Does anyone find this odd?

Question

My husband and I just had a son he is 4 months old. All of the sudden my husband wants to buy a boat. Not a small boat at 30ft boat. He has never owned one before, never been interested in one before and has not the 1st clue on how to maintain a boat. Is he going through some mid-life thing? He is only 34! I don't want him to buy one, so I know it's going to turn into a fight. UGGG

Answer 1

In my family, we call that an MLC a.k.a. Midlife Crisis. Make sure he's getting plenty of fun and adventure in his life, and it should help. It also passes after a few months.

My brother-in-law went through it, and I think my boyfriend is going through it now.

Be happy he isn't seeking out sex in other places and that he just wants to buy expensive things. MLC's can lead to adultery in some men who don't have enough respect for their women. That's what happened to my brother-in-law.

And then he got testicular cancer. Interesting, huh? (He's in remission, and he's learned his lesson.)

Anyway, he probably just needs to have fun. Too much domesticity can drive some people, not just men, batty.

Answer 2

Part of it is the new child, now he has to be responsable for another life, something that he has never truly faced till now. I'm sure he partly believes that he will loose what independance he had and want's to buy the boat to show he's still in command. If you can afford it, let him do it, and then your new family can enjoy the purchase together. That large of a boat is a bit much for someone new to boating, try to talk him into a smaller ski boat or a bass boat.

(The only exception I would make to that is if you live near or go to a large lake, then a 30 foot boat would make sence and will make you feel safer in the long run). Small boats and big lakes don't mix well, especally if there are other big boats around.

Answer 3

Mine did that also and after a year of owning one he realized that the wind blows alot and the waves make it hard when your out on the water, it seems to cloud up and rain more often than when he didn't have a boat and when in drought, the water was too low to take the boat out. Experience is the best teacher. If he gets one, make sure it is one with a GOOD resale value. We sold ours to help pay for a garage we had built. Took teenagers twice skiing and fished in it about 4 times. Definitely a bad deal BUT hey he will learn unless ya'll need the money right now for more important things. Oh by the way we are no longer married but it didn't have anything to do with the boat. LOL Take Care, I hope it all works out.

Answer 4

If you are able to afford him buying a boat, then I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just so long as he doesn't plan on going out on the boat and leaving you home alone with your new baby. It could be that he is a little bit afraid of being so mature as to be a dad. I know that with a new baby things are hard, but try to find some quality time to spend with him.
Maybe see if you can get him a book on what it entails to take care of and maintain a boat. That might deter him. Boats, besides being expensive to buy are also expensive to maintain and store.
Good luck and congrats on the new baby.

Answer 5

First insist he takes boating safety lessons or whatever they're called, and talk to some men who own boats. He is scared he'll be the 'old family man' now and not have any fun--this nervousness is normal. Tell him all is the same and yes he still willl have fun in life. He is young, let him feel he can still have good times and not to panic. Some men see fatherhood as very very responsible and like they have to be old men about it, but even infants can go sailing and travelling, etc. Try to restore the fun in your lives. He should go boating for awhile before he buys any boat.

Answer 6

That is odd. Instead of having a fight, ask him why he wants to buy a boat. Does he want to go travelling around the world....is this part of the bigger picture he is looking at? Find out his reasons first....you may just find that he has legitimate reasons for wanting one. Then when you find out the reasons and it still doesnt make any sense, then try to talk him out of it. I have never gone scuba diving before, but it has always been something I have wanted to do.....so maybe buying a boat has always been a dream of his.

Answer 7

Lady, weird ideas and wild plans aren't limited to one sex. All you can do is hope his is just a faze, and will blow over. You might try overloading him, so he can't make ANY decision. Go on ebay, and get ENTHUSIASTIC over dozens of sailboats, houseboats, etc. Find a few hundred various powerboats. Make lists, make phone calls, and do everything to be supportive, but accomplish nothing. At the same time, do research- enough to be able to ask questions. Be subtle, but FIND bad points. Every boat, every price, every setup. You can ALWAYS find a boat you like better. Stall, and hope. Or, buy a sailboat, and sail around the world. People do crazier things, and enrich their lives. Good luck.

Answer 8

haha, damn I need a boat is exactly right!

I don't think it has anything to do with being a new father, unless he's thinking family boating trips down the road. He probably just wants a boat!

Answer 9

I went thru the 'I need a boat" phase right after my 2nd child, so it is probably a normal stupid guy thing. I cured myself when I had the real dilemma of how to pay for it.
But yes it was a fight with my wife before I was "cured", so sorry its seems to be part of the problem of marrying a guy. ;)

Answer 10

It will probably end up like mine did. Sitting in the yard for 4 years until it is given away to just get rid of it. I took mine out once and never again. A 30 foot monster? Tell him to get a little canoe, He'll have a lot more fun with it.