My story is: we inherited a boat. As soon as the title arrives, we're selling a boat. :0)

DH & I do NOT enjoy driving an hour to the nearest lake. This lake "smells". Is highly populated with people. Mob scene on the loading ramps. Trash everywhere. Water so cold you need a skin. Located in an ugly area, flat & dry with submerged cactus in the low areas(you wear shoes in the shallows). It's an unpleasant way to spend a day.

DH & I do "everything" together! He's my favorite person to be with. We hike, do photography, take day trips to interesting rock formations/waterfalls/ghost towns/animal refuges. We travel outside the US every year, sight seeing, scuba diving, shopping, eating. We even work on cars together, weld together, garden together, stargazing. We really don't want a boat, a motorcycle, quads, snow mobile, pool table, camper, cabin or skidoo. :0) Toys! :0) lol Just saying.....:0)

My hubby and I would love a boat, yet we know very little about them. We live along the Mississippi, where it would be most used, and it can be dangerous water. Since we are new to boating, we fear running into an emergency situation and not knowing how to handle it on the river, particularly with our children. If we lived near a lake, it would be a no brainer.

Sorry to hear the lake is such an unpleasant place in your area Nicole. That's awful! We're within minutes of the lake and have even traveled to other lakes/resorts with our boat. Thankfully we're in a beautiful area and the lakes here are pretty clean and a enjoyable place to be. We don't go to the populated areas. To me, there is something so soothing about being on the water. It refreshes me!

Hubby and I really got into the gardening last year and have already started up again for this year. He is also my favorite person to be with, but we don't do *everything* together.

I guess our boat and camper could be considered toys to some, to us they are a way to enjoy activities we love even more. To each their own I guess!

We must have been posting at the same time. Once my hubby and I were traveling through Mississippi and Alabama. I cannot remember what town we were in, but we were driving along part of the Mississippi. There was a river cruise - hubby and I thought that looked like such fun. Have you done that?

BTW, we loved Natchez, MS. I think we may have been near Biloxi when we saw the river cruise.

tina

We have a boat too - we own it with my uncle and his wife and that arrangement has worked out really well so far. Actually, we just went from a 19' to a 26' this past winter and haven't even been on the new boat yet! I can't wait to check it out. We love boating and fishing and are a pretty outdoorsy family in general.

My husband and I also bought a Hobie kayak as an anniversary gift to ourselves. We're picking that up next month. I haven't seen my husband this excited about something since - I don't know when! He's like a kid at Christmas every time he talks about it! It's pretty cute and I anticipate a lot of sunny weekend mornings in the kayak.

I agree Tina, there's not much better than lounging on a boat.

"My hubby and I would love a boat, yet we know very little about them."

As my father (an avid sailor who came from a fishing and boat-building family) used to say, "a boat is a hole in the water surrounded by wood [fiberglass, metal, whatever] into which you pour money." :-)

I suggest leasing a boat for a season before committing to buying one. Most of the people I know who have boats have them sitting on trailers with tarps (or shrink-wrap) over and take them out a couple of times a year, and I live in an area where there are many sheltered ocean coves/bays, lakes, ponds, rivers, you name it.

Mari - that is exactly why we went into this as a "joint venture." Unless you have lots of time and lots of money, it IS hard to get the most out of a boat. Sharing the boat (and the costs) has really helped in that regard.

That's a good idea Danielle (glad to know there's a fellow boater here!). Our boat is taken care of just as any other vehicle we own - my hubby is a fanatic about that. It's maintained, garage kept (I know that isn't always possible), etc. This year we did buy battery buddies that should help extend the life of the battery. Besides battery/gas, regular maintenance, etc. we have spent very little on upkeep. I believe we have only had it serviced once. So besides the initial cost, we've done very well in that regard. Of course, it would be nice to spend more time on the boat!

tina

Tina,
We have done river cruise before in a larger city and did enjoy it. We have been out on boats with friends and have rented boats on vacation. We live in a small town in Iowas and the Mississippi is mighty. Nearest lakes are about 2 hours away and I don't want to be one of those people who own a boat that sits under a tarp most of the time. I LOVE the idea of sharing the responsibility of a boat with another couple. We do not have family near us so it would have to be friends. Hmmm. I will give that some thought. I'm sure we would have to be pretty choosy about who we went in on it with, but that would give us someone to share the cost and responsibilty of it with. Thanks Danielle!

We have boats - all shapes, sizes and purposes. We have a pair of kayaks, a wooden paddle boat, and a metal john boat for the creek and ponds. We have a smallish ski boat for the river and the lake and are the sole users of the pontoon boat that is technically owned by DH's parents. There's a wooden dory for cast netting down at the coast house. We also have a co-owned 32' sport fishing boat that my husband and his pro-series kingfish tournament team uses. We ski, we swim, we fish, we dive.

And even with all that, I have to agree with Mari's father. A boat is a hole in the water where you throw money. ;-) Particularly once you start talking about anything with a motor or that is used in salt water or that gets a lot of hours.

I spent two years living aboard a sailboat, traveling up and down the East Coast and out to the Bahamas. Before that, having a boat just for weekends often felt like a whole lot of work for a little bit of fun. We loved weekends sailing (kept the boat two hours from home) but it was incredibly time-consuming in season. The only way to keep up with maintaining a sailboat (IMO) is to move aboard and do it all the time. :-)

My hunch is I'll never own a sailboat again. But I would love to charter sometime...maybe...

I'm really glad to hear that everyone is enjoying their boats because I'm having trouble getting excited about the idea.

The cost doesn't bother me. As long as he uses our resouces with informed deliberation, I don't care what he buys. It is the added responsibility I'm dreading -- another thing on the mental list, if you know what I mean.

The only things it needs are cosmetic, paint and new seats.

There is still haggling left, but I'm guessing it is close because DH is talking about color schemes. This has been going on for a while because the husband and wife that own it are willing to sell it for different prices. They have had to get on the same page, which is finally happening. Husband thinks his baby is worth more than the wife who is eager and desperate for her driveway back.

DH said that he would give it more thought because he respects our resources, but that he probably will still end up purchasing it.

I guess I can live with that.

We have had two boats, and enjoyed them when we had them. We were avid water-skiiers at one time.

However, I have to agree with the statement, "The two happiest days of your life are the day you buy the boat and the day you sell it." I think boat leasing or sharing with someone else sound like great options, though.

My husband has contemplated a boat over the last few years. We love lakes and live within a few hours of many. I too love water-skiing, etc. But the reality is with our kids quite busy there are probably only a couple of weekends all summer that we could really go. It seemed like a lot of work to store it, tow it, maintain it, etc. for a few times a year. So a couple of years ago, I suggested we just rent one when we were able to go instead. He wasn't convinced, but thought hmmm, maybe...I did the research and found a marina at one of the nicest lakes in our area. For about $500 (incl. gas) we rent a ski boat for the day. This is a much, much nicer boat than we would have purchased -really a joy to hang out in. We have a ball, and then.... drumroll.... walk away. Do this 2-3 times a summer, which is all we have time for, and you've spent $1500 -so much less than buying, storing and insuring a boat. Plus if you are experienced, they are fabulous at helping you learn the ins and outs of boating.

We've owned two boats, and if I had a choice, we'd have one again...BUT.

First was a 2 seater ski boat...it had four seats, but the reality is that only 2 could ride in it...as you towed your skier. DH bought it when our kids were little and it just didn't work out. He sold it shortly after a sheriffs boat boat came up over it as it was tied to the dock.

About 4 years ago, after DH sold his business and finally figured he had time to enjoy a boat, he boat a nice day cruiser with an outboard engine. It had 4 seats and room for 2 more people up front. Again...seats do not equal room for bodies. But he never quite got that thru his head.

So because my DH is the guy he is, he invites everyone he knows to join us at the lake, and brings our 2 dogs. 2 DD's (one who abhors the sun), 1 DD's BF (avid fisherman), 2 sons, me, BIL & his son and their dog. That is 9 people and 3 dogs. Fishing gear, rafts, towing ropes, etc. And 3 dogs. Guess who never got to go out on the boat?

Plus no one ever contributed toward the gas, and DH was starting to realize it was just too big a liability. Finally we sold it to a nice young couple with 2 small children (and no dogs).

I'd LOVE to go on a sailboat, never have, but DH is afraid of the ocean. He is not a big water guy, so I guess it's in my dreams!

I wish the cost arguments made financial sense for us, but he and his inner circle charter boats together. If this boat saves two charter trips, then it will have paid for itself.

All the "guys" have boats, so I am not seeing why DH needs one too, but at least this isn't a motorcycle. LOL

I've stomped around the house trying to come up with good reasons why he doesn't need it. To console myself, I sat down at my piano -- when it hit me. I was sitting at my "toy" so I guess it isn't fair to be bothered by a boat.

I dislike this mature-try-to-be-an-adult stuff. Life would be much easier if he just did everything my way. :OP

"So a couple of years ago, I suggested we just rent one when we were able to go instead. He wasn't convinced, but thought hmmm, maybe...I did the research and found a marina at one of the nicest lakes in our area. For about $500 (incl. gas) we rent a ski boat for the day. This is a much, much nicer boat than we would have purchased -really a joy to hang out in. We have a ball, and then.... drumroll.... walk away. Do this 2-3 times a summer, which is all we have time for, and you've spent $1500 -so much less than buying, storing and insuring a boat. "

That's the exact same deal I made with Hubby -- Wanna go out on a boat? Fabulous! Love it. Let's rent a really, really nice one, have a great day, then bring it back and let someone else wash it, flush the salt water, fill it up with gas, etc.

So far, it's never happened...