Can't Convince the Wife

[MrPunem]

How do I convince my wife a boat would be a good investment and would be fun for the whole family? We can financially afford an inexpensive good running boat <$2500, and figure we could get a few years out of it, but she is adimit and not allowing it...granted we are expecting # 2 but I think it would be an inexpensive activity we can do as a family and could be loads of fun. Only live 20 minutes from Beaver Lake, Ar so we have the opportunity to go out pretty often weather allowing. Any good convincing tactics?

 

[SeanT]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

Do NOT try and convince her it's inexpensive. You will eat those words.

I think the key is focussing on the family time when you're out on the water.

 

[Tubingluvr]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

I have convinced friends significant others before, and the best way to do that is to go out on a friends boat for a day if they are going to come around this will usually help.
Some people are boaters some are not.
I was lucky my wife has always supported any thing I wanted to do.
I yearned for my 1st speed boat for years, and didn't get it until my youngest was 12, which was 18 years of marriage.
I am sure the wife would have let me get one any time I wanted to, but with raising 6 kids the money just wasn't there until then.
Sometimes we need to put things on hold for family reasons.
Sometimes it is better to start out with a cheap fishing boat and try to include her and the kids as much as possible and hope that eventually this works into a bigger boat.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

Never consider a boat as an investment, ain't gonna happen. you have to consider the cost of a boat, operational cost, and maintenance cost, as entertainment dollars. i agree get her out on others boats, or rent some boats. it is not that hard to take a little one out on a boat, just need a way to keep him/her in the shade.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

I don't know man, if your wife is pregnant I think the last thing you want to do is get her out in boat bashing across the waves, I have had 3 and really don't think that would work really well.

As stated never use the word "investment" and "boat'' in the same sentance, a boat is a constant expense.

Try the boat ride with a friend but I would keep throwing money in the boat fund as you can and wait till your wife isn't pregnant or nursing a baby, a boat might be fun for you now but bot her.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

Boating is not cheap. However, fishing can be. I say that because most people that go and boat cruise for hours and burn alot of fuel (expensive). But fishing can be a launch, a short run to a drop and a quick ride back.

How old is your oldest child? You might could sell it as bonding time with older child fishing (teaching him/her to fish) and getting both o fyou out of her hair once in a while. THen the occasional cruise for the family is not so bad.

Also, we will launch and go out to the coastal sounds and beach for a few hours, play in the water, sun and picnic. That way, it is like we are on a private beach...

Also, I had my kids on my boat when they were 3, and woul dhave taken them at a younger age if I had one... It is not a real big deal as long as you prepare...

 

[Mr. Florida]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

Geez, I got the opposite problem. My wife loves boating and wants a bigger one.

Right now she is interested in keeping 5150abf employed.

 

[can-amsledder]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

It?s better to beg for forgiveness then to ask for permission! Just go get what you want!

 

[BLU LUNCH]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

Like everybody said it's not inexpensive, gas for both your tow vehicle and boat add up in a hurry and not to mention maintenance, but family time together on the water is great........

 

[jonesg]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

How do I convince my wife a boat would be a good investment and would be fun for the whole family? We can financially afford an inexpensive good running boat <$2500, and figure we could get a few years out of it, but she is adimit and not allowing it...granted we are expecting # 2 but I think it would be an inexpensive activity we can do as a family and could be loads of fun. Only live 20 minutes from Beaver Lake, Ar so we have the opportunity to go out pretty often weather allowing. Any good convincing tactics?

Get a PT job and do what you want.
I didn't ask my wife for permission, I told I bought a boat.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

good advice from all above.....also tell her that if it doesnt work out and you dont use it as much or its not enjoyed, you can always sell it. Boats sell in the spring time, so you would have to wait until then but it would get sold.

 

[corelock]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

This is how I looked at it, I had took my family to the beach twice in about 3 yrs. We spent about $2500-$3000 EACH trip. At the end of the week we had some good mermories, and a couple cheap t shirts and that was it. I bought a 90 Wellcraft for $2000 and another $2500 getting a problem fixed. Now I have something I can use for years to come for the cost of 2 trips to Nags Head. THat seems to me to be a better use of money. No the boat is not an investment per say, but when I am done with it I will get something out of it, unlike the $3000 I spent going to the beach. This is how I justifed my boat.Boy a man can justify about anything !

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

It?s better to beg for forgiveness then to ask for permission! Just go get what you want!

too funny--but then it might become part of the divorce settlement

 

[stevenj]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

My wife said last night ,she may say things about the money I am spending
on the starcraft, she understands that I enjoy it, and it is better than being
blown at the bars.. I am home and happy while working on it, and while out
cruising the lake she is with me. We are both happy. But granted I did not get this bigger boat till after our son graduated, and 23 years of marraige.
for the previous 8 years I had and still have a smaller 16 foot tinny for
local small lake fishing.

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

be patient and wait until the baby comes along and take them out on a couple of day boating trips--plan well and make sure there is great weather and you'll have her hook line and sinker--pun intended

 

[Y-Guy]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

be patient and wait until the baby comes along and take them out on a couple of day boating trips--plan well and make sure there is great weather and you'll have her hook line and sinker--pun intended

I couldn't agree more. I've had a secret desire for boat for while, but on our 2 week vacation I casually mentioned maybe we could rent a boat for a day at one of the lakes we stopped at. Had my wife at that point, her words were "This is so much fun we need to think about getting one."

Boats are not an investment, nor are any recreational toys. However you are investing in family time, can't do the math on that but you can't assign any financial values to family bonding and making memories either.

 

[Phantom_II]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

It?s better to beg for forgiveness then to ask for permission! Just go get what you want!

Exactly!

It worked for me, but I wouldn't recommend it too often.

 

[Tommyfmu]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

Forced Family Fun... They'll thank you later for it.

Such a great line; this just about sums it all up

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

We can give opinions all day. But the bottom line is, if anyone here knew how to convince a woman of anything she was dead set against, we'd be writing best selling book, not posting on a boat forum. All you can do is cover the the arguments listed above. Family bonding time, happy memories, yadda yadda yadda. You'll never convince her it's an investment, because it isn't. It's a money pit. Expense can be kept low. Boating can be done cheaply. But you'll never get out of it what you'll have "invested". You don't invest in boating. You spend. That's just how it is. And if your wife has no interest in being on the water, you can't really sell it based on the family time thing. If she won't be there, it's not exactly family time.

If you can't bring her around, you always have one final argument to try. Just say "Honey, I want a boat. Boating will make me happy. I need you to understand and accept that."

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Can't Convince the Wife

As the father of an energetic and very active 3 year old little girl I can say I would not even bother going out on a boat with a newborn or even a 1 or 2 year old. Just not the right place for a child that young. Your mileage may vary.