Having been a boat owner for well over 60 years, while raising a family, always had a separate budget for the boat. That budget never took away from family expenses, often worked 2 or even three jobs to fund what the family needed along with funding my boating hobby. Going into debt for boats was never on the list, unless I borrowed from my own savings and paid it back. As a tool make with access to a full machine shop in my working years, I often made rather than buy certain things and often made money making things for others. You don't need to be rich to own a boat, but if your not wealthy, you need to be willing to put in extra work !
