| Boats were never your priority in life. Yet suddenly | | | | Better still; think about a full-cabin setup, if you're |
| after retiring form a full-time job, the subject of | | | | going to try overnight boating. |
| boating, power crafts, sailing and boat building | | | | The size of you motors is another important factor. |
| appeared with a vengeance. Hardly a day passes that | | | | Tell the boat dealer how far you're going to take |
| you don't hear about your old mate Nick getting to | | | | your boat, how many people on board; what |
| the final stages of outfitting his catamaran. Or, how | | | | weather are you going to be sailing in, etc. This will |
| much fun Rose and her family had on their latest | | | | enable him to better meet your needs. There's |
| fishing trip. It seems boats are present in | | | | nothing worse than an underpowered boat, or one |
| everybody's life.... | | | | that has motors 50% stronger than needed, and is |
| And before you know, your wife asks you: "How | | | | very hard to balance. These marine engines, diesel or |
| about buying a nice, fast boat that we could | | | | petrol, tend to be quite expensive; with added costs |
| entertain our friends on, and fill in all the spare time | | | | of maintenance and repairs only apparent at the later |
| we have?" | | | | stage of your boat ownership. |
| Well, with your thoughts racing faster than a | | | | Another important issue, which must be considered, |
| $300,000 speed boat, you say: "I'll think about it." | | | | is the boat storage. For larger boats, it's much more |
| Yes, very wise decision, which unfortunately is not | | | | convenient to keep them in a marina or boat storage |
| one that many "unhappy" boat owners ever made... | | | | facilities, than towing them for a launch at the boat |
| Acting on a spur of the moment, or being pushed to | | | | ramp. Understandably, there will be costs involved. |
| action by the family and peers, they drive to the | | | | Expect to pay from $380 per month, to store you |
| nearest boat dealer and choose their next "toy". | | | | 21 feet boat in a boat shed, somewhere on the East |
| A few months later, when the novelty wears down, | | | | Coast of the US. In very popular boating and tourist |
| this shiny, sleek boat hull seems to be more an | | | | locations, expect to pay much more. |
| obstacle in your driveway, that something you'd like | | | | Financial outlays don't stop there. Apart from the |
| to take to the water, for a few hours of fun. And | | | | compulsory registration fees that vary between |
| the same people who used to encourage you to buy | | | | states, you should insure your boat for its full value. |
| the best that marine dealership has to offer, left you | | | | It's compulsory for boats that are leased, or bought |
| for another friend; only, because his powerboat can | | | | on a hire-purchase. |
| pierce the water as fast as 80 mph... | | | | As you can see by now, owning a boat means not |
| Although it's too late, let's consider all the factors | | | | only long boat trip to exotic locations, or hauling |
| that you should have considered, before jumping into | | | | record breaking fish catches. There are not only the |
| "deep water" and spending a large chunk of your | | | | running costs that you must account for, and pay |
| savings on a new Riviera 620, with twin 250 hp | | | | regardless whether you're using your boat, or not. By |
| Mercury outboards. | | | | now, you've probably started thinking: "Should I rent |
| You need to decide first, what size of boat fits your | | | | a boat instead?" |
| needs. If you're going for offshore fishing trips, a | | | | Very good thought; make sure, it comes at the right |
| half-cabin sea-worthy boat is the starting point. | | | | time... |