Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

[brownies]

More times than not, when you find that boat you want...the one you can't afford. It's probably a bargain even though it's too much for "us". It's worth $5k, They want $10k, and they have proof where they spent $30k getting it that way.<br /> So, you bought a rough one for $100 and are now going to restore it to what you want.<br /> This is good. It's a learning experience, you get exactly what you want, and that "pride value".<br /> <br /> Just consider a few things before you have $20k tie up in a $5k boat. <br /> Are you keeping it forever, or just planning on it. <br />What do you have now that you have had forever?<br /> Is that the color, graphics scheme that you like? <br />Was it 5 years ago? Will it be in another 5?<br /> How much are you "really" going to get to use this boat? <br /> Do you really need that BRAND NEW/ LOW LOW hours/$$$$$$ engine if you're not going to use this boat for daily transportation? Might save a few bucks and get something that still has gobs life left in it for your expected use.<br /> Just a few things to make you think. Taylor your expenditures to your expected needs.<br /> This applies to everthing you purchase for your boat project, and to most everything else you buy.<br />How bout.............<br /><br /> Your wife hates the carpet and want's to remodel. It's only 10 years old though? Good thing you bought the most expensive, longest wearing, 40 year carpet there was.....OR, did you move and give it to somebody else?<br /> You had to have that 5,000 mile engine for your streetrod. It was $10k. The $5k difference was worth it for 60,000 less miles. You've had it now for five years, sits in the garage mostly, but, you have put 1500 miles on it. (did you not think the 60k mile engine would make it to 61,500?..OR...did you sell the car to somebody else?)<br /><br /> This is not saying the BEST / MOST EXPENSIVE is not the way to go. I love buying other peoples finished/unfinshed projects like that.<br /><br /> All it is, is just something to think about since most of us just can't play with our toys as much was we want to.....Too busy working, paying for them.

 

[Buttanic]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

Sometimes it's not about money just satisfaction.<br />If we judge everything we do or own just by monatary value than only the basics of living could truly be justified.

 

[rdsr]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

 

[Bondo]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

Ayuh,........I Totally Agree..........<br /><br />I've Probably got close to $10,000. into a boat that I paid $2500. for........<br /><br />And,........<br />It'll Always be Worth,...........Exactly What I Paid for It.............<br /><br />The Other $7500. was Just Money I'd have Blown in a Gin Mill,.. If I hadn't Quit drinking................

 

[brownies]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

It is about the money though. <br />Plan ahead. If you know you want a Lime Green boat for EVER...spend the bucks, buy the best quality supplies, and blind the masses.<br /> Just think ahead though. The color may hurt the sale if you ever part with it. It may even prevent the sale. You may hate the color a year from now.<br /> Even with less expensive paint supplies, odds are, you will want a change long before any paint wears out. <br /> It sure is hard to change things like this at a later date if you went ALL OUT the first time.<br /> It's just the principle of the matter.<br /><br />(I bought you the best quality carpet money could buy...I don't care how tired you are of it, or how out of style it is.....it stays!)

 

[brownies]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

Hey, my boat is hooked up to my truck, getting ready to head out to the lake in a bit. It just occured to me.<br /> When I had the seats redone, I went with white. I used the best/most expensive stuff according the the upholstery shop. Could have done the same for half, but, I wanted the best.<br /> A few months later, I added a seat and had it upholstered to match, but, I was in a hurry for this one and they used some left over, less quality material from a prev job. It was cheaper and looked the same.<br /> Now, two years later, I'm sick of white seats. They are impossible to keep clean, even with constant attention. They look okay, but, just sort of an "off white" color is what they are turning. They all match though....That cheap one looks just like the rest.<br /> The only thing keeping me from having them re-done in a different color is....The fact that I paid THAT MUCH for something that won't wear out the first time.<br /> I just can't make myself do it.

 

[BillP]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

It took me years to learn this...Boating is WAY more fun when you don't worry about resale value, operating costs, etc. Buy it, use it and spend whatever your budget says is ok to waste! That's the type of boat you can REALLY enjoy.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

Well I am one with a $800.00 boat and have about 10 grand (that I will admit to) in it so far. I did complete the project but now I do elective ones. Yes I have done things and redid them over again. For someone like me it usually comes down to money. I am not one who will not use my boat because I do not have the best gages even though I want them. I will use the cheap ones until I can afford them. <br />I do plan on having this boat forever. I understand the "why buy the best because it will outlive you wanting it anymore". I work in the flooring business and see folks toss there carpet that they paid top dollar for 20 years ago and the only thing wrong with it was its a outdated style/color. I live by the 7 year rule except when it comes to my boat. For it I live by the 70 year rule. I do say if someone would give me stupid money for it I would have to let it go but I have never defined what "stupid money" would be because I dont think I could.

 

[brownies]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

I did not say, don't spend tons of money on your boat.<br />I did try to make a point, but, it seems to have been misconskrewed somewhere along the way, or, maybe I wasn't clear. <br />Lets try a different aproach, and feel free to substitute you choice of products, and your choice of amount (ONLY IF your amount is limited).<br /> <br />For those of you that will have the weekend off, AND have $500.00 AND have a plan of buying a kick a** stereo system for your boat, AND fully intend on hitting the lake for some "jammin" boating fun with friends on your weekend off....<br /> Not a good idea to spend $500.00 on that stereo system Thursday. IF you do, you will get to sit in your boat, in your driveway, and listen to it.<br /> (also, plan on it getting wet and ruined and in need of replacement far sooner than it says on the box)...and....(plan on not being able to talk over that extra wattage that you thought would be cool since it was only $100 more).<br /><br /> Think of everything you can in advance and spend some time on somebody else's boat that has the high dollar stereo eqip...Just how much do they have it turned on and up realizing the full benefits of their purchase....<br /><br /> Now, for folks like BillP with unlimited resources..."go for it", and, Bill, can I float a loan?

 

[BillP]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

That's funny, it's not about unlimited resources...I'm living proof that big bucks aren't needed to enjoy boating. My point is to buy boats you can enjoy without worrying about financials.

 

[JB]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

Excellent topic and post, brownies.<br /><br />I am fond of saying that wisdom is wasted on the old. Seems to me that a few of you guys acquired some of that without getting old first.<br /><br />This is some of what I have learned:<br /><br />"Best" doesn't always mean most expensive, longest lasting stuff. It means what best suits your true wants. You can spend a lot of bux on compromises that you will later reject for other compromises.<br /><br />"Style" is a killer. Forget it. Some designs and color schemes are timeless and never go out of "style". Find one of those.<br /><br />I spent bazillions on shotguns before I bit the bullet and got a Browning. Haven't had anything else for 33 years. <br /><br />I spent bazillions on cars and trucks before I bit the bullet and got a ML. Eight years and counting. No lust for anything else. If I hadn't bought her I would have had at least four different vehicles that didn't satisfy and I would have spent twice as much.<br /><br />I was lucky enough to learn about Boston Whalers at a fairly young age. For 40 years I have owned no other make of boat. Just bought #7, 20 years old. When I have her back to original condition she will be as good a boat as any new one made by anybody.<br /><br />About money? When calculating cost vs. value you must include the priceless benefit of having and messing with a boat. A lot of guys sell a boat when they can't come up with another project to improve it. Why? Because it is the joy of creation or re-creation that they value most. Don't count the money; count the precious and priceless memories.

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

Originally posted by BillP:<br /> That's funny, it's not about unlimited resources...I'm living proof that big bucks aren't needed to enjoy boating. My point is to buy boats you can enjoy without worrying about financials.

same here, we wouldn't be on the water if we couldn't have done it for a couple grand. we are not the most stylin fisherman on the lake. but we ARE on the lake.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

Guy's dont forget the adventure,the imagination and satisfaction of a job well done. In a word "Priceless"..........

 

[Always Broke]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

If I wanted a new boat with the best of everything I’m sure I could find a way to get it. It’s not about money, it’s about pride, and most of all fun! There’s no better feeling in the world then a guy with a $40K fishing rig dumping his boat in the water the same time I am and him coming over to admire my old $100.00 tub and telling me how nice it is for such an old boat and asking me questions about it. A lot of older boats had a style and durable structure that should have stuck around a while longer but the boat designers had to earn their keep somehow or start looking for a new job. So, when you got a boat like that and you have hundreds of hours in it making it to your liking you have a lot of time to think what kind of accessoriness you’d like to have in it, be it a radio out of a VW bug, a porta potty for a fishing seat so you don’t have to get up and move around the boat and scare the fish away (one of my better ideas ;o) or a butt kicking gazillion dollar stereo system. Work is something you have to do, restoring a boat ain’t work and money it’s way more then that, there’s some things you just can’t put a price on.

 

[MRS]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

I have a 1970 Thunder bird with a catedral hull. My friend bought brand new then sold to another friend that I bought from it is old lots of open space for to to fish in. I love it so when I do have to work on it it is still better than a monthly boat payment to me. P.S. Always broke I did buy one of those porta potty lids you snap on a five gallon bucket and wrapped with foam insillation I use a battery run bubbler and use as my bait bucket.

 

[treedancer]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

There is not a feeling like taking a saw and going at an old boat and making it like you want.<br /><br /> It might look like sxxx when your done with it but you can bet that there is no another like it on the lake. <br /> <br /> I bet not many people on this site go out and buy there fish because it is more economical to do so.

 

[solidwaste]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

My 32 year old boat is priceless to me and I will always remeber it probaly only because it has brought my son and I closer togather than anything else weve ever done togather.Money is worthless the boat is worthless my son and our memories of this boat are priceless..<br />P.S.<br />We just got done painting interior, And after it had dried we were in the boat working and I found he had scratched his and my name in the fresh new paint with a screw driver Thats staying!!!

 

[brownies]

Re: Only the BEST for your project? Worth consideration..

It was just an opinion based on prev experience with spending too much wastefully. The wastefully part was realized later.<br /> When I repainted my existing boat, I had many choices. It finally came down to two choices though...<br /> Spending $700.00 on the COLOR (base,clear, hardner, reducer,etc). OR....Spend $300.00 on the same, but, lesser quality.<br /> The most expensive would "weather" much longer. BUT, weather will not have the chance to wear either out. I'll destroy it long before that..lol.<br /> I chose the $300. The boat LOOKS as good as it would have with the $700.<br />It's only been a year and my boat has chips, scuffs, scratches. I figure in four more years it will be time for re-paint. Not due to the quality, but, due to useage and/or tired of color...IF I even still have this boat then?<br /><br /> If I had spent $700, those fish would still be there because I would not take the chance on putting my boat in that stumpfield and scratching it.<br /> If I had spent $700, it would sure be alot harder to repaint it again in 5 years.<br /> If I had spent $700, I would realize $400 less if I sell the boat. <br /> Both choices would outlast thier usefullness for my intended purpose.<br /><br /> I did buy a very expensive trolling motor though, one of the best from what research I could come up with. <br /> I would not have done this if I thought I was replacing my second trolling motor due to me physically breaking it. <br />This is something that a person (or me) "gets used to the feel" and doesn't want to change. <br />Since I have only worn them out in the past....I bought one that would last.