Boat Use Question

[Capt. Kermie]

It's a Lifestyle

Sailing is a lifestyle, you get out of it what you put into it. I am fortunate to have a 26' trailerable sailboat that I moor in a slip for 4 months of sailing season, the rest of the year it is in my driveway and I will tow the few times outside the 4 months that I sail. I have noticed during my 4 months at the marina that it is a fairly active place, many of the boats are out regularly and the docks are quite busy with weekend campers who go there to sit in their cabin on the water. The trick is to stay within your means/needs rather than your wants. My boat is affordable, manageable & versatile plus it gets plenty of use so my return on investment is fair. Sure it requires money and maintenance but for me it is my life and I am living my dream every season. A smaller boat gets used more and if it is easily accessable more so, if it is inexpensive (relatively speaking) even more so, easy to manage, still moreso, great sailing venue, even more more so and if you have the time... well that's the biggest influence. It all depends on many factors/variables. You have to love it and have your heart in it, I live for it, and it shows by the condition my boat is in, I keep her well.Brings tears to my eyes to see a beautiful boat gone derelit, but it is all too common a sight, folks buy more than they can handle.

 

[higgs]

Boating takes a lot of time

The rules are well understood among my non sailing friends and family. From May through mid October I am not availabe for weddings, graduations, social gatherings, christenings, etc. If they want me I am down at the boat and will be happy to take them out sailing. If they don't like sailing, I will be happy to have dinner aboard with them in the evening.

 

[Bill Roosa]

It is a status thing

They don't love sailing, they love telling other folks they have a sailboat. It is a giant ego trip for lots of folks.Frankly I'm glad as this results in a constant stream of great boats at low prices.

 

[Ctskip]

Then there's the folks

who want a house on the water, but can't afford one. So the next best thing to do is to get a boat, any boat, large enough to sleep on and dine on. Maybe have a sleep over or two. Can't find a house on the water at that price. Maybe we'll take it out. Nah, just make us another drink and we'll make believe. We'll have to do this more often. Don't forget to wear the Greek sailors hat dear. And there you have it. I call them wanna bees. Ahh.. for the life style. Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[letterman]

my neighbors

The guy on my port (power boat) uses his boat 3 times a season, and of that, only takes it out twice. Pays $1500 for the dock. Guy on the right (40 foot Owens, no motors) never took his out. Same rate. He showed up once last year. The russian guy across from me (30 something power boat) takes his out all the time, sometimes two or three times a day. He crashes into the dock, breakwall, posts, floating debris....but he loves it! I took mine out about 90 times last season. Sailboat. Used about 20 gallons of fuel.

 

[CalebD]

Jacques, was it the Extra Duties that got you?

'Think Pool Boy w/ Extra duties.' from post #11 from BobV? Very funny posts, both yours and his. Next people will be posting for gigalo/mistress wanted adds on this forum!

 

[higgs]

Cheap lake front property

I use to have a bit of disdain for those who humg out on their boats each weekend and never went out, but I now see their point, as sometimes I like to do just that. Sometimes it is fun to hit the boat on a Friday night, help close up the local bar and sleep in late on Saturday. You finally drag your butt out of the bunk and put on some coffee, maybe mosey over to the local greasy spoon for breakfast, get a paper, sit around in the sun a read with a little music on. Do a little maintaince while soaking up those rays, chew the fat with neighbors, start partying again in the early afternoon and do it all again.I do go out a lot and take quite a few good trips, but I can see why just hanging out appeals to some. At least those people are using their boats - maybe not for the intended purpose - but still getting use out of their money.

 

[jleblanc31]

Extra duties plus

Caleb D The extra duties is definitely a plus but I'll get to sail her old mans boat.

 

[Hugh4753]

Lots of Boats

Glad to know it's not just a local thing. BobV mentioned the partnering with an older sailor who didn't have time or health problems prevented him from using the boat. I actually have a nephew who inherited a 25 footer this way. He'd go out with an elderly neighbor and clean and maintain the boat for him, when the guy went to a nursing home he asked my nephew during a visit if he'd like to have the boat, viola he got a boat. Maybe the kernel of an idea here, if someone would contact the boat owners and ask if they'd like to have their boat cleaned/maintained in return for using the boat occasionally, get some experienced sailors to supervise local kids in the cleaning and then teach the kids to sail the boat. Not sure of the insurance/liability issues involved but seems like a way to introduce kids to sailing and put the boats to some good use. What say you?

 

[Ed Wolfe]

time is not on their side

We see this on the north shore of Boston as well. Let's face it , many people have to work 50+ hours a week ,with the wife kicking in as well. This leaves little leasure time . What ever happened to the 30 hr work week . This also may explain the increase in fractional ownership and boat clubs , where you don't have to do all that "boat work" , just show up and go . My son runs a nationally recognized boat club and most of his members are previous boat owners looking to get away from matainance and insurance costs . Besides they get to use a sailboat one day and power the next. They love the turnkey style . Me well I still own but get out 5/7 days a week and love it!

 

[tom]

Really Dislike Absent Owners

These unused boats sitting and taking up space that could be used by sailers. It took us over two years to get a slip at Joe Wheeler State Park in northern Alabama. But walk the docks and there are at least a dozen nasty filthy boats that haven't been used in a long time. There are a lot of people who would buy a boat if they had a slip available. It would be nice if there was a use it or lose it clause in slip rental agreements. Derelict boats shouldn't be competeing for space with boats that people actually use. Wouldn't be great if all slips at a marina had active sailers??? It makes sense for marina operators too. Active boaters buy fuel ,snacks eat at the marina restaurant. A marina full of derelict boats is kinda depressing. In the slip beside me there is a Catalina 25. Sailcovers green and coming apart ,lichens growing on the woodwork. The hull and deck green with algea. That slip could have a well maintained used boat with a happy family using it regularly. BUT that happy family can't buy a boat because the marina has a two year waiting list.  I am not saying that a boat has to be used every nice day. But derelict unused boats should be kicked out of marinas to allow sailers access. If there was an unlimited number of slips available it wouldn't matter. But these derelict boats drive up slip prices and keep sailers from having access. I can see some old fart wanting to keep a boat for memories sake 10 years after he stopped using it. But I have known the frustration of trying to find a slip that I can afford. If you don't use your boat sell it and let someone else have a chance to enjoy USING a boat.

 

[Tim]

Look on the bright side

I love having the dock almost to myself. Reading this tread got me thinking of what it would be like if every boat on my dock was used as much as mine. It would be a circus.Tim

 

[Liam]

Dream and Reality don't match

Tom's post about Dreams and Reality not matching is absolutely accurate. This can often work out in favor of the sailor who wants an almost new boat at a very used boat price.Two years ago I had the good fortune of finding such a deal.The previous owner had seen the boat at the boat show and got carried away with the fantasy of being a sailor. He paid $150k for a brand new performance cruiser then spent another $40K on gear (all receipts were on the boat). This guy sailed one season and found that neither he or his wife had any desire to do more.He put the boat on the market listed at $125k. The boat was perfect and just like new with 30 hours on the diesel. Not a scratch or dent anywhere. The head holding tank had never been used. No one had ever even slept aboard or used the galley.I offered $85k cash deal. Offer was accepted in less than an hour. Survey showed the boat in "like new" condition with no survey recomendations.In a way I felt a little bad about this man's loss, but he didn't really care. He is very wealthy and it just didn't matter to him.About two weeks later the guy shows up at the dock to say hello and to give me about $2k worth of spare parts and foul weather gear that he had in his garage.Sometimes other peoples fantasies make for great realities!