50 years of id10t, midlife crisis, boat?

[id10t]

Indeed... today marks 50 cycles around the sun for me.

Suddenly the urge to buy a small boat has welled back up in me. I guess since I've had the 356 since 49 years and 362 days ago I don't need to go buy a sports car... and the finances aren't right yet for restoring the 356...

But I have the urge for a toy, and I've got all of my at-the-moment desired spoons...

So - boat? River, small local lakes, and very sheltered lake-like/river-like parts of the gulf coast. Have a canoe, but that won't cut it for my son and I fishing, etc.

Plan pre-covid was to buy a trailer (done!) and some plywood and actually build a small boat with my son, but lumber prices are stupid crazy now/still.

But checking craigslist... I see a 14' stumpknocker (ok, perfect so far) with a excellent condition 9.9hp motor, lights, canopy, etc. that in the pictures looks to be in excellent shape.... for $2000.

Would need to add a hitch to the wife's car (CX9) as well, so I need to account for that cost.

Think this is worth looking into more?

[Seahawk]

What area of the country do you live?

[nota]

It is always far cheaper to buy used then build

[Zeke]

I don't understand. It reads like you got the 356 when you were 3 days old.

Anyway, happy birthday. You'll have another happy BD if you sell the boat on a future BD.

[KFC911]

I have fished all over your neck of the woods years ago.... lower St. Johns and the lakes. Rodman, Orange (Cross Creek) Lochloosa, Crescent, Little George, Oklawaha river, etc. in bass boats and a 14' flat bottom Jon... get yourself one of the latter and go have have some fun .

[id10t]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

What area of the country do you live?

I'm in N Central Florida. Few local lakes within 20 miles, three different boat ramps on the Santa Fe river within 15 miles, and Cedar Key is about 70 miles via the back roads.

Originally Posted by Zeke

I don't understand. It reads like you got the 356 when you were 3 days old.

Anyway, happy birthday. You'll have another happy BD if you sell the boat on a future BD.

I did - it was the car I came home from the hospital in, and I've claimed ownership ever since. It is the car we took vacations in, the car I learned to drive in, and the car I took to prom (Dad wouldn't let me take the 911...) Title passed to my name when my Dad died in '94.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by id10t

I'm in N Central Florida. Few local lakes within 20 miles, three different boat ramps on the Santa Fe river within 15 miles, and Cedar Key is about 70 miles via the back roads.

Cool. Make sure the 14 footer works for you and your son...try one out on the water first. Then think gear. 14 ft is a relatively small boat for two adults.

There are some real boat guys on here but I have owned a few so my words of advice are: You can fix the boat, you buy the motor.

All used boats with an outboard motor are suspects in a crime.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Do it! Boat money is the best money I’ve ever spent, especially for family fun.

[KFC911]

14' is plenty big enough for two adults and a Lab . And the rivers are paradise, leave the bigger lakes to the bass boats, etc. Never been on the Santa Fe, but the Ocklawaha and Cross Creek are fond memories... been on both many times in a 14'er with a dawg on board .

[Baz]

Nah....you need a Volvo wagon, mate!

[MBAtarga]

Break Out Another Thousand! What could go wrong?

[Nostril Cheese]

I had a GF with a sailboat. Im glad I no longer have to deal with either.

[jorian]

Like Porsches, buy the newest one you can afford.

Being out on the water with your kid is some of the best time you'll ever spend together.

[MRM]

I grew up on the Mississippi and most of the people I knew lived on the water. My family didn’t at first, but with good guidance from friends, family and neighbors, we got on to the water too, to the extent that I’m comfortable in any fresh water body. Salt water? I’m looking forward to that challenge in retirement.

Anyway, I’ve walked that path from no boat to being a boater, and I can say that a 14 footer with a small engine is the perfect entrance to fresh water boating and you’ll have a ton of fun. The smaller the boat the easier it is to trailer and handle and maintain. You May never have more fun than you do with your little 14 footer, even when you graduate to a Bertram 30. That’s enough boat to get you where you want to be but it’s not so much that it’s hard to learn on. You can’t get into too much trouble with a boat and motor that size, and the smaller they are the more reliable and cheaper to maintain they are. You’ll go through props like popcorn at first, and you’ll ding everything all over the place when you land or take off from the boat ramp - everyone does - so you might as well learn how to do it with a smaller boat where the mistakes are smaller and less costly. You’ll still have a blast and the bass will rue the day you and the kids took to the water, and when you want to step up you’ll do so with full confidence that you have the skills and know enough to select the right boat for you.

You May surprise yourself and find you like that boat for many years and don’t feel the need to go bigger.

Edit: yes, that boat as described seems like a very good deal and well set up.

[KFC911]

My buddy and I still fondly remember our awesome times fishing in his 14' aluminum jon boat in the waters being discussed. It leaked a bit .... I dubbed it the "Hitchy Bilge" .... it stuck . Hey Bubba ... hit cha bilge. I moved up to a screamin' bass boat for 27 years, he a 30' sailboat ....

All those times on his little boat on the rivers/lakes down there were the best ever.

Go fishin'

[Sooner or later]

There are about a half dozen lakes on the nearby Wildlife Refuge that allow a max of 14' and only electric power.

I brought the widest/highest capacity 14 footer I could find locally. Dual battery and two trolling motors. One foot control on the front and one hand control on the back. Depth finder with GPS. It takes two people to operate at max speed but it will scoot across the water.

[Superman]

Happy Birthday, Sir. Yes, a modest boat. Diminishing returns, I say. With a stupid small boat and modest outboard, you are ON THE WATER, and that's where the fun is.

Or you could do what Mr. Hancock did, except you would need his skills, energy and time.

But yeah......several hundred gets you on the water. Several thousand gets you on water skis.

[john70t]

Good advice:
If wherever there exists or dwells a deep-seated longing to do something or accomplish something in life...and it is feasible and reasonable...do not hesitate. Act at once!
Go out and enjoy an experience to it's fullest. Die happy.
Times change and these golden moments may soon pass and be gone forever.
Your gut instinct is true.

Best advice:
Don't take advice from fools on the internet.

[DonDavis]

Doooo eeeeet.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Happy Birthday Steve!

As someone who grew up spending nearly every summer weekend on a boat, I think you will love it.