Should I sell her?

[simple]

I've had my Bayliner for sale since late August and I still have it. The last call I received on it was probably about 2 months ago. I've been having second thoughts as of last week about whether I should still get rid of it or not. I received a call today from a person in Onalaska, WI who sounded pretty interested. I was very honest with him and told him that the boat might not be for sale anymore, but I wasn't 100% sure. I told him I'd mail him some pics and we would take it from there. <br />So, sell or no sell? This boat is in very good condition for a 1990, and I don't want to sell it and then wish I kept it. Here's what I've come up with so far. <br /> <br />REASONS TO SELL: <br /> <br />1. Could use the money, but it's not needed 100% to live on. My wife quit her job two years ago to stay home with the kids full-time. We have money in the kitty, but it would be nice to have more. <br /> <br />2. Don't use the boat very much. I used it only twice last year, and it probably won't change that much this year either. <br /> <br />3. I'm selling my truck that I use to pull the boat, so what's the point in keeping the boat? <br /> <br />4. Maintaining like changing the lower end fluid, and the engine oil play a role. Why should I waste the time/money doing these things when the boat doesn't get used all that much? <br /> <br />REASONS TO KEEP: <br /> <br />1. Nobody has bought my truck yet and it has been about 2 months since I started advertising it. <br />I've been thinking that if I keep the truck, I might as well keep the boat. <br /> <br />2. The boat and my truck are a good combo. They look very nice together. <br /> <br /> http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=188304939&dealer_id=568 20065&car_year=1998&search_type=both&make=CHEV&distance=25&model=CHEV150&address=53402&certified=&advanced=&max_price=&bkms=1138049012629&min_price=&end_year=1998&start_year=1998&i sp=y&lang=en&cardist=0 <br /> <br /> http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/8/7/80777687.htm <br /> <br />3. I have 2 kids ages 5 and 2. Maybe they would enjoy having the boat around? <br /> <br />4. This is a very nice boat for $5,100.00. I doubt I could find something else this nice for the price. It's been in my family for 7 years so I know the history of it pretty well. (bought this from my parents 2 years ago)

 

[jtexas]

Re: Should I sell her?

Keep the boat. And the truck. Justify it by taking it out more often.<br /><br />Get the kids accustomed to having & enjoying a boat now. In 10 years when they want to spend weekends as far away from you as possible, a boat will get you lots of good face time with 'em. In 10 years it might not be this truck & boat, but believe me you will be happy to have something they want to do with you. If ya wait 'til then you'll lose momentum, might be too late. <br /><br />Now, get out there & make boaters out of those kids!

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Should I sell her?

Keep it and make a concerted effort to use it more.<br /><br />Your kids are comming into an age that they will get the benefits from a FAMILY fishing/skiing outing etc.<br /><br />If you are doubting yourself now, you will feel lost without the tub when it's gone.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Should I sell her?

My family sold our boat when I was 6, boy did I miss that boat growing up, I used to sit in it until the bus picked me up in the mornings. I waited until I was 16 until I bought my own 15' junker

 

[QC]

Re: Should I sell her?

Originally posted by jtexas:<br /> Get the kids accustomed to having & enjoying a boat now. In 10 years when they want to spend weekends as far away from you as possible, a boat will get you lots of good face time with 'em. . . . Now, get out there & make boaters out of those kids!

Absolutely agree 100% and I have 17, 12 and 10 year old boys who have all boated their whole lives. When I was 14, I didn't want to do anything with my parents. I have used this as a rationalization for owning a boat, but it is so true. If you ask my 17 year old what he wants to do for spring break he'd say Lake Powell, Lake Havasu or Lake Mead and he would mean with us there . . .

 

[b.gagnon]

Re: Should I sell her?

I would keep it....Where I live that is a 3500-4000 boat..

 

[stevens]

Re: Should I sell her?

If you don't really need the money now, I too<br />would say to keep the boat.<br /><br />Your kids will love it as they grow older.<br />You'd miss it every day the weather was nice.<br />Eventually, you'd end up buying another boat,<br />and this might not be as cheap, as well kept or<br />as predictable as what you have now.<br /><br />Offset some of the cost by teaching your kids to<br />fish, to catch lots of it and to eat it too.

 

[magster65]

Re: Should I sell her?

Keep it and use it. I've had a similar time with my 2 year old son... he's just not that boat-friendly yet. He's getting better all the time though. As a parent you know how fast 'time flies'! They'll be borrowing the keys before you know it!

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Should I sell her?

Originally posted by Johnshan1:<br /> My family sold our boat when I was 6, boy did I miss that boat growing up, I used to sit in it until the bus picked me up in the mornings. I waited until I was 16 until I bought my own 15' junker

wow - except for the facts that I walked to school, and my junker was 14', I coulda posted that word for word,

 

[simple]

Re: Should I sell her?

I appreciate all the replies so far from everyone!

 

[roscoe]

Re: Should I sell her?

Another member (EEBOATER) just bought one like yours from Skipper Buds a month ago. He paid $4000 and got a v-8. So your price may be a bit high.<br /><br />If you decide to sell it, it will move better come April.<br />Or you can run a few ads in the Journal and tell people (lie) you are buying a new/ bigger boat and need to sell this one.<br /><br />Also, could only find one picture and not much info in your ad.<br />You are going to need a lot of detailed pictures of every part of that boat and trailer to sell it online. Same goes for the truck. More pictures.<br /><br />And todays used vehicle market is pretty screwed up, so your truck may be overpriced as well.<br /><br />If they are in that good of condition, keep them both.<br />Enjoy them with your kids.<br />Make memories.<br /><br />

 

[NBE]

Re: Should I sell her?

I agree with the keep it part. Don't know all of your reasons why you don't get to use it more but I can say that I have spent more quality time with my two boys doing various boating activities that I ever would have doing anything else with them. <br /><br />We spend most every weekend during the summer alone together at a fishing camp located about 12 miles back in the swamp. We fish, camp, hunt, go frogging, and do whatever we feel like doing. No matter what we do, the best thing is just spending the time together. <br /><br />That, to me, makes having a boat "priceless". Even if I needed the money, I would sell my house, my dog, my truck, and most anything else before I would get rid of our boat. <br /><br />There's nothing like watching your kids catch their first fish, first frog, and even in some cases, a first alligator. Just watching them experience something for the first time is part of what makes being a parent so great. There are many memories that I would not have if not for having a boat.<br /><br />If you do keep it, I know you will cherish the memories of time spent with your family on the water as I do. Be sure to take plenty of pictures!!

 

[simple]

Re: Should I sell her?

Originally posted by roscoe:<br /> Another member (EEBOATER) just bought one like yours from Skipper Buds a month ago. He paid $4000 and got a v-8. So your price may be a bit high.<br /><br />If you decide to sell it, it will move better come April.<br />Or you can run a few ads in the Journal and tell people (lie) you are buying a new/ bigger boat and need to sell this one.<br /><br />Also, could only find one picture and not much info in your ad.<br />You are going to need a lot of detailed pictures of every part of that boat and trailer to sell it online. Same goes for the truck. More pictures.<br />

Points well taken. As far as the price goes, I called 3 boat dealers last year and asked roughly what would be the selling price of my Bayliner. One place said $4,200.00.<br />One place said $5,500.00.<br />One place said $5,800.00.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Should I sell her?

Our boat is what keeps us all together as a family when we are up at the cottage. Knee boarding and tubing are the ultimate fun for my kids now 12, 14, 16. Everyone wants to go out and have fun.<br /><br />Remember, you'll always need money. We never have enough no mater how much we make and always need need a little more than what we have. You'll sell your boat, miss your boat and still need more money for whatever else comes along.<br /><br />What else do you do as a family outing on a regular basis? The older your kids get, the more bored they'll be with run of the mill stuff. However, you'll never out grow fun on the water!

 

[simple]

Re: Should I sell her?

Originally posted by cobra 3.0:<br /> Remember, you'll always need money. We never have enough no mater how much we make and always need need a little more than what we have. You'll sell your boat, miss your boat and still need more money for whatever else comes along.<br /><br />What else do you do as a family outing on a regular basis?

Very wise advice. Thank you. What do we do as a family? Uh, nothing really besides going to our local zoo, or shopping.<br /><br />I've decided to keep my toys. I really do appreciate all the input from everyone here.

 

[KRS]

Re: Should I sell her?

Well, post some pictures of it now!<br /><br />If you don't have a way to post on the web, then go to photobucket.com and they will let you post for free, then post the img links here.