality,
reality always wins in the end.

On Jan 5, 2:24*pm, Canuck57 wrote:


For me, it makes no sense to own. *Being in southern Alberta, no real
decent lakes (there are a few but crowded) it saves me dragging it all over.
--

But that's one of the beauties of a smaller trailer boat. It's paid
for, doesn't eat much, can be hooked to an any or no given notice, and
even head for a small lake 25 mi away (Omega Lake), run what you brung
and go home. No appointments, no real travel time, no hassles.

Kinda nice in the middle of the summer to drag the boat to work (4 mi)
the at 5, head for the lake, boat/relax for about 2-21/2 hrs, and be
home by 9pm right when the sun is down. did that 2-3 times a week a
couple years ago.

Sometimes it was just the boat, a life vest and a cold bottle of
water., and me of course.

very peaceful

On Jan 5, 11:24*pm, Tim wrote:
On Jan 5, 2:24*pm, Canuck57 wrote:



For me, it makes no sense to own. *Being in southern Alberta, no real
decent lakes (there are a few but crowded) it saves me dragging it all over.
--

But that's one of the beauties of a smaller trailer boat. It's paid
for, doesn't eat much, can be hooked to an any or no given notice, and
even head for a small lake 25 mi away (Omega Lake), run what you brung
and go home. No appointments, no real travel time, no hassles.

Kinda nice in the middle of the summer to drag the boat to work (4 mi)
the at 5, head for the lake, boat/relax for about 2-21/2 hrs, and be
home by 9pm right when the sun is down. *did that 2-3 times a week a
couple years ago.

Sometimes it was just the boat, a life vest and a cold bottle of
water., and me *of course.

very peaceful

! agree!
A trailerable boat is a great way to go. Sure saves a lot in yacht
club fees and you can boat in a much larger area without long ocean
voyages. The trick is to figure out what size boat is practical for
both small/medium lakes and coastal ocean waters.

On Fri, 6 Jan 2012 04:54:51 -0800 (PST), North Star
wrote:

The trick is to figure out what size boat is practical for
both small/medium lakes and coastal ocean waters.

===

A 24 ft I/O with a small cuddy cabin works well for that in my
experience. You need a truck or large SUV for towing however.

On Jan 6, 7:54*am, North Star wrote:
On Jan 5, 11:24*pm, Tim wrote:





On Jan 5, 2:24*pm, Canuck57 wrote:

For me, it makes no sense to own. *Being in southern Alberta, no real
decent lakes (there are a few but crowded) it saves me dragging it all over.
--

But that's one of the beauties of a smaller trailer boat. It's paid
for, doesn't eat much, can be hooked to an any or no given notice, and
even head for a small lake 25 mi away (Omega Lake), run what you brung
and go home. No appointments, no real travel time, no hassles.

Kinda nice in the middle of the summer to drag the boat to work (4 mi)
the at 5, head for the lake, boat/relax for about 2-21/2 hrs, and be
home by 9pm right when the sun is down. *did that 2-3 times a week a
couple years ago.

Sometimes it was just the boat, a life vest and a cold bottle of
water., and me *of course.

very peaceful

! agree!
A trailerable boat is a great way to go. Sure saves a lot in yacht
club fees and you can boat in a much larger area without long ocean
voyages. The trick is to figure out what size boat is practical for
both small/medium lakes and coastal ocean waters.

I find my 20 footer to be right for Lake Erie, rough or smooth.

On Thu, 5 Jan 2012 19:24:29 -0800 (PST), Tim wrote:

On Jan 5, 2:24*pm, Canuck57 wrote:


For me, it makes no sense to own. *Being in southern Alberta, no real
decent lakes (there are a few but crowded) it saves me dragging it all over.
--

But that's one of the beauties of a smaller trailer boat. It's paid
for, doesn't eat much, can be hooked to an any or no given notice, and
even head for a small lake 25 mi away (Omega Lake), run what you brung
and go home. No appointments, no real travel time, no hassles.

Kinda nice in the middle of the summer to drag the boat to work (4 mi)
the at 5, head for the lake, boat/relax for about 2-21/2 hrs, and be
home by 9pm right when the sun is down. did that 2-3 times a week a
couple years ago.

Sometimes it was just the boat, a life vest and a cold bottle of
water., and me of course.

very peaceful

I hate to say it, Tim, but it's much nicer skipping the work part and just going to the water!

On Jan 6, 3:00*pm, Happy John wrote:
On Thu, 5 Jan 2012 19:24:29 -0800 (PST), Tim wrote:
On Jan 5, 2:24 pm, Canuck57 wrote:

For me, it makes no sense to own. Being in southern Alberta, no real
decent lakes (there are a few but crowded) it saves me dragging it all over.
--

But that's one of the beauties of a smaller trailer boat. It's paid
for, doesn't eat much, can be hooked to an any or no given notice, and
even head for a small lake 25 mi away (Omega Lake), run what you brung
and go home. No appointments, no real travel time, no hassles.

Kinda nice in the middle of the summer to drag the boat to work (4 mi)
the at 5, head for the lake, boat/relax for about 2-21/2 hrs, and be
home by 9pm right when the sun is down. *did that 2-3 times a week a
couple years ago.

Sometimes it was just the boat, a life vest and a cold bottle of
water., and me *of course.

very peaceful

I hate to say it, Tim, but it's much nicer skipping the work part and just going to the water!

i can appreciate that.....