My husband wants to buy a boat...?

Question

We live in Chicago and he loves the lake. The problem is that he has never boated before and knows very little about it. Everyone keeps telling me that boats are $ pit's. What are your feeling's? I feel like it's not a good time to buy something that guzzles gas! He is looking at a 28ft stingray.

Answer 1

When most people say boats are money pits they usually aren't boat owners them selves. True boat owners who (this is important) love boating accept the maintence costs as part of the deal. Boating is a hobby that has costs, only one of which is buying the boat in the first place. A 28' boat will be a significant investment and it CAN maintain most of it's value IF it's maintained. Stingray is a good mid-priced boat. Other comparable makes are: Maxum, Ebbtide, Larson, Regal and to some extent Rinker. If you'd like to pay more or get a slightly smaller boat but one that will have more features and nicer details I'd suggest: Crownline, Four Winns, Monterey, and Sea Ray. 28' is a big boat and for a first timer that's a hand full. It can be done but patience must be in full supply so that no one move is rushed and transformed into a dangerous situation or a costly repair. For a first timer I'd pick a price point, cut 5-8% off that (for maintence), and start looking for a 3-7 year old boat. See what you can get. I strongly suggest getting a boat that is fuel injected. This will save in maintence and it will be a more enjoyable experience as it will start all the time. I could type for another hour but I shouldn't so... Good luck, do your homework, and find the boat with the level of options and the layout that you like the most. Remember what you'll be doing with a boat when you're looking at interiors.

Also, you will find that boat owners are some of the happiest and nicest people around. I forgot to address the gas issue; you don't always have to burn that gas. Some of the most relaxing and fun days I've had on my boat were either anchored in some cove or just tied up at my dock. In which case I burned no gas at all.

Answer 2

Clayton is correct. If you are a boat and a boating lover, the cost and time do not matter so much. If you keep it running properly and keep it clean it will not give you a lot of trouble. If you are not currently a boater, go out with friends as much as possible and rent a boat a few times and then decide. Do NOT start with a 28 foot boat. Find a nice mid-range 18 or 19 foot boat with maybe a 135 HP motor. It won't be the fastest boat on the water but it will be fast enough and have good gas mileage. Do a lot of research before making a purchase.

Answer 3

Before committing to a boat, learn what a good skipper's responsibility is. Take a CG Auxiliary or Power Squadron class. They are very low cost. Boating is more than spending money pushing water out of the way. You and your husband need to know boating laws, how to communicate, boat handling, boat maintenance, emergency actions, safe trailering, weather, and navigation. Ask around to see if a friend has a similar boat and take a few trips. If you don't know anyone, hang around a marina and ask to crew on someone's boat. Yacht and boating club members usually are glad to take you for a ride. Boats are expensive, especially ones with big engines on the back. Do your research and get some underway time in before buying taking the leap into Lake Michigan.

Answer 4

A boat is a second job and a mistress. If you are okay with your husband spending enormous amounts of time and money on it - go for it. He also needs to know there is a lot of maintenance on a boat such as waxing it, painting it, scraping off the algae and barnacles not to mention the $$$ he will have to shell out to gas it up. Add a trailer into the mix if your not docking it anywhere. Is that is the case know you have to make room in your driveway to store it. If he's the captain, then that makes you second mate which means, you have to help...

Answer 5

my experience has been in ocean going sailboats so I'll defer to the other answers about upkeep costs.....the idea of getting a smaller boat sounds good; renting one first sounds even better!

BUT SUPREMELY IMPORTANT: You say he has never boated before. He and you MUST take a safe boating course from either the Coast Guard Axillary or the local US Power Squadron.....it might be a legal requirement up there and if not its just common sense.......running a boat is NOTHING like driving a car...this is also great way to meet people with boats and get asked out for free to see if you like it.....

and with a user name of "newmom" can I assume there a baby somewhere? Sounds like there may be "issues"...

Answer 6

My husband and I have a philosophy....Rent first....use it under the worse possible conditions....if we still want it then we purchase it! We wanted a boat several years ago. We rented one to use on a lake. While we were on the lake, a major summer storm appeared. We did make it out alive....but never bought a boat!

Answer 7

The two happiest days of your life are the day you buy your boat and the day you sell it. Yes they can be money pits. My boat is a 30ft Searay and there is always something wrong with it.

Answer 8

Now is the perfect time to buy a gas guzzler - they are cheap and they are everywhere.

As far as expensive it depends on the upkeep and use.

Answer 9

i was sooooo pissed when my boyfriend bought his stupid boat. right away he had problems with it. he probably only used it twice and that was it! it is now stuck at his friends house and he can't get rid of it cause no one want's it. it's get's me upset everytime i think about it. so you guys really need to sit down and do the math. can you guys actually afford it along with all the costs of maintaining it?

Answer 10

its so not a good time to buy one. it could be dangerous to buy something you know a little about , find out more about it and make sure you know how it works.