Do I Keep It?

[jjohnson120]

I'm in my 4th season as a boater and starting to have thoughts on selling my boat. My main reason is because I feel as though I don't use it that much. It seems as though when the season begins I go almost every weekend for 2 months or so, but then life happens and I only get to go 4 or 5 more times for the rest of the season. It is a pontoon, so in theory I could take it out year round, but that has only happened once since I've owned it.

I just am not sure on what to do. I look at it as a decent amount of money sitting there unused, and although it's paid for, I do still have to keep up with registration.

Opinions welcomed.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Do I Keep It?

Happens every year around this time. Go look at all the boats for sale on craigslist. Keep it over the winter and next boating season if you feel the same way, sell it when the demand is better and the supply is less.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Do I Keep It?

Registration costs what $10 a year?

If you actually use it (sounds like you do) then you'll probabally miss those 12 or so uses a year. Its an 8 year old pontoon, so as long as you are not letting it rot in the sun it probabally isn't depreciating much any more.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Do I Keep It?

I think you'd miss it once it's gone! Kinda depends on how bad you need the money tied up in it. If it's not a problem, my vote is to keep it

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Do I Keep It?

J, all my life I've had some kind of recreational/hobby to provide relief from life's stresses. Maybe you're ready to change yours?

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Do I Keep It?

Thats one of those things, Several years ago I had a very nice 20 foot bow rider with a 150 hp black max hanging off the back and at the time I was to busy to use it and my wife kept complaining it was hard to mow around , so I sold it, and the very next year my work had dropped off and guess what she started in on why did you ever sell the boat. :facepalm: That was when I made my mind up she would be out on the curb long before I ever sold my boat off again. And yes I got another boat and yes she isnt around any more.

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: Do I Keep It?

Thats one of those things, Several years ago I had a very nice 20 foot bow rider with a 150 hp black max hanging off the back and at the time I was to busy to use it and my wife kept complaining it was hard to mow around , so I sold it, and the very next year my work had dropped off and guess what she started in on why did you ever sell the boat:facepalm: That was when I made my mind up she would be out on the curb long befor I ever sold my boat of again. And yes I got another boat and yes she isnt around any more.

Sounds like a woman to me, lol.

J, all my life I've had some kind of recreational/hobby to provide relief from life's stresses. Maybe you're ready to change yours?

I agree, it's nice to have something. I used to be into ATV's and did that for about 12 years. I still have one to tool around my yard, but I've thought about getting back into them. Only problem is most of the riding areas I used to go to aren't opened any longer, and the ones that are farther away than the lakes I go to.

I think you'd miss it once it's gone! Kinda depends on how bad you need the money tied up in it. If it's not a problem, my vote is to keep it

Money really isn't an issue, but at the same time it's hard to look past the fact that it's give or take $9k sitting in the yard.

Registration costs what $10 a year?

If you actually use it (sounds like you do) then you'll probabally miss those 12 or so uses a year. Its an 8 year old pontoon, so as long as you are not letting it rot in the sun it probabally isn't depreciating much any more.

I think registrations is around $40 a year, so nothing terrible, but still something to keep up with. It's protected and been very well taken care of, I guess I feel like I should be using it more.

Happens every year around this time. Go look at all the boats for sale on craigslist. Keep it over the winter and next boating season if you feel the same way, sell it when the demand is better and the supply is less.

I think the problem this year compared to last is that the lakes are really low this year and algae has been such an issue that you can't even get in the water. This pretty much keeps me from going since I don't really want to be on a boat when it's 106 out, and I can't get in the water.

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: Do I Keep It?

If it were me and the boat wasn't giong to rot away i would keep it.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Do I Keep It?

I think the problem this year compared to last is that the lakes are really low this year and algae has been such an issue that you can't even get in the water. This pretty much keeps me from going since I don't really want to be on a boat when it's 106 out, and I can't get in the water.

Sounds like you need to move - not sell the boat

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: Do I Keep It?

Sounds like you need to move - not sell the boat

Ha, I actually just moved back in April, so that won't be happening for awhile.

 

[jkust]

Re: Do I Keep It?

Boat owner meet snowmobile owner. They sat 364 days last year. Just part of living with short seasons. When boating is in your blood, the words sell the boat never are spoken unless it is accompanied by 'and buy a bigger, newer one with more power. I consider a $9k a rounding error.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Do I Keep It?

Sorry, with more info I felt I had to jump back in..

O.K. so this year isn't so great, maybe next year won't be either and you've lost interest. Yep, it's time to let it go. Maybe in a couple of years when the lakes come back you'll decide you want another one and then again, maybe not.

Just so you know, a couple of years ago I sold all my boats and swore I had enough. 6 months later I had a brand new boat and a couple of months after that I had another, and .... nuff said. But hey, that's just me and about 2 million others. Stand up and be different, I dare you

 

[ready2]

Re: Do I Keep It?

There's nothing like a peaceful and relaxing day on the water whether in a pontoon or a boat. My vote is to keep it.

Ready2

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: Do I Keep It?

Sorry, with more info I felt I had to jump back in..

O.K. so this year isn't so great, maybe next year won't be either and you've lost interest. Yep, it's time to let it go. Maybe in a couple of years when the lakes come back you'll decide you want another one and then again, maybe not.

Just so you know, a couple of years ago I sold all my boats and swore I had enough. 6 months later I had a brand new boat and a couple of months after that I had another, and .... nuff said. But hey, that's just me and about 2 million others. Stand up and be different, I dare you

Part of the problem is I'm working on finishing up grad school and will be in Colorado again this next summer. That is part of the reason I was unable to boat this year, as being gone a month takes up a significant amount of time. I haven't been out on the water in 2 months at this point, and maybe getting back out there this weekend will sway my vote.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Do I Keep It?

Hey there's some great boating in Colorado!!!

Take it with you! But be prepared to drop down a notch in pitch on your prop.

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: Do I Keep It?

Hey there's some great boating in Colorado!!!

Take it with you! But be prepared to drop down a notch in pitch on your prop.

Unfortunately I'm visiting for work so can't take it along. I did notice there were several lakes around Boulder, and made me want to have my boat.

 

[theteacher]

Re: Do I Keep It?

I agree with him that said it is stress relief , and we ALL need that. I have a toy or 2 at all times, some times 4 or 5. Fortunately for me, I'm always happy with used toys as I don't have the $$$ to buy them all new, nor could I stomach losing all that $$$ when I sold said toy.
I currently have a 1998 Stingray 22' with 300 hp., just 117 hours, mint, a 2003 Harley full dresser, 60,000 miles, loaded and mint, 2009 Avon Rover 310 Lite RIB, mint. I don't want a bigger, newer Stingray, my Harley is near 10 years old but runs perfect, has NEVER even had a burp, the little RIB runs all week on very little gas and can go anywhere.
All added up, they're only worth about $27,000.00 or so, but there's no way I would trade them all for a single $27,000.00 boat or a $27,000.00 Harley. Alot of guys, and I mean ALOT of guys on here have double or triple that much in just 1 toy, then they pull it with a $50,000.00 truck. Shoot, my tow vehicle is a 10 year old Yukon, 54,000 miles, and yes, it's mint, only worth maybe $12,000.00, but it gets my toys to the lake or mountains as well as a $50,000.00 truck/SUV. I'm happy, wifes happy, it's all good. If I decide I want a different toy, I can sell any of mine, since they're all in that "affordable to most anyone" range, and move on.
Perhaps you should do that. Sell it and buy another toy with the $$$ you sell it for, but will you use and/or enjoy the new toy more?
And yes, I also have the typical man safe 1,000 pounds with guns in it, wife and I both love to shoot !

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: Do I Keep It?

I think part of my problem is I don't have the boat at my house to tinker with it. I have it stored at my parents because they have a carport for it to be under. I need to get a boat cover for it made to protect it, and then I could keep it at my house. Maybe it would help if I saw it everyday and was able to mess with it whenever I got the urge.

 

[calvinator]

Re: Do I Keep It?

Sell it. Take a break for a few years and buy another.

I just sold my boat two weeks ago. I miss actually using it, but I am enjoying all the time not thinking about using it. I've moved on to other brain activity, like fixing up the mud room in my house.

I'll buy another boat in 2 yrs.

 

[jigandgrub]

Re: Do I Keep It?

I think part of my problem is I don't have the boat at my house to tinker with it. I have it stored at my parents because they have a carport for it to be under. I need to get a boat cover for it made to protect it, and then I could keep it at my house. Maybe it would help if I saw it everyday and was able to mess with it whenever I got the urge.

Big tarps work just as well or better than expensive boat covers.

One sure way to find out if you miss boating or not is to sell your boat... then you have a good excuse to either upgrade or try a different type of boat. Maybe a smaller boat would better suit your needs, or maybe you'd use a bigger boat more often.

I do agree with holding on to your boat until next spring when the market goes back to a sellers market, you won't get what the boat is worth if you try to sell it now.