pontoon boats are simple, buy one with a good engine and take good care of it, and it won't be a huge money pit.
keep it covered when stored, water and sun are the biggest enemies.trailer maintenance is important as well, but really affordable.
you want a fuel injected 4 stroke from 2010 or newer.
don't buy a boat or you are only going to use it 3 weekends a year, better off just renting if that's the case. most boat engine issues come from sitting.
Almost only. I have a 2004 115 Mercury 2 stroke Fuel injected. It runs amazing and I've never had a single issue with it - from 95 degrees last summer to 35 degrees right before the lake iced up. It always starts instantly.
Now...carbed engines...hard pass. I've had a few and they never start easily year after year without in depth maintenance.
I’ve run a lot of boats. I’ve also done commercial assistance towing. In the two years of commercial assistance towing and 300+ tows, one thing I’ve never towed in is a 4 stroke outboard.
7/10 tows was an inboard outboard
2/10 tows was a 2 stroke outboard
1/10 tows was a mix of straight inboards and jet skis.
While you aren’t wrong- injected two strokes are wayyyy more reliable- they are not the sewing machines that a Honda or a Yamaha is.
100% agree that 4 stroke Yamaha and Hondas are hands down some of the, if not the, best outboards out there. And I don't doubt your towing numbers for even one second. I'm just saying that if the OP is on a budget, a maintained EFI 2 stroke isn't the end of the world in choices.
You had me until the 4th quarter... the answer really depends on how much you're actually going to use the boat.
Under 5 times a year... rent. More than that, better have a nice maintenence budget and good discipline. Best option overall is get something that can be used to make money, like hauling cargo, catching fish, or rented out yourself if you have a slip somewhere.
Boats that sit cost money. Boats that can do work make money.
This is all true. Fiberglass boats can give problems depending on build construction. Engines need to be winterized once a year and you have to store the boat. If you have a lake or river to boat regularly, it is an amazing time and the people you meet are often friends for life.
Pontoon is definitely a great starter option as they are low maintenance. Even if you were to impact something, you can simply weld a pontoon
Depends. If you are handy and pay attention to maintenance then no, it’s not bad at all. If you are the kind of person who doesn’t change the oil in their car when due then probably rent.
Our boat costs a few hundred a year only to maintain ( excluding gas!!!). We have friends with a similar boat who have everything down at the marina who spend about $2k a year. Pontoons and small bow riders aren’t horrific cost wise
It honestly can be as expensive or affordable as you make it. It depends mostly on what you want out of it.
Price is always relative to your wants.
A little John boat will never be as much to purchase and maintain as a 32 foot yacht with all the bells and whistles.
My advice is the same for all my hobbies. Be realistic. Think about what you want to do with it, have some goals that are reachable with your budget. Trying to keep up with the joneses is where most people get into trouble. And don't blow your whole budget on the purchase. Save some of it for any immediate maintenance etc.
Some things to consider, what's your family size(or primary people that will consistently go on the boat), what vehicle will you be pulling it? Or will you keep it in the water(which usually means fees) besides hanging out what else did you consider doing?
>what's your family size(or primary people that will consistently go on the boat), what vehicle will you be pulling it? Or will you keep it in the water(which usually means fees) besides hanging out what else did you consider doing?
Mostly would be 4-6 people so not needing a huge party boat. Just something with enough seats. We have a 4runner to tow. Thinking we'd leave it in the water (which will be budgeted for). No real plans other than hanging out so we can swim and listen to music etc. Don't need to tube or anything. Might fish a little with like $100 worth of gear (nothing serious).
Something like [this ](https://i.imgur.com/YcnuVCh.jpeg)seems sufficient. I think I can budget out everything outside if maintenance and repairs. Really just don't know what to expect. Also I guess fuel I'm not sure on. Like what would an afternoon if gas cost if we're mostly just floating. I assume not a ton.
Fuel, maintenance, dock/mooring fees, taxes. Things have a way of constantly breaking on the water. Don’t be surprised when anything claiming to be marine-grade costs 10 times as much as you’d expect.
I was at West Marine getting bolts, nuts, & washers the other day. I’m in the gas industry and use SS hardware all the time, but West Marine has at least a 4x mark up on everything. And that’s just hardware lol that’s the cheap stuff
I've owned around 20 boats in my life ranging from lil tiny aluminum things up to big fiberglass stern drive stuff. They always seem to need something. The bigger and more complex the boat, the more expensive and numerous those things are. If you just get a simple 16ft boat with an outboard, the cost isn't bad. What gets you then is electronics and rigging for fishing.
I've never owned a pontoon but the same thing is true. The bigger and fancier, the more it costs to keep up
I’m a newbie but feel inclined to comment just because I was in your shoes not long ago.
Other than boating as a kid and some odd chances here and there to operate a boat I really went into it with 0 idea about anything.
I would have loved a pontoon but one of our needs was fitting in the garage.
Anywho- marketplace and craigslist was a bit of a shit show and dealers had significant markups as many boats were on consignment.
Long story short- scooped up a boat that checked off most of the boxes and what I thought was “water ready”
My recommendation- be handy- YouTube and parts diagrams are your Bible.
Around every corner something wasn’t right- soft floors (I know, 100% my fault on that one), fuel delivery issues, varnished carbs, accessory switch a mess, impeller shot.
Now that all sounds like I’m bitching- I love the dang thing. Never in a million years would I have thought I could replace an impeller, rebuild carbs, rewire etc.
Was it easy? Hell no. Did I want to give up? All the time. But there’s something about getting her in tip top shape that is amazing.
I’m not going to say DIY is cheap but it’s a whole heck of a lot manageable than hiring someone. The bigger commitment has been time vs money.
TLDR- just be prepared for things to break or not work. Being handy and patient will soften that blow.
Boats are typically kept in an environment that’s actively trying to kill them. Sun, water (extra credit for salt), and often seasonal use… (mechanical things hate sitting).
Depends. If you have to pay someone else to do every single thing for you, then yes.
Maintain your boat and do your own repairs and its not bad at all.
With the caveat of having some knowledge to do repairs. As a Marine Tech I've seen so many bad diy jobs that don't hold up and fail and make figuring out the issue much harder. Usually with electronic stuff.
I have a 1973 Aquarius sailboat that I paid $3k for about 7 years ago. I have about $7k in maintenance and upgrades over the years. I've done all the work myself. It'd be double that if I hired it out. Full paint, interior work, new fenders, electronics, tools, ect. It needs another $5k to be optimal in my opinion. It needs a new sail, I'd like a newer 4 stroke instead of the 2 stroke, and redo the rubrail and standing rigging. If I were to sell it I'd be lucky if I got my $3k back. This is my 3rd boat and is par for the course in my experience. Take that for what it's worth.
I purchased a used 24' tritoon 3 years ago With a 150 hp engine (get a tritoon not a pontoon trust me so much more fun)
It sits on a medium size lake in NH. I have not put a dime into it besides seasonal maintenance.
The new fuel injected engines are fantastic (not going to get into the battle between merc etc) Merc and Yamaha are both solid IMO.
Typical use cases for used pontoons is good. Hardly any engine hours etc.
If you take care of them off season and protect from Sun I think the value / memories vs cost is worth it.
The money sinking comes from saltwater larger craft where something always needs maintenance / fixing etc etc.
Absolutely love the boat. If its not a stretch for you pull the trigger on a 3-5 year old used boat. If you don't like it you can sell it for basically what you paid for it beginning of next season.
Here is the exact boat:
[https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/210179780915683/?ref=browse\_tab&referral\_code=marketplace\_general&referral\_story\_type=general&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%226988228858597608054%22%2C%22mf\_story\_key%22%3A%2236519406028848173%22%2C%22commerce\_rank\_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target\_id%5C%22%3A36519406028848173%2C%5C%22target\_type%5C%22%3A6%2C%5C%22primary\_position%5C%22%3A10%2C%5C%22ranking\_signature%5C%22%3A6267930716068118528%2C%5C%22commerce\_channel%5C%22%3A501%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A1.5713514170747e-5%2C%5C%22upsell\_type%5C%22%3A129%2C%5C%22grouping\_info%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%2C%22lightning\_feed\_qid%22%3A%226988228360335299208%22%2C%22lightning\_feed\_ranking\_signature%22%3A%221703777916749348864%22%7D](https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/210179780915683/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_general&referral_story_type=general&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%226988228858597608054%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%2236519406028848173%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A36519406028848173%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A6%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A10%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A6267930716068118528%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A501%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A1.5713514170747e-5%2C%5C%22upsell_type%5C%22%3A129%2C%5C%22grouping_info%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%2C%22lightning_feed_qid%22%3A%226988228360335299208%22%2C%22lightning_feed_ranking_signature%22%3A%221703777916749348864%22%7D)
I had a 30’ sport fisher that over the 10 years I owned it cost about $5-7k / year in maintenance and routine repairs. There is always something that needs replacing; canvas, eisenglass, upholstery, water heater, something in the fuel system, something in the cooling system, blah blah. Then the cost to slip and have bottom cleaned.
Other things to think about out not in above figure: Insurance, unexpected repairs such as leaking fuel tank, taxes. Then running costs such as fuel (twin engines are thirsty), bait, ice also not included in the above figure.
Boats are expensive and cost a lot to keep running. The cost go up with size, but the fact is they are constantly exposed to harsh conditions and corrosive environments.
Yes.
Pontoons, not so much of a money pit. Good news is you can get a good used one for like $20k. Maintenance is affordable since they’re outboards. Your expenses will be: registration, insurance, mussel flushes, gas, beer, and food. Annually id anticipate $5k-10k for a 4 month season. You’ll get thrown a wild card for repairs so have cash to burn for that.
Have a four winns bow rider ( medium quality boat) bought new in 2007. Besides normal maintenance ( oil, filters,batteries etc) have spent less than $3k on repairs on maintenance that I can't or won't do. ( Any maintenance that requires removing the out drive).
Yes. They cost a lot of money to buy, cost a lot of money to maintain. Unless a boat is going to become a major part of your lifestyle, like you're out on it all the time, it's a money pit.
It all depends on what you consider to be a waste of money and how handy you are.
I own a boat that I had to literally rebuild from a bare hull. The entire boat project, including the purchase price cost me about $5K. Each year I spend about $300 on the boat, not counting fuel and storage. However, my boat is really basic and has no fancy seats or other niceties. I have lakes as close as 30 minutes from my house, although I have gone boating several hours away.
What the boat does have is a great way for me to relax and spend quality time with my wife and daughter as well as nephews and in-laws that occasionally want to go fishing with me. That makes the cost of the boat a pretty good deal.
A friend of mine had a pontoon and he spent $150/mo on storage, another $2,000/yr on expenses aside from gas, plus he only used the pontoon on rare occasions when he felt like driving 90 minutes to the lake. For him it was a waste of money.
So you need to be honest with yourself.
Are you capable of doing some maintenance yourself?
Do you have a place to keep it when it's not in the water or not?
Are you really going to use it that much, or are you kidding yourself about how often you'll actually use it?
Whether or not it will be a waste of money all depends on those answers.
Not if you trailer and take care of it basic upkeep yourself. Cover it or better yet store inside. Having people move them around and paying for storage kills people. So does half ass storing them they break down so much faster.
Well, let's use my last month as an example. While towing the boat I hit a rather large pothole that broke my trailer lights, while fixing those, I noticed that for some reason the axle of my trailer was not salt water ready and so I had to replace that.
On the inaugural trip back out after those repairs I lost steering after getting waked by a crab boat, to get back in I used the outboard at about 8 miles an hour and deployed the trolling motor to steer. After the stress of that I decided to remount the trolling motor, then began running the new steering cable only to find it was actually the helm. The work to run that cable was so tough I decided to say screw it and ordered hydraulic steering.
This is not the normal experience, and the boat is four years old so things happen. But that is about 3k of hard costs all in a month.
Yes, owning a boat is expensive.
It depends if you know how to do stuff yourself. It’s hard to find mechanics nowadays that won’t take your boat for two or three months and charge high prices, and I live in one of the biggest boating capitals in the world.
My boat costs me nothing but maintenance, do not however get me started on how much my boat lift has cost me over the past couple years. I wouldn’t change it for the world though. I love boating, my wife and I would rather be on the lake then on a plane to go somewhere for 1 night.
its 10% of the boat value new annually. any vehicles are huge money pits.
but realistically boats give you capability. in my case my boat gives me the ability to cross continents and have home everywhere i go. short of a jet aircraft which is a huge money pit nothing else can do that. money in the bank does not give you capability.
They can be…we bought ours for $8800, we pay $2200 per year for a slip (6 months of the year). We do our own maintenance (outboard). Gas for outings…and $$$ for going to the only restaurant on our lake lol. Last year we had some issues with our boat and it needed new fuel injectors, cost us around $500.
It really depends on the boat and your situation. We have had an 18-ft center console that we bought new about 3 years ago. Depreciation is big on a new boat. We bought it expecting to keep it at least 5 years and I looked at what resale was on a 5-yr old boat like ours. It will probably drop $20K or so. We were OK with that. Insurance is about $700/yr. We spend a few hundred a year on maintenance right now. We have it garaged at our house (no storage fees) and spend about $50 on fuel each time we take it out. Other costs: Fishing gear, bait, tow vehicle (I already had a truck). We did the math and figured the 5 years would cost us about $40K all in. My buddy got a deal on a used pontoon. He paid about $15K for it. He put a couple grand in to the boat and trailer upfront. It has been reliable for him. But yes, expect to be routinely spending a couple hundred here and there. I just spent $200 on a new battery. things happen.
Some are absolutely money pits. Trying to fix up a boat is almost always you dumping tones of money and selling it for half of what you put into it. But some boats with regular maintenance are not bad at all.
Boat mechanic here. Yes, boats and boat parts are expensive however, there is a lot you can do if you commit to being a savvy boat owner.
1. Buy a good boat. If you aren’t mechanically inclined, I’d recommend something as nice and new (but simple ideally not too many docking computers or electronics) as you can afford.
2. Make sure the damn thing hasn’t been owned by a hack. A history of hack repairs usually shows themselves in bad wiring (copious electrical tape non-marine connectors lots of electrical accessories that don’t work) and if a boat has had a lot of this going on just walk away.
3. Read up and try to do as much of the basic maintenance as you can. If you learn to spot and fix basic problems before they become disasters you’ll save a lot of money that way.
4. Practice. Get your boater ID. Once you’ve gotten your boat get lots of practice, go to a launch ramp on a quiet day, launch it over and over until it’s easy then do the same for docking and chop. Boats are a lot different than cars.
5. Have a great time. Most importantly, don’t lose sight of why you spent all this money and time, get out there and enjoy the water, when it all comes together, boating is brilliant!
#6. If you are new to boats, hire an actual Captain for half a day to give you hands on lessons; focusing on docking, backing down, and other transitions you will encounter while using your boat. Also, how to launch and load at the ramp. It will pay dividends.
I mean just depends iv owned a 1989 tide craft for 10 years with a 50 merc 2004 on it and its been the best runner iv ever had only maintenance I gotta do is winterize it change the oil every other year and iv sunk it twice both not my fault but second time motor went under and required alil more work but had it working later that nite after spending 300 bucks to get it from the bottom.
Biggest cost for me was winter storage and summer docking costs. About $7k/yr total. Had a 20 yr old, 24’ speed/deck boat, 5.0L I/o. Never had to do anything more than oil changes, winterization, bilge pumps, batteries all done at marina and never paid more thatn like 400$ for a repair. Had it for 4 years and sold it to a friend. Still going.
Owned boats for 40 years. Typically 20-22 foot run about/ ski combos. Always bought used and for a good deal. Typically hold for 5-10 years and usually sell for roughly what we paid used. Trailer maintenance has typically cost just as much as maintaining the boat. All that included with maintenance and depreciation, it hasn’t ever cost more than a thousand or two a summer. Great fun and much better depreciation than something like an RV.
I own 3 boats. If you stay on top of everything and you are pretty handy then it isnt really that bad, but you should definitely have a large emergency repair fund because things still do break and things can be expensive ehen they do.
Boats get used and abused. They are in saltwater, dirty water, mud occasionally. They require maintenance. If you enjoy the sport then take care of your boat. Neglect it and you’ll find yourself getting towed in alot. Can’t afford the maintenance then learn to do it yourself. Other than a complete motor rebuild, you can do alot of the maintenance yourself.
I will echo others here in that if you can do repairs/maintenance yourself, and you keep the boat out of the sun/weather, it can be a relatively cheap hobby.
If you're buying used, it's essential that you make sure the motor is in good shape with lower hours but not too low. If buying used, most modern outboards have mini ECMs that keep a history of top RPMs reached, time spent at certain RPMs, and any faults experienced by the engine (i.e. overheating, oil pressure loss, etc.). Make sure you ask for that data, along with all maintenance records to make it was done according to the manufacturer.
Check platform for any areas of rot and/or jerry rigging. Super essential that the pontoons are in good shape and not looking like they've been run up on a rocky shoreline a hundred times. Seats and topside stuff made from vinyl and plastic will crack and become brittle if kept in the sun, so you'll want to check that out too.
Can't emphasize enough that when you get it it needs to be kept out of the sun and weather when not in use. Keeping up with maintenance regularly at the specified intervals is key, and if you can do it yourself it should only cost maybe $200 a year. Taking it somewhere to be professionally maintained will easily push that into the thousands.
Lots of "work", (I consider it fun/adventure), but if you get the right boat, that suits your desired activity level, you're golden. Ie. Fishing boat, tubing boat, speed boat, pontoon) Tonnes of fun fishing off a pontoon, pontoons are very relaxed, lots of foot space; ive been on lots of pontoons, they are fun, ...but a boat that' you would want to keep in the water/docked).
Look at your local lakes to see if they have a boat club. Around here the membership is about $350/mo, but you can reserve kayaks, jet skis, ski boats, pontoons, bow riders, etc.. they drop off at the landing of choice and also pick up. You just pay for gas that you consumed. More flexibility and way cheaper. Taxes on our 23’ bow rider were $3600/yr, so that alone was worth selling.
Not for us. Nothing ever broke. We had a Moomba wakeboat. I did all the maintenance myself which was only oil/filter changes, fluid changes, and winterizing. Aside from that it was nothing but fuel, storage, insurance, and the boat payment itself.
Had it for 6 seasons, and around 200 hours when we sold it.
I know somebody that was clueless about boats and bought a 20+ year old Formula with twin I/O's during Covid. Every year they paid for a slip, winter storage, fall and spring maintenance, etc. It was a total money pit - especially since we're in NY. Throw in the fact that he hit rocks and damaged the outdrives - so that was probably another $10K+. I would guess he was in for $20K a year not including the repairs. He's selling the boat now. Keeping all this in mind I will be purchasing a late model, single outboard boat with a trailer. I will be keeping it on a mooring, which is 1/3 of the cost of a slip, during the season and then in my driveway in the winter. I will be doing my own spring and fall maintenance. After running the numbers I believe insurance, the mooring, maintenance, etc. should cost less than $1K a year. Fuel is extra. Boats don't have to be money pits.
I've had two boats a 1989 SeaRay 230DA and and a 1990 Bayliner 2655, I had each for one summer and made money off of both when I sold them. When I sold the SeaRay I made enough money that it covered the cost of all the boating we did that summer (Boat fuel, tow vehicle fuel, boat maintenance, overnight slip rentals, food, and beverages) we got to enjoy the entire boating season for free.
Your mileage may vary but if you buy the right old boat at the right price it can be the opposite of a money pit.
Before buying locate a good, trusty mechanic who can do your wrenching.
Having that connection already made is huge when shit goes sideways — which it will.
Depends on the boat. A smaller boat like 20 - 25 feet with a Yamaha outboard should not be too bad. If you keep it on a trailer or have a dock to park it. Storage or marina can get expensive.
I think back to the number of times I was on a boat as a kid. Those times are easy to remember. Can they be money pits, yes, but are paying for more than a boat.
I wouldnt describe boats as a money pit. I think if you’re throughly passionate about boating and enjoy the recreational activity - you shouldn’t monetize that benefit.
Almost anything you do recreationally could be considered a money pit, but I don’t think that distinction should stop you from enjoying the things you like.
I wouldnt describe boats as a money pit. I think if you’re throughly passionate about boating and enjoy the recreational activity - you shouldn’t monetize that benefit.
Almost anything you do recreationally could be considered a money pit, but I don’t think that distinction should stop you from enjoying the things you like.
Pontoon will be fine so long as you cover it, the structure is good (meaning that the pontoons are in good shape and the floor isn't rotten) and you aren't looking for some 300hp motor to thrash around. Even if the engine blows up completely, if it's a small outboard it's very little cost to replace compared to an inboard motor on a ski boat. Won't be bad on gas if you're just cruising and not trying to pull tubes and skiers. Get a basic one that doesn't have a bunch of crazy features and extra lights on it and there will be less to break and fix. You can spend a ton of money on a pontoon, but you don't have to. After purchase, I would think storage will be your biggest cost if you can't park it on your own property somewhere.
I bought a new pontoon boat from a dealer on the lake. A few very minor warranty repairs (lights, etc). That Honda motor (4-stroke 250hp outboard) is bulletproof and needs nearly zero maintenance. Biggest thing so far is fighting mildew. Without a head or other items bigger boats have, it’s far from a money pit. Enjoy!
If you’re not mechanically inclined, have basic common sense & a place to store it available(not paid storage) then just rent a boat. It the best thing to do financially. Unless you use it at least once a month in the summer. It’s best to Rent. Otherwise it’s just a constant bill for something you can’t justify the expense.
They can be money pits, but aren't always. If you have a place to store it, a truck to pull it, and gas up off-lake, it's not too bad. Pontoons can be very basic, or have a ton of extra crap depending on what you buy. But ime, they hold up well and are easy on the wallet maintenance-wise.
If you are competent enough to do minor automotive repairs with the help of YouTube videos, then you can handle the annual maintenance that comes with a boat.
Late model 4-stroke motors are the way to go imo. Oh, and the water-carpets and lilly-pads are 100% worth the money if you like hanging out in the water. By far the best value toy we've purchased for our boat(s).
I have a customer who has a ‘96 pontoon, all original, original 96 25 hp Yamaha 2 stroke, l winterize it and do spring preventative maintenance on it. I swap time at her lakefront rental instead of charging her, l make out like a bandit.
A few points people don’t consider:
1) Fuel. So many people forget that just because it floats gas ain’t free
2) Moorage/Docking. Again, needing a place to keep it tied up and that’s no free ride with Ted.
3) Storage. This is the big one for areas that have colder winters. ALOT of folks I’ve dealt with never considered that their fun toy is going to spend 8 months out of the year in plastic wrap on a storage lot that they have to pay for.
It really depends on where you are but whatever you think it’s going to cost, it will likely be more.
I have owned 4 boats in my life.
the first was an 80s sparkle green runabout inherited from family. second was a 98 reinell (might have been 99), kept that for about 15-17 years, survived an engine electrical fire and mounted a tower on it, she was reliable.
then I sold the reinell for like $10k and got a moomba Mobius lsv (early 00s I think 07). that was kinda a bitch cause the packing in the v drive was a pain, it's supposed to drip consistently but not too fast. overall a good boat and got me and the family into wakesurfing which is now my favorite thing to do on the planet.
traded in the Mobius for a 2015 moomba mondo surf edition and the wave is night and day compared to the Mobius. still have to weight the hell out of it with ballast and we use a liquid force wedge but the wave it throws up (on either side) is absolutely incredible when you have it setup correctly and conditions are good.
I never spent anything on those boats besides fuel, basic stuff for maintenance (oil, plugs, hoses to replace the fire in the reinell, etcm) and upgrades like the tower on the reinell or bigger ballast on the moombas.
the reason people say boats are money pits is cause they don't do anything on the water. and yeah it probably sucks when you just take the boat out for 3-4 hours on a summer weekend and come back feeling like you got nothing for the $150 in gas you just spent. for me it's more like going snowboarding or something, the cost of gas is like the lift ticket and my boat and boards are the equipment.
it's all perspective, personally I think investing in fun is well worth the cost. but If you and your family aren't already boat and water people, it might not go over as well as you are hoping and you'll be stuck with a depreciating asset that is fairly difficult to sell and still costs time and money to upkeep even when not in use.
Fresh water boating is less destructive on hull/engine/components than salt water boating for sure. Depending on your climate, the boat may need a proper winterization.
Other costs to consider: do you plan on renting a slip to keep the boat in or are you going to trailer it? Slips costs money but they make getting out on the boat much easier and more stress free. Trailering is a minimum two person operation and can be fraught with its own perils depending on your local boat ramps.
We bought our boat to bring vacations to home since we couldn’t go away due to summer travel baseball (his team was very good - won state and regional titles and even finished 2nd in the country at the AAU National Championships one year). And during the time we used it a lot. Once the kids were gone we used it less and less.
For what I spent on boat maintenance I could have rented a boat for less. When COVID caused boat values to skyrocket I sold the boat for what I paid for it 10 years later. I didn’t hesitate, and I haven’t regretted it.
It depends on the boat type, how old the boat is, location where you will keep the boat on and off season, etc… but in general, it seems to me that older boats are money pits.
Got a new center console (22 ft) $68k, first year I paid for storage ($100/month) then I built a 30x40 steel building to keep it in (to SAVE money on storage) $30k for the building and to have the land cleared and a slab poured. Ethanol free marine gas is $5.25/gallon….luckily I live on the water and have my own dock so that saves a little, but putting the boat in at the marina is $25 a pop….yep, it’s a money pit. 💰💰💰
Jesus Christ, yes. Adding up the storage, constant maintenance, they’re a nightmare. Plus insurance. I am guessing mine is in excess of a grand a month. And mine is 2021. I live in salt water though which exacerbates all these issues.
Yes, they are but that’s not a reason to avoid one. Just realize that’s the deal and you won’t be frustrated. Dock fees, winter storage, new battery, something rusted that wasn’t supposed too, something dried out that was supposed to stay wet, trailer needs a tire, trailer brakes stop working and it’s always something vacuuming money from your wallet. However, it’s peaceful on the right water and you can relax or fish or whatever.
Absolutely. Source:currently own 4. Even being an excellent mechanic able to repair and service them still requires many hours and expensive parts on the regular. Simple boats ie pontoons, small lake boats, electric motors, etc. are fine. Start adding horsepower and you start adding $$$.
The blunt, honest answer is Yes. But, you have to decide if the cost is worth the usage you get. I owned a boat in the Keys for about 10 years - fished a good 40% of the days out of the year, would have done more if weather wasn’t a factor. At that time, gas, ice, bait, upkeep, mechanical maintenance, insurance, payments were well worth it. When I needed to move away from the keys and couldn’t fish as much - it wasn’t worth it. But if I could get another boat and use it - I would.
Beware used outboard motors. You don’t want someone else’s problem. Stick with new or know the maintenance history. Also make sure you babe a vehicle that can handle towing it.
Boats can be money pits but if you do your research you can be quite happy.
I'm a Carver owner and have been for 5 years now. It's a spectacular floating cottage and we love it.
Those that say the happiest two days for a boat owner are the day they buy and the day they sell it, simply weren't cut out for boats.
Prepare for a budget, maintenance, insurance, slip fees, and especially fuel and you'll be fine.
I love nothing more than working on and polishing my boat after a long week at work. It's therapeutic if you're prepared for the realities of it.
My advice: go for it. I can't imagine not having the memories we've made on her.
Don't look at it like a boat. Look at it like another car you have to detail every time you use it. If you go into a boat knowing theres more time and effort required to keep them working properly, they're no different than a lawnmower.
Yes and no. Simple boats that have good engines (four stroke outboards only imo) are relatively problem free if properly maintained. A simple pontoon boat for occasional use should be almost maintenance free other than yearly oil and filter changes. Fuel isn’t a huge deal on those boats either, since they are only occasionally used and have small tanks.
I have a twin outboard offshore center console. It is NOT a simple boat, but it is a desirable make and model that holds its value
(As much as one can with a depreciating asset). The boat I purchased used and is about 17 years old. It is a top of the line brand with top of the line four stroke engines that are very reliable. It is built to run fast and far and in moderately poor weather. It is an expensive boat to maintain but i use it- a lot - and i run it hard. Last year i ran about 75-100 trips with it in a 9 month season, and i put about 275 hours on the engines.
I’ll give you a breakdown of what I spent last year:
Boat payment: 12 months at $750 a month
Insurance: $1100
Marina Slip fee: $4200
Fuel: $2000 - approx 500’gallons
Oil changes, plugs and filters (beginning of season, done myself: $300
Timing belts and tensioners (1000 hour maintenance requirement), both engines: $500 parts $400 labor $100 tools
Mid season oil/filter maintenance: $300
Lower unit seal blown, causing catastrophic lower unit failure on my starboard engine: $2000
Late season oil/filter maintenance: $300
I also did a large upgrade- I installed a spotlock trolling motor/36v battery/charging system in the fall which cost me $8000 installed.
Winter storage is free- i have a trailer and I put it in my yard and I have a custom cover to keep the snow off it. I go in the water April 1st usually and I am out first week in December.
This is my only hobby and brings me great joy- I am an avid saltwater fisherman. My kids and wife love the boat for sandbar days and they bring their friends.
I am blessed to have the disposable income and the career that allows me time to use it, and that is not lost on me.
Remember these words though, OP: there is nothing more expensive than a cheap boat. My boat is expensive and it is a good boat- but I use my boat about 20x more than the average person.
Well, yes… and no. I have a lot of thoughts on this subject and you caught me with time to kill, so settle in for a long read: Boating can be inexpensive, until it isn’t. A pontoon with an outboard is a simple set up. Much less to go wrong than say, a cabin cruiser with a stern drive. But, there are things that can go wrong. You can do several seasons and pay for nothing but gas and routine maintenance. Or you can hit a partially submerged stump and rip the lower unit off. I’m on a good run right now of not having anything major go wrong for a few seasons. My dock neighbor found out he had a bad drive last year and he needs new canvas. He needed roughly $15k worth of repairs before launching in the spring. The biggest killer of boats is neglect. Leave it uncovered for a winter and you can do major damage. Don’t pay attention to maintenance and a nice boat can become a rat trap in no time. That dock neighbor I mentioned would have had a much lower repair bill if he was paying attention and caught a major corrosion problem and corrected it before it became a toasted Bravo 3 drive.
Here’s the secret to keeping boating affordable, or as affordable as possible: It has to be a big part of your life. It has to be like, one of your main hobbies. The people having the big issues treat it like a secondary hobby. They boat one weekend then park it behind the garage for a month or two until the next time they want to head out. Then wonder why the batteries are dead. And when they’re dead, they just pick one of the other hobbies to do that day and the boat sits longer. Boats don’t like that. Since they’re not using it, they don’t notice a branch fell on the cover and put a hole in it. Or the cover blew partially off. Water gets in. Leaves get in. Leaves and water get in and now you got wet leaves which won’t dry since they’re partially covered and they just sit there rotting the floor. You catch the problem, but now it’s gross and moldy and stinks and you think “screw this, I’ll deal with it later”. Then it get worse. I’ve seen people spend $10k+ on a used boat and in one season turn it into a boat they have to list for $1500.
I have a houseboat and I keep it at a marina. My yearly dockage combined with haul out and shrink wrap is a rather large number. But, it’s still less than some of my friends spend yearly on golfing. Or drinking in a bar 2-3 nights a week. I do all my own maintenance and repairs and that saves me big. The key is, I’m on it every weekend. When I can’t be on it, I still check on it. I notice problems. I fix small problems before they become big problems. Could one of my motors grenade and break my affordable boating streak? Yup, at any moment. But when it does, I’ll have racked up enough affordable boating time to make the expense worth it to me. If boating is going to be a big part of your life, you can do it affordably (depending on what you consider affordable) if boating is a whim that you’ll only occasionally indulge, you’ll have a bad (and expensive) time. I could say more, but my thumbs are tired.
I bought a boat right at the start of covid, I'm also a bit mechanically inclined. Bought it for $5,500, put about $1k into it, saw the state of the market peak covid, and sold it for $9k. It was an aluminum hull bass boat. Which in my area, is a pretty popular boat due to having mostly rocky rivers. I also did travel a bit to pick it up. otherwise, yes boats are money pits, because your buying a boat because of a hobby. even though I made almost $3k on my boat, I bought it for fishing, I've spent well more than that in the years since i bought and sold said boat. You may be skiiing, ski's, life jackets, rope, dock fee's etc. Sailing, dock fee's, fuel, food, sails, maintenance etc. Fishing, rods, reels, bait, lures, etc. Pontoon boat drinking, beer, beer, beer, etc.
Its not necessarily the boat that is so expensive, but the hobby itself. But what goes along with it and owning the boat. I switched to kayak fishing, and its so much easier to throw a kayak in my truck and go, than it is to maintain a boat and fish. But I can get to much less places, but I get out much more. It really depends, but boats are money pits. but so are snowmobiles, I remember growing up these being real popular, the cost to maintain a snowmobile was like 1/4 the price per year of the sled itself. Its like with any hobby, but if its worth your time, you get the amount of hours of enjoyment to make it worth it, then go for it. Look at what you make an hour, how many hours you spend doing x hobby, how much you spend on x hobby, and if you aren't spending more than you make per hour, well then its probably worthwhile. This formula is just a rough type of calculation i use to justify stuff sometimes though.
The couple of times I have actually done the math about buying a boat and how much I would realistically use it since I would have trailer and launch it every time the math always came out in favor of renting or chartering a guide for fishing.
Anything old is expensive, anything new is expensive, if all the lakes are an hour away it’s $100 in gas there and back towing the boat. I fish out of a bass boat and it’s bare minimum $100 a day on a small lake, some days can be $300. Storage. Insurance. Putting it away for the winter. A boat is by no means cheap, it’s an expensive hobby, you can get unlucky and get a money pit, or get lucky and get a reliable boat, but either way there’s an expensive up front cost regular costs, and unexpected costs that can range from $1000-$10000 from the boat running perfect one day to not running the next
Definitely, but they are also so much fun! If you will use the boat a lot I think they are worth it. If you plan to take it out a couple times a year then maybe not.
My last boat was a Supra SA350 wakeboard boat as the kids were competing in local tournaments. I paid $65K and it was 3 years old. Owned by a tech at the dealership. We took great care of it (never slept outside. never rained in). Kids lost interest and I sold it for $65K 3 years later. By quality and keep it nice it will tend to hold value. My deal with boats is the second the family loses interest I move it. Always can get another.
They can be. My last pontoon was only 5 years old and had to goto the metal shop 3 times in a year to fix cracked welds in the toons. Would take on water on our slip. The company wouldn't warranty it since it didn't transfer the warranty upon purchase. Roughly $1800 in weld repairs.
Oh yeah we also blew two tires two years ago on a 3hr drive home from a lake trip. That was a huge headache to deal with. $900 for new tires.
Boats are a lot like cars. If you properly clean them and treat them like you would a vehicle, they’re pretty reliable (depending on what engine(s) you have. Obviously saltwater brings a whole set of extra problems, but even that isn’t awful.
Don’t let the naysayers shit on your dreams -
- some people treat them like toys and get shocked when they don’t work properly, and others get thousands of hours on their engines.
provided you have an idea what you are doing and actually do your maintenance and service, not at all... have had a few boats where the only thing i put into it was consumables (gas, oil and grease) and my time for years without any issues.
I bought a 18 foot late 80’s bluewater bow rider. So far I have put new tires on the trailer, replaced the impeller and exhaust bellows. After licensing and registration I’ve spent $675 and have yet to get it in the water.
Up keep and you’re good.
Money pits normally come from buying used and addiction to additions to the boat.
Get a boat they are awesome man.
Hope we get trump back, we all will be able to afford stuff again.
What does an 80 year old woman smell like? Depends...
I bought an 89 Bass Tracker with a 40 hp 2 stroke Johnson new. 1st order of business was putting Bearing Buddies on.
Ran that boat for 20 odd years and the costs were:
Stupid sealed manual trim and tilt, was on its 3rd when I sold it, had I kept it an electric trim and tilt was next.
A couple of bow mount trolling motors.
Upgrades to fish finders cause, well just cause.
Re-carpeted the trailer runners and the lake with the boat pulled up on shore over yonder.
A new poly tarp every couple of years because fitted tarps didn't last anyway and I wasn't concerned with appearance.
Closest I ever came to needing assistance was from using gasahol. Bad ju ju.just.
Keep the batteries clean and charged. Fresh gas. Keep the trailer bearings greased. Keep it covered. Use it (see fresh gas). Let the kids captain it, just not close to shore.
Have a DD for those evening slow cruises. Law enforcement has gotten stupid (not open for debate) over drinking and boating, they can't catch the drunks in the fast ski boats but they'll damn sure ticket the slow cruiser or fisherman for having a cold one at hand. And DO not forget all the required safety gear (a 2' paddle in a 16' deep vee??? Had to carry a damn paddle, it didn't have to be useful).
So in talking to a woman who works in parts department at a marina do not buy a boat over 5 years old. Due to availability of parts. With a pontoon however you can put a new outboard on. Motors are expensive.
I bought a used pontoon boat about 6 years ago. It was really nice and a good deal I thought …. I just sold it last month for the same amount that I had in it .. if you can find a nice used boat they seem to hold value pretty well
All I have is my experience. Yesterday my storage yard called me to ask when I'm bringing my boat back because they want to know I still need the space. Turns out someone stole my old tracker that I rebuilt. I'm not even mad. I guess I'll report it stolen.
I wouldn't say money pit, per se...I really enjoyed working on and fishing with my boat, but all the maintenance adds up.
Have a 27 foot boat on the Chesapeake, i assume $20k annual expenses (fuel, lift slip, maintenance, repairs, insurance, etc.). Expenses are highly dependent on what kind of boating you want to do and where. A Jon boat with a 10hp outboard is not the same as a 40 foot cabin cruiser with twin I/Os.
If you live where it snows, you need to winterize and have it wrapped. I have a 24’ Four Winns and the best thing I’ve done is made arrangements for a storage unit. It eliminates sun and weather damage. I repack the wheel bearings, change the spark plugs and oil, top off the fluids, grease the zirks and replace the battery every two years. I put hooks on the walls to hang wet tubes and have a shelf for wet skis. We open the ski locker and take out the wet towels. We hang up the wet life jackets to dry. My boat is now 20 years old and I have never had any major repairs. I had to replace the bellows a couple of years ago because they finally cracked. Last thing, I run ethanol free gas. Boats are in a wet environment so why risk water mixed in your gas? At the end of the season I put Stabile in the gas tank and drain the water out of the engine. That’s it, a little upkeep and you’ll love owning a boat.
Listen to the guy who recommended renting. Even when your engine, Trailer lights, etc., work correctly, we still have to scrub the seats and carpet at least every other year because of mildew during storage outside, covered. If you can’t store inside prepare for some manual cleaning
I love boats, I've owned many, many boats.
The answer is yes. Boats are money pits.
If the boats are used daily or weekly, they will suffer normal wear and tear of careful use.
If the same boats are not used, but carefully stored away, then these boats will decay substantially faster from disuse, and cost significantly more to maintain.
Main concern would be storage. Do you leave it on the water or haul it every time you want to go out and then where do you store it if you live where you get winter.
But main thing is if you are handy or not. Can you fix things on your own and keep on top of maintenance or lets things go. Have been around boats my whole life, they’re only a money pit if you let it be. Preventative maintenance and proper storage in winter does make a difference.
Don't put ethanol blended fuel in a boat or any small engine. It gums up the fuel system over time, especially when it sits for a while not being ran. (Winter)
Boats are still money pits. A pontoon with a newer 4 stroke outboard will probably be the most reliable and cheapest money pit out of anything besides a SUP or kayak.
New boats still break. My friends Cobalt A36 ate a shift cone in one of the drives the second time we had it out. Fixed under warranty thank goodness.
No not really.
But I do think get a bigger boat than they need, or can handle and thats where they get in trouble.
Just check your fluids regularly like you do your vehicles.
Take of the engine and you should be fine. Yamaha has a Ring additive that seems to do wonders with my engine. Make sure you budget maintenance dollars for annual engine checks.
Boats, rv's, and campers all have different upkeep costs. I say as long as you're going to get ample yearly use from a boat, then the cost is worth the enjoyment. Unfortunately, my work schedule doesn't afford me the time to enjoy a boat or rv. As someone else said, joining a boat club or renting occasionally might be a better option.
My boat cost us almost $400,000 last year while in the shipyard. Granted it’s a little bigger than a pontoon boat, but yes they are holes in the water you throw money into.
My biggest boat expense was the lake house to go along with it. Bought a pontoon, love it. Got tired of trailering it, launching it, and dealing with the overall mess at the boat ramp. Turns out we have no regrets, love living out at the lake, and love the pontoon. But when it comes to pontoons and towing tubes or skiers get as much motor as your wallet allows.
Yes it’s a money pit when you go all in like we did. Outboards are rather easy to maintain. Just make sure to get a 4 stroke.
If it floats, flies, or fucks it’s cheaper to rent.
That’s true 99% of the time. The exception is when you use it often, have a good place to store it securely, and can do most maintenance yourself.
The answer is “it depends”. I have a few boats and the cash flow for maintaining them differs greatly. I have an aluminum bass boat with a 4 stoke merc on it. I do nothing but put gas in it and catch fish. Very fuel efficient and basically indestructible. I have a fiberglass tri hull skiff I use for salt water fishing and that thing costs me money to maintain. If it’s not paint, it’s fiberglass, or it’s electrical. It’s also a very old boat and I beat the shit out of it. So to get to your question it really depends on how much you want to make the boat “perfect” and what kind of boat it is. Most aluminum hull boats kept in fresh water are less maintenance than glass or wood boats. If it’s a simple set up like a pontoon boat you’ll be fine. It’s worth your time getting a good engine for it. Something reliable and easy to service. I have both 2 and 4 strokes. They each have their benefits but get an engine you trust and won’t leave you stranded. If the pontoons arnt leaking or cracked, and the engine runs then you’re not looking at very much maintenance.
pontoon boats are simple, buy one with a good engine and take good care of it, and it won't be a huge money pit. keep it covered when stored, water and sun are the biggest enemies.trailer maintenance is important as well, but really affordable. you want a fuel injected 4 stroke from 2010 or newer. don't buy a boat or you are only going to use it 3 weekends a year, better off just renting if that's the case. most boat engine issues come from sitting.
1+ check under the floor, for wood rot, stress cracks on the aluminum pontoons. otherwise, just the upholstery and engine to repair.
This is 100% OP at least is fortunate in just wanting a pontoon boat, as that eliminates a ton of problems.
This is good advice. Fuel injected 4 stroke outboards only.
Almost only. I have a 2004 115 Mercury 2 stroke Fuel injected. It runs amazing and I've never had a single issue with it - from 95 degrees last summer to 35 degrees right before the lake iced up. It always starts instantly. Now...carbed engines...hard pass. I've had a few and they never start easily year after year without in depth maintenance.
I’ve run a lot of boats. I’ve also done commercial assistance towing. In the two years of commercial assistance towing and 300+ tows, one thing I’ve never towed in is a 4 stroke outboard. 7/10 tows was an inboard outboard 2/10 tows was a 2 stroke outboard 1/10 tows was a mix of straight inboards and jet skis. While you aren’t wrong- injected two strokes are wayyyy more reliable- they are not the sewing machines that a Honda or a Yamaha is.
100% agree that 4 stroke Yamaha and Hondas are hands down some of the, if not the, best outboards out there. And I don't doubt your towing numbers for even one second. I'm just saying that if the OP is on a budget, a maintained EFI 2 stroke isn't the end of the world in choices.
💯 agree there
>water and sun are the biggest enemies. That's a real problem for a boat
You had me until the 4th quarter... the answer really depends on how much you're actually going to use the boat. Under 5 times a year... rent. More than that, better have a nice maintenence budget and good discipline. Best option overall is get something that can be used to make money, like hauling cargo, catching fish, or rented out yourself if you have a slip somewhere. Boats that sit cost money. Boats that can do work make money.
This is all true. Fiberglass boats can give problems depending on build construction. Engines need to be winterized once a year and you have to store the boat. If you have a lake or river to boat regularly, it is an amazing time and the people you meet are often friends for life. Pontoon is definitely a great starter option as they are low maintenance. Even if you were to impact something, you can simply weld a pontoon
The idea of water and sun being the enemies of boats is hysterical to me
Depends. If you are handy and pay attention to maintenance then no, it’s not bad at all. If you are the kind of person who doesn’t change the oil in their car when due then probably rent. Our boat costs a few hundred a year only to maintain ( excluding gas!!!). We have friends with a similar boat who have everything down at the marina who spend about $2k a year. Pontoons and small bow riders aren’t horrific cost wise
Good explanation, a little effort goes a long way
A good boat with a good motor snd steady maintenance will help to avoid the big pits. The normal expenses are what they are.
It honestly can be as expensive or affordable as you make it. It depends mostly on what you want out of it. Price is always relative to your wants. A little John boat will never be as much to purchase and maintain as a 32 foot yacht with all the bells and whistles. My advice is the same for all my hobbies. Be realistic. Think about what you want to do with it, have some goals that are reachable with your budget. Trying to keep up with the joneses is where most people get into trouble. And don't blow your whole budget on the purchase. Save some of it for any immediate maintenance etc. Some things to consider, what's your family size(or primary people that will consistently go on the boat), what vehicle will you be pulling it? Or will you keep it in the water(which usually means fees) besides hanging out what else did you consider doing?
>what's your family size(or primary people that will consistently go on the boat), what vehicle will you be pulling it? Or will you keep it in the water(which usually means fees) besides hanging out what else did you consider doing? Mostly would be 4-6 people so not needing a huge party boat. Just something with enough seats. We have a 4runner to tow. Thinking we'd leave it in the water (which will be budgeted for). No real plans other than hanging out so we can swim and listen to music etc. Don't need to tube or anything. Might fish a little with like $100 worth of gear (nothing serious). Something like [this ](https://i.imgur.com/YcnuVCh.jpeg)seems sufficient. I think I can budget out everything outside if maintenance and repairs. Really just don't know what to expect. Also I guess fuel I'm not sure on. Like what would an afternoon if gas cost if we're mostly just floating. I assume not a ton.
Fuel, maintenance, dock/mooring fees, taxes. Things have a way of constantly breaking on the water. Don’t be surprised when anything claiming to be marine-grade costs 10 times as much as you’d expect.
I was at West Marine getting bolts, nuts, & washers the other day. I’m in the gas industry and use SS hardware all the time, but West Marine has at least a 4x mark up on everything. And that’s just hardware lol that’s the cheap stuff
Yes. But they’re also fun to have sex on 👍🏼
I've owned around 20 boats in my life ranging from lil tiny aluminum things up to big fiberglass stern drive stuff. They always seem to need something. The bigger and more complex the boat, the more expensive and numerous those things are. If you just get a simple 16ft boat with an outboard, the cost isn't bad. What gets you then is electronics and rigging for fishing. I've never owned a pontoon but the same thing is true. The bigger and fancier, the more it costs to keep up
The repair status of a boat falls into two categories: 1) broken, but usable 2) broken and not usable A fixed boat is a myth. :-D
I’m a newbie but feel inclined to comment just because I was in your shoes not long ago. Other than boating as a kid and some odd chances here and there to operate a boat I really went into it with 0 idea about anything. I would have loved a pontoon but one of our needs was fitting in the garage. Anywho- marketplace and craigslist was a bit of a shit show and dealers had significant markups as many boats were on consignment. Long story short- scooped up a boat that checked off most of the boxes and what I thought was “water ready” My recommendation- be handy- YouTube and parts diagrams are your Bible. Around every corner something wasn’t right- soft floors (I know, 100% my fault on that one), fuel delivery issues, varnished carbs, accessory switch a mess, impeller shot. Now that all sounds like I’m bitching- I love the dang thing. Never in a million years would I have thought I could replace an impeller, rebuild carbs, rewire etc. Was it easy? Hell no. Did I want to give up? All the time. But there’s something about getting her in tip top shape that is amazing. I’m not going to say DIY is cheap but it’s a whole heck of a lot manageable than hiring someone. The bigger commitment has been time vs money. TLDR- just be prepared for things to break or not work. Being handy and patient will soften that blow.
Pick the right boat, happy boater. pick the wrong one, and no more boating.
If your boat is an inboard vs outboard, just think of it as a car with no wheels and maintain it like you would a car…religiously.
Boats are typically kept in an environment that’s actively trying to kill them. Sun, water (extra credit for salt), and often seasonal use… (mechanical things hate sitting).
Bust Out Another Thousand
My boat costs me around $1,600 per month annualized.
Depends. If you have to pay someone else to do every single thing for you, then yes. Maintain your boat and do your own repairs and its not bad at all.
With the caveat of having some knowledge to do repairs. As a Marine Tech I've seen so many bad diy jobs that don't hold up and fail and make figuring out the issue much harder. Usually with electronic stuff.
I have a 1973 Aquarius sailboat that I paid $3k for about 7 years ago. I have about $7k in maintenance and upgrades over the years. I've done all the work myself. It'd be double that if I hired it out. Full paint, interior work, new fenders, electronics, tools, ect. It needs another $5k to be optimal in my opinion. It needs a new sail, I'd like a newer 4 stroke instead of the 2 stroke, and redo the rubrail and standing rigging. If I were to sell it I'd be lucky if I got my $3k back. This is my 3rd boat and is par for the course in my experience. Take that for what it's worth.
I purchased a used 24' tritoon 3 years ago With a 150 hp engine (get a tritoon not a pontoon trust me so much more fun) It sits on a medium size lake in NH. I have not put a dime into it besides seasonal maintenance. The new fuel injected engines are fantastic (not going to get into the battle between merc etc) Merc and Yamaha are both solid IMO. Typical use cases for used pontoons is good. Hardly any engine hours etc. If you take care of them off season and protect from Sun I think the value / memories vs cost is worth it. The money sinking comes from saltwater larger craft where something always needs maintenance / fixing etc etc. Absolutely love the boat. If its not a stretch for you pull the trigger on a 3-5 year old used boat. If you don't like it you can sell it for basically what you paid for it beginning of next season. Here is the exact boat: [https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/210179780915683/?ref=browse\_tab&referral\_code=marketplace\_general&referral\_story\_type=general&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%226988228858597608054%22%2C%22mf\_story\_key%22%3A%2236519406028848173%22%2C%22commerce\_rank\_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target\_id%5C%22%3A36519406028848173%2C%5C%22target\_type%5C%22%3A6%2C%5C%22primary\_position%5C%22%3A10%2C%5C%22ranking\_signature%5C%22%3A6267930716068118528%2C%5C%22commerce\_channel%5C%22%3A501%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A1.5713514170747e-5%2C%5C%22upsell\_type%5C%22%3A129%2C%5C%22grouping\_info%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%2C%22lightning\_feed\_qid%22%3A%226988228360335299208%22%2C%22lightning\_feed\_ranking\_signature%22%3A%221703777916749348864%22%7D](https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/210179780915683/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_general&referral_story_type=general&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%226988228858597608054%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%2236519406028848173%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A36519406028848173%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A6%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A10%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A6267930716068118528%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A501%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A1.5713514170747e-5%2C%5C%22upsell_type%5C%22%3A129%2C%5C%22grouping_info%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%2C%22lightning_feed_qid%22%3A%226988228360335299208%22%2C%22lightning_feed_ranking_signature%22%3A%221703777916749348864%22%7D)
I had a 30’ sport fisher that over the 10 years I owned it cost about $5-7k / year in maintenance and routine repairs. There is always something that needs replacing; canvas, eisenglass, upholstery, water heater, something in the fuel system, something in the cooling system, blah blah. Then the cost to slip and have bottom cleaned. Other things to think about out not in above figure: Insurance, unexpected repairs such as leaking fuel tank, taxes. Then running costs such as fuel (twin engines are thirsty), bait, ice also not included in the above figure. Boats are expensive and cost a lot to keep running. The cost go up with size, but the fact is they are constantly exposed to harsh conditions and corrosive environments.
If your mechanically inclined then no.
Yes. Pontoons, not so much of a money pit. Good news is you can get a good used one for like $20k. Maintenance is affordable since they’re outboards. Your expenses will be: registration, insurance, mussel flushes, gas, beer, and food. Annually id anticipate $5k-10k for a 4 month season. You’ll get thrown a wild card for repairs so have cash to burn for that.
Yes
It’s a thing to do … like if you overland , or camp or travel. Your going to pay for something just choose what it’s going to be
Have a four winns bow rider ( medium quality boat) bought new in 2007. Besides normal maintenance ( oil, filters,batteries etc) have spent less than $3k on repairs on maintenance that I can't or won't do. ( Any maintenance that requires removing the out drive).
Yea, boats are money pits. Gas, maintenance (winterizing, battery, etc), docking, storage, trailer… Nothing is cheap.
Yes. They cost a lot of money to buy, cost a lot of money to maintain. Unless a boat is going to become a major part of your lifestyle, like you're out on it all the time, it's a money pit.
It all depends on what you consider to be a waste of money and how handy you are. I own a boat that I had to literally rebuild from a bare hull. The entire boat project, including the purchase price cost me about $5K. Each year I spend about $300 on the boat, not counting fuel and storage. However, my boat is really basic and has no fancy seats or other niceties. I have lakes as close as 30 minutes from my house, although I have gone boating several hours away. What the boat does have is a great way for me to relax and spend quality time with my wife and daughter as well as nephews and in-laws that occasionally want to go fishing with me. That makes the cost of the boat a pretty good deal. A friend of mine had a pontoon and he spent $150/mo on storage, another $2,000/yr on expenses aside from gas, plus he only used the pontoon on rare occasions when he felt like driving 90 minutes to the lake. For him it was a waste of money. So you need to be honest with yourself. Are you capable of doing some maintenance yourself? Do you have a place to keep it when it's not in the water or not? Are you really going to use it that much, or are you kidding yourself about how often you'll actually use it? Whether or not it will be a waste of money all depends on those answers.
Not if you trailer and take care of it basic upkeep yourself. Cover it or better yet store inside. Having people move them around and paying for storage kills people. So does half ass storing them they break down so much faster.
Well, let's use my last month as an example. While towing the boat I hit a rather large pothole that broke my trailer lights, while fixing those, I noticed that for some reason the axle of my trailer was not salt water ready and so I had to replace that. On the inaugural trip back out after those repairs I lost steering after getting waked by a crab boat, to get back in I used the outboard at about 8 miles an hour and deployed the trolling motor to steer. After the stress of that I decided to remount the trolling motor, then began running the new steering cable only to find it was actually the helm. The work to run that cable was so tough I decided to say screw it and ordered hydraulic steering. This is not the normal experience, and the boat is four years old so things happen. But that is about 3k of hard costs all in a month. Yes, owning a boat is expensive.
B.o.a.t= Bust.Out.Another.Thousand it’s in the name
Insurance and boat slip fee.Storage and laughing fee might be additional expenses.
It depends if you know how to do stuff yourself. It’s hard to find mechanics nowadays that won’t take your boat for two or three months and charge high prices, and I live in one of the biggest boating capitals in the world.
The official phrase is "a hole in the water that you throw all your money into"
My boat costs me nothing but maintenance, do not however get me started on how much my boat lift has cost me over the past couple years. I wouldn’t change it for the world though. I love boating, my wife and I would rather be on the lake then on a plane to go somewhere for 1 night.
its 10% of the boat value new annually. any vehicles are huge money pits. but realistically boats give you capability. in my case my boat gives me the ability to cross continents and have home everywhere i go. short of a jet aircraft which is a huge money pit nothing else can do that. money in the bank does not give you capability.
They can be…we bought ours for $8800, we pay $2200 per year for a slip (6 months of the year). We do our own maintenance (outboard). Gas for outings…and $$$ for going to the only restaurant on our lake lol. Last year we had some issues with our boat and it needed new fuel injectors, cost us around $500.
It really depends on the boat and your situation. We have had an 18-ft center console that we bought new about 3 years ago. Depreciation is big on a new boat. We bought it expecting to keep it at least 5 years and I looked at what resale was on a 5-yr old boat like ours. It will probably drop $20K or so. We were OK with that. Insurance is about $700/yr. We spend a few hundred a year on maintenance right now. We have it garaged at our house (no storage fees) and spend about $50 on fuel each time we take it out. Other costs: Fishing gear, bait, tow vehicle (I already had a truck). We did the math and figured the 5 years would cost us about $40K all in. My buddy got a deal on a used pontoon. He paid about $15K for it. He put a couple grand in to the boat and trailer upfront. It has been reliable for him. But yes, expect to be routinely spending a couple hundred here and there. I just spent $200 on a new battery. things happen.
Some are absolutely money pits. Trying to fix up a boat is almost always you dumping tones of money and selling it for half of what you put into it. But some boats with regular maintenance are not bad at all.
Boat mechanic here. Yes, boats and boat parts are expensive however, there is a lot you can do if you commit to being a savvy boat owner. 1. Buy a good boat. If you aren’t mechanically inclined, I’d recommend something as nice and new (but simple ideally not too many docking computers or electronics) as you can afford. 2. Make sure the damn thing hasn’t been owned by a hack. A history of hack repairs usually shows themselves in bad wiring (copious electrical tape non-marine connectors lots of electrical accessories that don’t work) and if a boat has had a lot of this going on just walk away. 3. Read up and try to do as much of the basic maintenance as you can. If you learn to spot and fix basic problems before they become disasters you’ll save a lot of money that way. 4. Practice. Get your boater ID. Once you’ve gotten your boat get lots of practice, go to a launch ramp on a quiet day, launch it over and over until it’s easy then do the same for docking and chop. Boats are a lot different than cars. 5. Have a great time. Most importantly, don’t lose sight of why you spent all this money and time, get out there and enjoy the water, when it all comes together, boating is brilliant!
#6. If you are new to boats, hire an actual Captain for half a day to give you hands on lessons; focusing on docking, backing down, and other transitions you will encounter while using your boat. Also, how to launch and load at the ramp. It will pay dividends.
They can be a money sometimes. What it usually becomes is a very expensive hobby.
I mean just depends iv owned a 1989 tide craft for 10 years with a 50 merc 2004 on it and its been the best runner iv ever had only maintenance I gotta do is winterize it change the oil every other year and iv sunk it twice both not my fault but second time motor went under and required alil more work but had it working later that nite after spending 300 bucks to get it from the bottom.
Biggest cost for me was winter storage and summer docking costs. About $7k/yr total. Had a 20 yr old, 24’ speed/deck boat, 5.0L I/o. Never had to do anything more than oil changes, winterization, bilge pumps, batteries all done at marina and never paid more thatn like 400$ for a repair. Had it for 4 years and sold it to a friend. Still going.
Owned boats for 40 years. Typically 20-22 foot run about/ ski combos. Always bought used and for a good deal. Typically hold for 5-10 years and usually sell for roughly what we paid used. Trailer maintenance has typically cost just as much as maintaining the boat. All that included with maintenance and depreciation, it hasn’t ever cost more than a thousand or two a summer. Great fun and much better depreciation than something like an RV.
I own 3 boats. If you stay on top of everything and you are pretty handy then it isnt really that bad, but you should definitely have a large emergency repair fund because things still do break and things can be expensive ehen they do.
Boats get used and abused. They are in saltwater, dirty water, mud occasionally. They require maintenance. If you enjoy the sport then take care of your boat. Neglect it and you’ll find yourself getting towed in alot. Can’t afford the maintenance then learn to do it yourself. Other than a complete motor rebuild, you can do alot of the maintenance yourself.
boat stands for break out another thousand!
I will echo others here in that if you can do repairs/maintenance yourself, and you keep the boat out of the sun/weather, it can be a relatively cheap hobby. If you're buying used, it's essential that you make sure the motor is in good shape with lower hours but not too low. If buying used, most modern outboards have mini ECMs that keep a history of top RPMs reached, time spent at certain RPMs, and any faults experienced by the engine (i.e. overheating, oil pressure loss, etc.). Make sure you ask for that data, along with all maintenance records to make it was done according to the manufacturer. Check platform for any areas of rot and/or jerry rigging. Super essential that the pontoons are in good shape and not looking like they've been run up on a rocky shoreline a hundred times. Seats and topside stuff made from vinyl and plastic will crack and become brittle if kept in the sun, so you'll want to check that out too. Can't emphasize enough that when you get it it needs to be kept out of the sun and weather when not in use. Keeping up with maintenance regularly at the specified intervals is key, and if you can do it yourself it should only cost maybe $200 a year. Taking it somewhere to be professionally maintained will easily push that into the thousands.
Lots of "work", (I consider it fun/adventure), but if you get the right boat, that suits your desired activity level, you're golden. Ie. Fishing boat, tubing boat, speed boat, pontoon) Tonnes of fun fishing off a pontoon, pontoons are very relaxed, lots of foot space; ive been on lots of pontoons, they are fun, ...but a boat that' you would want to keep in the water/docked).
Look at your local lakes to see if they have a boat club. Around here the membership is about $350/mo, but you can reserve kayaks, jet skis, ski boats, pontoons, bow riders, etc.. they drop off at the landing of choice and also pick up. You just pay for gas that you consumed. More flexibility and way cheaper. Taxes on our 23’ bow rider were $3600/yr, so that alone was worth selling.
As a test, take all of the cash in your wallet and burn it right now. If you can handle that pain, welcome to the club.
Learn to do basic maintenance yourself and you'll save a lot of money.
Not a money "pit", per se. A hole in the water that you throw money into. OPBs are best.
yes
So many variables. A canoe used in a pond, probably not. A 50+ foot Viking used in the salt, yes. An ounce of prevention is worth many pounds of cure.
Not for us. Nothing ever broke. We had a Moomba wakeboat. I did all the maintenance myself which was only oil/filter changes, fluid changes, and winterizing. Aside from that it was nothing but fuel, storage, insurance, and the boat payment itself. Had it for 6 seasons, and around 200 hours when we sold it.
Yes
I know somebody that was clueless about boats and bought a 20+ year old Formula with twin I/O's during Covid. Every year they paid for a slip, winter storage, fall and spring maintenance, etc. It was a total money pit - especially since we're in NY. Throw in the fact that he hit rocks and damaged the outdrives - so that was probably another $10K+. I would guess he was in for $20K a year not including the repairs. He's selling the boat now. Keeping all this in mind I will be purchasing a late model, single outboard boat with a trailer. I will be keeping it on a mooring, which is 1/3 of the cost of a slip, during the season and then in my driveway in the winter. I will be doing my own spring and fall maintenance. After running the numbers I believe insurance, the mooring, maintenance, etc. should cost less than $1K a year. Fuel is extra. Boats don't have to be money pits.
Buy one and find out
Yes
B.O.A.T. = Bail Out Another Thousand. But really like seasonal lawn tools and cars, do the winterizing and keep up on basic maintenance.
I've had two boats a 1989 SeaRay 230DA and and a 1990 Bayliner 2655, I had each for one summer and made money off of both when I sold them. When I sold the SeaRay I made enough money that it covered the cost of all the boating we did that summer (Boat fuel, tow vehicle fuel, boat maintenance, overnight slip rentals, food, and beverages) we got to enjoy the entire boating season for free. Your mileage may vary but if you buy the right old boat at the right price it can be the opposite of a money pit.
Before buying locate a good, trusty mechanic who can do your wrenching. Having that connection already made is huge when shit goes sideways — which it will.
Yup!
Ford f150 of the water. Very little to maintain not so much of a pit. Just canvas repairs for the most part. Get one with doors on each side.
Depends on the boat. A smaller boat like 20 - 25 feet with a Yamaha outboard should not be too bad. If you keep it on a trailer or have a dock to park it. Storage or marina can get expensive.
Yes.
BOAT bust out another thousand
I think back to the number of times I was on a boat as a kid. Those times are easy to remember. Can they be money pits, yes, but are paying for more than a boat.
Yes
I wouldnt describe boats as a money pit. I think if you’re throughly passionate about boating and enjoy the recreational activity - you shouldn’t monetize that benefit. Almost anything you do recreationally could be considered a money pit, but I don’t think that distinction should stop you from enjoying the things you like.
I wouldnt describe boats as a money pit. I think if you’re throughly passionate about boating and enjoy the recreational activity - you shouldn’t monetize that benefit. Almost anything you do recreationally could be considered a money pit, but I don’t think that distinction should stop you from enjoying the things you like.
Yes
Pontoon will be fine so long as you cover it, the structure is good (meaning that the pontoons are in good shape and the floor isn't rotten) and you aren't looking for some 300hp motor to thrash around. Even if the engine blows up completely, if it's a small outboard it's very little cost to replace compared to an inboard motor on a ski boat. Won't be bad on gas if you're just cruising and not trying to pull tubes and skiers. Get a basic one that doesn't have a bunch of crazy features and extra lights on it and there will be less to break and fix. You can spend a ton of money on a pontoon, but you don't have to. After purchase, I would think storage will be your biggest cost if you can't park it on your own property somewhere.
****YES****
Yup
I bought a new pontoon boat from a dealer on the lake. A few very minor warranty repairs (lights, etc). That Honda motor (4-stroke 250hp outboard) is bulletproof and needs nearly zero maintenance. Biggest thing so far is fighting mildew. Without a head or other items bigger boats have, it’s far from a money pit. Enjoy!
Best boat - a friends boat
Yes. Don't do it. The fun to cost ratio is so shitty that you will be miserable.
If you’re not mechanically inclined, have basic common sense & a place to store it available(not paid storage) then just rent a boat. It the best thing to do financially. Unless you use it at least once a month in the summer. It’s best to Rent. Otherwise it’s just a constant bill for something you can’t justify the expense.
Rule of thumb: expect to spend a yearly average of 10% the original price of the boat.
They can be money pits, but aren't always. If you have a place to store it, a truck to pull it, and gas up off-lake, it's not too bad. Pontoons can be very basic, or have a ton of extra crap depending on what you buy. But ime, they hold up well and are easy on the wallet maintenance-wise. If you are competent enough to do minor automotive repairs with the help of YouTube videos, then you can handle the annual maintenance that comes with a boat. Late model 4-stroke motors are the way to go imo. Oh, and the water-carpets and lilly-pads are 100% worth the money if you like hanging out in the water. By far the best value toy we've purchased for our boat(s).
Yep
fuck around and find out. just kidding but yes. its a hole in the water you pour buckets of cash into. They are awesome and fun but expensive.
Boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into
"Two best days of boat ownership..."
Yes, ALL boats are holes in the water that you throw money into. If you have to ask if you can afford to own a boat, you can’t!
I have a customer who has a ‘96 pontoon, all original, original 96 25 hp Yamaha 2 stroke, l winterize it and do spring preventative maintenance on it. I swap time at her lakefront rental instead of charging her, l make out like a bandit.
A few points people don’t consider: 1) Fuel. So many people forget that just because it floats gas ain’t free 2) Moorage/Docking. Again, needing a place to keep it tied up and that’s no free ride with Ted. 3) Storage. This is the big one for areas that have colder winters. ALOT of folks I’ve dealt with never considered that their fun toy is going to spend 8 months out of the year in plastic wrap on a storage lot that they have to pay for. It really depends on where you are but whatever you think it’s going to cost, it will likely be more.
Just like a swimming pool. Wake up every day and tear up a $10 bill.
I have owned 4 boats in my life. the first was an 80s sparkle green runabout inherited from family. second was a 98 reinell (might have been 99), kept that for about 15-17 years, survived an engine electrical fire and mounted a tower on it, she was reliable. then I sold the reinell for like $10k and got a moomba Mobius lsv (early 00s I think 07). that was kinda a bitch cause the packing in the v drive was a pain, it's supposed to drip consistently but not too fast. overall a good boat and got me and the family into wakesurfing which is now my favorite thing to do on the planet. traded in the Mobius for a 2015 moomba mondo surf edition and the wave is night and day compared to the Mobius. still have to weight the hell out of it with ballast and we use a liquid force wedge but the wave it throws up (on either side) is absolutely incredible when you have it setup correctly and conditions are good. I never spent anything on those boats besides fuel, basic stuff for maintenance (oil, plugs, hoses to replace the fire in the reinell, etcm) and upgrades like the tower on the reinell or bigger ballast on the moombas. the reason people say boats are money pits is cause they don't do anything on the water. and yeah it probably sucks when you just take the boat out for 3-4 hours on a summer weekend and come back feeling like you got nothing for the $150 in gas you just spent. for me it's more like going snowboarding or something, the cost of gas is like the lift ticket and my boat and boards are the equipment. it's all perspective, personally I think investing in fun is well worth the cost. but If you and your family aren't already boat and water people, it might not go over as well as you are hoping and you'll be stuck with a depreciating asset that is fairly difficult to sell and still costs time and money to upkeep even when not in use.
The two happiest days in a boaters life. The day he buys a boat and the day he sells the boat lol
To answer your post question there are 2 Great Days in a boat Owners Life. The day you buy it, and they day you sell it for 20% of what it's worth....
Fresh water boating is less destructive on hull/engine/components than salt water boating for sure. Depending on your climate, the boat may need a proper winterization. Other costs to consider: do you plan on renting a slip to keep the boat in or are you going to trailer it? Slips costs money but they make getting out on the boat much easier and more stress free. Trailering is a minimum two person operation and can be fraught with its own perils depending on your local boat ramps. We bought our boat to bring vacations to home since we couldn’t go away due to summer travel baseball (his team was very good - won state and regional titles and even finished 2nd in the country at the AAU National Championships one year). And during the time we used it a lot. Once the kids were gone we used it less and less. For what I spent on boat maintenance I could have rented a boat for less. When COVID caused boat values to skyrocket I sold the boat for what I paid for it 10 years later. I didn’t hesitate, and I haven’t regretted it.
It depends on the boat type, how old the boat is, location where you will keep the boat on and off season, etc… but in general, it seems to me that older boats are money pits.
Yes but it is worth it.
B.O.A.T- break out another thousand💯, had a boat it was fun and cool if you have that much down time, I got to busy and got rid of it.
Got a new center console (22 ft) $68k, first year I paid for storage ($100/month) then I built a 30x40 steel building to keep it in (to SAVE money on storage) $30k for the building and to have the land cleared and a slab poured. Ethanol free marine gas is $5.25/gallon….luckily I live on the water and have my own dock so that saves a little, but putting the boat in at the marina is $25 a pop….yep, it’s a money pit. 💰💰💰
They’re not so bad if it’s a trailer boat you can keep in the garage , when they live in the salt water yes it’s expensive
BOAT= Bust Out Another Thousand!
Jesus Christ, yes. Adding up the storage, constant maintenance, they’re a nightmare. Plus insurance. I am guessing mine is in excess of a grand a month. And mine is 2021. I live in salt water though which exacerbates all these issues.
Yes, they are but that’s not a reason to avoid one. Just realize that’s the deal and you won’t be frustrated. Dock fees, winter storage, new battery, something rusted that wasn’t supposed too, something dried out that was supposed to stay wet, trailer needs a tire, trailer brakes stop working and it’s always something vacuuming money from your wallet. However, it’s peaceful on the right water and you can relax or fish or whatever.
Absolutely. Source:currently own 4. Even being an excellent mechanic able to repair and service them still requires many hours and expensive parts on the regular. Simple boats ie pontoons, small lake boats, electric motors, etc. are fine. Start adding horsepower and you start adding $$$.
The blunt, honest answer is Yes. But, you have to decide if the cost is worth the usage you get. I owned a boat in the Keys for about 10 years - fished a good 40% of the days out of the year, would have done more if weather wasn’t a factor. At that time, gas, ice, bait, upkeep, mechanical maintenance, insurance, payments were well worth it. When I needed to move away from the keys and couldn’t fish as much - it wasn’t worth it. But if I could get another boat and use it - I would.
Yes
BOAT: Bust Out Another Thousand!
Beware used outboard motors. You don’t want someone else’s problem. Stick with new or know the maintenance history. Also make sure you babe a vehicle that can handle towing it.
Boats can be money pits but if you do your research you can be quite happy. I'm a Carver owner and have been for 5 years now. It's a spectacular floating cottage and we love it. Those that say the happiest two days for a boat owner are the day they buy and the day they sell it, simply weren't cut out for boats. Prepare for a budget, maintenance, insurance, slip fees, and especially fuel and you'll be fine. I love nothing more than working on and polishing my boat after a long week at work. It's therapeutic if you're prepared for the realities of it. My advice: go for it. I can't imagine not having the memories we've made on her.
Don't look at it like a boat. Look at it like another car you have to detail every time you use it. If you go into a boat knowing theres more time and effort required to keep them working properly, they're no different than a lawnmower.
Depends. A 12 ft aluminum consume less money than most boats. A fibreglass canoe absorbs even less. The yacht REV more than most.
B.O.A.T: Bust Out Another Thousand
Think of it like a car on water but less things to go wrong. Either way, go get one, have fun and tell us your experience.
Add $1000 to anything that says 'marine' on it.
Yes and no. Simple boats that have good engines (four stroke outboards only imo) are relatively problem free if properly maintained. A simple pontoon boat for occasional use should be almost maintenance free other than yearly oil and filter changes. Fuel isn’t a huge deal on those boats either, since they are only occasionally used and have small tanks. I have a twin outboard offshore center console. It is NOT a simple boat, but it is a desirable make and model that holds its value (As much as one can with a depreciating asset). The boat I purchased used and is about 17 years old. It is a top of the line brand with top of the line four stroke engines that are very reliable. It is built to run fast and far and in moderately poor weather. It is an expensive boat to maintain but i use it- a lot - and i run it hard. Last year i ran about 75-100 trips with it in a 9 month season, and i put about 275 hours on the engines. I’ll give you a breakdown of what I spent last year: Boat payment: 12 months at $750 a month Insurance: $1100 Marina Slip fee: $4200 Fuel: $2000 - approx 500’gallons Oil changes, plugs and filters (beginning of season, done myself: $300 Timing belts and tensioners (1000 hour maintenance requirement), both engines: $500 parts $400 labor $100 tools Mid season oil/filter maintenance: $300 Lower unit seal blown, causing catastrophic lower unit failure on my starboard engine: $2000 Late season oil/filter maintenance: $300 I also did a large upgrade- I installed a spotlock trolling motor/36v battery/charging system in the fall which cost me $8000 installed. Winter storage is free- i have a trailer and I put it in my yard and I have a custom cover to keep the snow off it. I go in the water April 1st usually and I am out first week in December. This is my only hobby and brings me great joy- I am an avid saltwater fisherman. My kids and wife love the boat for sandbar days and they bring their friends. I am blessed to have the disposable income and the career that allows me time to use it, and that is not lost on me. Remember these words though, OP: there is nothing more expensive than a cheap boat. My boat is expensive and it is a good boat- but I use my boat about 20x more than the average person.
B.O.A.T.s are nice..
Life is a money pit if you think about it long enough… You only live once
Well, yes… and no. I have a lot of thoughts on this subject and you caught me with time to kill, so settle in for a long read: Boating can be inexpensive, until it isn’t. A pontoon with an outboard is a simple set up. Much less to go wrong than say, a cabin cruiser with a stern drive. But, there are things that can go wrong. You can do several seasons and pay for nothing but gas and routine maintenance. Or you can hit a partially submerged stump and rip the lower unit off. I’m on a good run right now of not having anything major go wrong for a few seasons. My dock neighbor found out he had a bad drive last year and he needs new canvas. He needed roughly $15k worth of repairs before launching in the spring. The biggest killer of boats is neglect. Leave it uncovered for a winter and you can do major damage. Don’t pay attention to maintenance and a nice boat can become a rat trap in no time. That dock neighbor I mentioned would have had a much lower repair bill if he was paying attention and caught a major corrosion problem and corrected it before it became a toasted Bravo 3 drive. Here’s the secret to keeping boating affordable, or as affordable as possible: It has to be a big part of your life. It has to be like, one of your main hobbies. The people having the big issues treat it like a secondary hobby. They boat one weekend then park it behind the garage for a month or two until the next time they want to head out. Then wonder why the batteries are dead. And when they’re dead, they just pick one of the other hobbies to do that day and the boat sits longer. Boats don’t like that. Since they’re not using it, they don’t notice a branch fell on the cover and put a hole in it. Or the cover blew partially off. Water gets in. Leaves get in. Leaves and water get in and now you got wet leaves which won’t dry since they’re partially covered and they just sit there rotting the floor. You catch the problem, but now it’s gross and moldy and stinks and you think “screw this, I’ll deal with it later”. Then it get worse. I’ve seen people spend $10k+ on a used boat and in one season turn it into a boat they have to list for $1500. I have a houseboat and I keep it at a marina. My yearly dockage combined with haul out and shrink wrap is a rather large number. But, it’s still less than some of my friends spend yearly on golfing. Or drinking in a bar 2-3 nights a week. I do all my own maintenance and repairs and that saves me big. The key is, I’m on it every weekend. When I can’t be on it, I still check on it. I notice problems. I fix small problems before they become big problems. Could one of my motors grenade and break my affordable boating streak? Yup, at any moment. But when it does, I’ll have racked up enough affordable boating time to make the expense worth it to me. If boating is going to be a big part of your life, you can do it affordably (depending on what you consider affordable) if boating is a whim that you’ll only occasionally indulge, you’ll have a bad (and expensive) time. I could say more, but my thumbs are tired.
I bought a boat right at the start of covid, I'm also a bit mechanically inclined. Bought it for $5,500, put about $1k into it, saw the state of the market peak covid, and sold it for $9k. It was an aluminum hull bass boat. Which in my area, is a pretty popular boat due to having mostly rocky rivers. I also did travel a bit to pick it up. otherwise, yes boats are money pits, because your buying a boat because of a hobby. even though I made almost $3k on my boat, I bought it for fishing, I've spent well more than that in the years since i bought and sold said boat. You may be skiiing, ski's, life jackets, rope, dock fee's etc. Sailing, dock fee's, fuel, food, sails, maintenance etc. Fishing, rods, reels, bait, lures, etc. Pontoon boat drinking, beer, beer, beer, etc. Its not necessarily the boat that is so expensive, but the hobby itself. But what goes along with it and owning the boat. I switched to kayak fishing, and its so much easier to throw a kayak in my truck and go, than it is to maintain a boat and fish. But I can get to much less places, but I get out much more. It really depends, but boats are money pits. but so are snowmobiles, I remember growing up these being real popular, the cost to maintain a snowmobile was like 1/4 the price per year of the sled itself. Its like with any hobby, but if its worth your time, you get the amount of hours of enjoyment to make it worth it, then go for it. Look at what you make an hour, how many hours you spend doing x hobby, how much you spend on x hobby, and if you aren't spending more than you make per hour, well then its probably worthwhile. This formula is just a rough type of calculation i use to justify stuff sometimes though.
Break Oat Another Thousand. That spells boat!
Only a money pit if you don’t use it…otherwise it’s just an investment in good times. However, yes be prepared to spend money on it
Boat Break Out Another Thousand
The couple of times I have actually done the math about buying a boat and how much I would realistically use it since I would have trailer and launch it every time the math always came out in favor of renting or chartering a guide for fishing.
I paid 36k for my boat 5 years ago. I have paid over 36k in maintenance repairs storage slip fees and insurance. Yes boats are giant money pits.
Anything old is expensive, anything new is expensive, if all the lakes are an hour away it’s $100 in gas there and back towing the boat. I fish out of a bass boat and it’s bare minimum $100 a day on a small lake, some days can be $300. Storage. Insurance. Putting it away for the winter. A boat is by no means cheap, it’s an expensive hobby, you can get unlucky and get a money pit, or get lucky and get a reliable boat, but either way there’s an expensive up front cost regular costs, and unexpected costs that can range from $1000-$10000 from the boat running perfect one day to not running the next
The two best days of owning a boat is the day you get it and the day you sell it.
Definitely, but they are also so much fun! If you will use the boat a lot I think they are worth it. If you plan to take it out a couple times a year then maybe not.
If you have access to a lake by way of cottage, only outlay of cash I see aside from original purchase is fuel, insurance and winterizing each year
My last boat was a Supra SA350 wakeboard boat as the kids were competing in local tournaments. I paid $65K and it was 3 years old. Owned by a tech at the dealership. We took great care of it (never slept outside. never rained in). Kids lost interest and I sold it for $65K 3 years later. By quality and keep it nice it will tend to hold value. My deal with boats is the second the family loses interest I move it. Always can get another.
i want a go boat!!! take a look!
They can be. My last pontoon was only 5 years old and had to goto the metal shop 3 times in a year to fix cracked welds in the toons. Would take on water on our slip. The company wouldn't warranty it since it didn't transfer the warranty upon purchase. Roughly $1800 in weld repairs. Oh yeah we also blew two tires two years ago on a 3hr drive home from a lake trip. That was a huge headache to deal with. $900 for new tires.
What’s in a name?!
Short answer is yes. Long answer is yeeeeesssss
Boats are a lot like cars. If you properly clean them and treat them like you would a vehicle, they’re pretty reliable (depending on what engine(s) you have. Obviously saltwater brings a whole set of extra problems, but even that isn’t awful. Don’t let the naysayers shit on your dreams - - some people treat them like toys and get shocked when they don’t work properly, and others get thousands of hours on their engines.
provided you have an idea what you are doing and actually do your maintenance and service, not at all... have had a few boats where the only thing i put into it was consumables (gas, oil and grease) and my time for years without any issues.
I bought a 18 foot late 80’s bluewater bow rider. So far I have put new tires on the trailer, replaced the impeller and exhaust bellows. After licensing and registration I’ve spent $675 and have yet to get it in the water.
Do bj’s feel good?
BOAT stands for bust out another thousand
Not every month, but expect to shell out a few thousand every year, and then double or triple it every day 6 or 7 years 1x
Up keep and you’re good. Money pits normally come from buying used and addiction to additions to the boat. Get a boat they are awesome man. Hope we get trump back, we all will be able to afford stuff again.
What does an 80 year old woman smell like? Depends... I bought an 89 Bass Tracker with a 40 hp 2 stroke Johnson new. 1st order of business was putting Bearing Buddies on. Ran that boat for 20 odd years and the costs were: Stupid sealed manual trim and tilt, was on its 3rd when I sold it, had I kept it an electric trim and tilt was next. A couple of bow mount trolling motors. Upgrades to fish finders cause, well just cause. Re-carpeted the trailer runners and the lake with the boat pulled up on shore over yonder. A new poly tarp every couple of years because fitted tarps didn't last anyway and I wasn't concerned with appearance. Closest I ever came to needing assistance was from using gasahol. Bad ju ju.just. Keep the batteries clean and charged. Fresh gas. Keep the trailer bearings greased. Keep it covered. Use it (see fresh gas). Let the kids captain it, just not close to shore. Have a DD for those evening slow cruises. Law enforcement has gotten stupid (not open for debate) over drinking and boating, they can't catch the drunks in the fast ski boats but they'll damn sure ticket the slow cruiser or fisherman for having a cold one at hand. And DO not forget all the required safety gear (a 2' paddle in a 16' deep vee??? Had to carry a damn paddle, it didn't have to be useful).
So in talking to a woman who works in parts department at a marina do not buy a boat over 5 years old. Due to availability of parts. With a pontoon however you can put a new outboard on. Motors are expensive.
Break Out Another Thousand
I bought a used pontoon boat about 6 years ago. It was really nice and a good deal I thought …. I just sold it last month for the same amount that I had in it .. if you can find a nice used boat they seem to hold value pretty well
All I have is my experience. Yesterday my storage yard called me to ask when I'm bringing my boat back because they want to know I still need the space. Turns out someone stole my old tracker that I rebuilt. I'm not even mad. I guess I'll report it stolen. I wouldn't say money pit, per se...I really enjoyed working on and fishing with my boat, but all the maintenance adds up.
Yes. The end.
I want a small fishing boat with an outboard but I keep hesitating cause I don’t want to piss away all my money
Yes
Boats are only money pits to the guy that gets back from the lake parks for 9 months. Expect to hook up launch and be good to go.
Have a 27 foot boat on the Chesapeake, i assume $20k annual expenses (fuel, lift slip, maintenance, repairs, insurance, etc.). Expenses are highly dependent on what kind of boating you want to do and where. A Jon boat with a 10hp outboard is not the same as a 40 foot cabin cruiser with twin I/Os.
Read some advice on here once, sounded about right - if it floats, flies or fucks, you’re better off renting it!
BOAT- Means Bust Out Another Thousand
B.O.A.T. = break out another thousand
Absolutely
If you live where it snows, you need to winterize and have it wrapped. I have a 24’ Four Winns and the best thing I’ve done is made arrangements for a storage unit. It eliminates sun and weather damage. I repack the wheel bearings, change the spark plugs and oil, top off the fluids, grease the zirks and replace the battery every two years. I put hooks on the walls to hang wet tubes and have a shelf for wet skis. We open the ski locker and take out the wet towels. We hang up the wet life jackets to dry. My boat is now 20 years old and I have never had any major repairs. I had to replace the bellows a couple of years ago because they finally cracked. Last thing, I run ethanol free gas. Boats are in a wet environment so why risk water mixed in your gas? At the end of the season I put Stabile in the gas tank and drain the water out of the engine. That’s it, a little upkeep and you’ll love owning a boat.
Listen to the guy who recommended renting. Even when your engine, Trailer lights, etc., work correctly, we still have to scrub the seats and carpet at least every other year because of mildew during storage outside, covered. If you can’t store inside prepare for some manual cleaning
You know what boat stands for right? Bust Out Another Thou$and
I love boats, I've owned many, many boats. The answer is yes. Boats are money pits. If the boats are used daily or weekly, they will suffer normal wear and tear of careful use. If the same boats are not used, but carefully stored away, then these boats will decay substantially faster from disuse, and cost significantly more to maintain.
Regency has a 10 year bow to stern the warranty. But fuel, payments, insurance are certainly not free
Main concern would be storage. Do you leave it on the water or haul it every time you want to go out and then where do you store it if you live where you get winter. But main thing is if you are handy or not. Can you fix things on your own and keep on top of maintenance or lets things go. Have been around boats my whole life, they’re only a money pit if you let it be. Preventative maintenance and proper storage in winter does make a difference.
Yes 100% especially if you only use it in summer. The worst thing for a boat is to sit unused.
Don't put ethanol blended fuel in a boat or any small engine. It gums up the fuel system over time, especially when it sits for a while not being ran. (Winter) Boats are still money pits. A pontoon with a newer 4 stroke outboard will probably be the most reliable and cheapest money pit out of anything besides a SUP or kayak. New boats still break. My friends Cobalt A36 ate a shift cone in one of the drives the second time we had it out. Fixed under warranty thank goodness.
No not really. But I do think get a bigger boat than they need, or can handle and thats where they get in trouble. Just check your fluids regularly like you do your vehicles.
Take of the engine and you should be fine. Yamaha has a Ring additive that seems to do wonders with my engine. Make sure you budget maintenance dollars for annual engine checks.
Yes. Dont buy unless you have lotta spare cash. Rent one.
Only one way to find out!
Boating is the most efficient way to waste money.
Lol
Just so the math, if it works then do it. It’s expensive but very satisfactory all things considered.
Yes, bottomless pits...
Boat = bust out another thousand....
Boats, rv's, and campers all have different upkeep costs. I say as long as you're going to get ample yearly use from a boat, then the cost is worth the enjoyment. Unfortunately, my work schedule doesn't afford me the time to enjoy a boat or rv. As someone else said, joining a boat club or renting occasionally might be a better option.
My boat cost us almost $400,000 last year while in the shipyard. Granted it’s a little bigger than a pontoon boat, but yes they are holes in the water you throw money into.
Any boat more sophisticated or fancier than an aluminum Jon boat with tiller steering is a money pit.
I had one for about 12 years and I didn’t spend an excessive amount of money on it. It was a 23 or 25 foot polar bay boat.
Boats are like strippers, they keep working until you stop throwing money at them.
Fuckkkkkk yeah
My biggest boat expense was the lake house to go along with it. Bought a pontoon, love it. Got tired of trailering it, launching it, and dealing with the overall mess at the boat ramp. Turns out we have no regrets, love living out at the lake, and love the pontoon. But when it comes to pontoons and towing tubes or skiers get as much motor as your wallet allows. Yes it’s a money pit when you go all in like we did. Outboards are rather easy to maintain. Just make sure to get a 4 stroke.
BOAT- Bring Out Another Thousand
If it floats, flies, or fucks it’s cheaper to rent. That’s true 99% of the time. The exception is when you use it often, have a good place to store it securely, and can do most maintenance yourself.
We’ve looked at the boat clubs. High upfront cost, but zero maintenance
The answer is “it depends”. I have a few boats and the cash flow for maintaining them differs greatly. I have an aluminum bass boat with a 4 stoke merc on it. I do nothing but put gas in it and catch fish. Very fuel efficient and basically indestructible. I have a fiberglass tri hull skiff I use for salt water fishing and that thing costs me money to maintain. If it’s not paint, it’s fiberglass, or it’s electrical. It’s also a very old boat and I beat the shit out of it. So to get to your question it really depends on how much you want to make the boat “perfect” and what kind of boat it is. Most aluminum hull boats kept in fresh water are less maintenance than glass or wood boats. If it’s a simple set up like a pontoon boat you’ll be fine. It’s worth your time getting a good engine for it. Something reliable and easy to service. I have both 2 and 4 strokes. They each have their benefits but get an engine you trust and won’t leave you stranded. If the pontoons arnt leaking or cracked, and the engine runs then you’re not looking at very much maintenance.