Thinking of buying a boat

[dmcummins]

I live about 4 blocks from a marina on the Mississippi river and Im thinking of buying a boat. I have had a 27' sailboat in the past, but I don't want a sailboat for the river.

I also don't plan on spending alot of money, something in the $10,000 to $30,000 range. I don't care how old it is and I want a larger boat so I know its going to have some years and hours on it. It doesn't need to be very fast either as I just want something that I can take some friends and family out on the river from time to time. The wife says it must have a bathroom but we probably wont be staying overnight on it.

Some of the boat I have looked at are in the 28' to 35' range. They are crusiers. Some have one engine, some have two. Some are fiberglass, some are steel or aluminum. One was even an old wood boat, but I'm not sure I want a wood boat.

So anyway, any suggestions and what to look for? Should I have one or two engines? Hull material? Any brands to stay away from? I will keep the boat in a slip at the marina if that makes any difference.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by dmcummins

I live about 4 blocks from a marina on the Mississippi river and Im thinking of buying a boat. I have had a 27' sailboat in the past, but I don't want a sailboat for the river.

River sailing no good on the Mississippi, or don't like river sailing in general?

[austin552]

It's better to have a friend with a boat than to have a boat.

[VincentVega]

There are really too many options to go over this way.

I think the best advice is to walk through a few marina's and see what you like. Boats dont make financial sense but stir something in a lot of people. I bet you'll see a few designs you like and some you cant stand. Take some notes and then post back or spend some time with google.

Trawler? Jet boat? Old Chris Craft? All are nice boats, just depends what you like. Buying, then selling, are the 2 best times owning a boat.

[Aerkuld]

That's a good idea.

If I were you I'd keep thinking about it - rather than actually buying one.

[crustychief]

The two happiest days for a boat owner are the day he buys a boat and the day he sells it. You could probably get a nicer one with the way fuel costs and the economy are going.

[HardDrive]

Divorce: The legal annulment of a marriage, frequently cause when the following phrase escaped the mouth of the husband, "I'm thinking of buying a boat".

[pwd72s]

A line from the old "Dallas" TV soap. JR to Bobby: "You never buy boats or airplanes, you rent them."

Sound advice, if you ask me...

[Rot 911]

+1 to seeing what else is down at the marina. The Mississippi is a dirty river with lots of debris floating down it. Definitely want to make sure you have insurance that covers the lower end of the motor.

[tabs]

So your thinking about becoming a 2 time loser.... once was not enough. One can never underestimate the predictibility of stupidity. Anyway if you want to persist in this madness of yours I have a friend that has a 25 foot day crusier in impeciable condition for sale in CA. If you are interested I will ask him for the paticulars as I never paid much attention to the boat, except to note it sitting in his driveway covered

MY friend is Safari Club and keeps everything he owns in tip top shape.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by crustychief

The two happiest days for a boat owner are the day he buys a boat and the day he sells it.

I hear that a lot, and it's always coming from someone who either dabbled in boating and didn't like it, or someone who never tried it at all. Usually it's the former... folks who thought it'd be "neat" to have a boat but eventually found it was too much hassle. Like any hobby, some people just don't get it.

For many people, bieng on the water is a necessity. I'm like that, I haven't been without some kind of boat since I was 16. There have been times that I had a sailboat, but no car. I'd hitchhike to school and work, and go sailing when I got home.


Anyway, it's 5pm local time. I worked from home today so I could sail right after work. I'll be on the water in 10 minutes!

[MRM]

This is the best time in decades to be buying a boat. Gas prices hit the boat market so hard it is still wondering what was in that punch. Demand and prices are at unbelevable lows. Look up some old business pages articles on the boating industry and you'll see how bad things are. One of the largest boat retailers in the country is big locally, and they just laid off 60% or so of their sales staff and closed half their locations. The largest boat retailer in the country just did the same thing. Boat repos are up about 250% in the last couple of years. My wife works for a company that sells component parts to the boating industry. The manufacturers tell her that they're going into hibernation mode, hoping to sleep through the depression. Nothing under about 35 feet is selling. People wanting the bigger boats aren't affected by gas prices.

So the short suggestion is to shop aggressively and don't be shy about offering half of what they're asking, and don't buy anything that's not a perfect, pristine example of a good brand.

To decide what to buy, decide what you want to do with the boat. Do you want to ski and tube with it? Just cruise? Sleep on it or just day trips? Will you need a big boat to deal with the wakes and currents, or will you be just as comfortable in a runabout?

I grew up on the Mississippi just north of the Illinois/Wisconsin/Iowa border. Boating on the Mississippi is the best. It's like nothing else in the world. I highly recommend it. Just remember that the bigger the boat, the more complicated everything is and expenses increase expodentially. Go ahead and rent at a local marina a couple of times this summer (It will be cheaper on a per-use basis) and use this time to decide what you want.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

For many people, bieng on the water is a necessity. I'm like that, I haven't been without some kind of boat since I was 16. There have been times that I had a sailboat, but no car. I'd hitchhike to school and work, and go sailing when I got home.


Anyway, it's 5pm local time. I worked from home today so I could sail right after work. I'll be on the water in 10 minutes!

I'm with you...but you sail. Large power boats are a money and time sump.

I live on the Potomac River. I have:

Sailboards
River and Touring kayaks
Old Prindle 18 cat
Old Sea Doos (1991/92)
John Boat with LubeMasters engine still percolating

I will never own a large boat again. Going to a marina for any work (routine or unscheduled) is like tipping a men's room attendant in New York: you're not sure why, but it costs money.

The time involved to maintain any boat over 28' to keep it up to snuff is ridiculous. Wave good-bye to your kids.

When I feel like taking the family for a cruise we charter a boat. It seems expensive ($750 clams for the day), but $750 scooters is small change: I used to pay that just to pull the boat out of the water for the winter and put it back in for the summer.

Charter...

[crustychief]

I have had several boats and I will not get another. I retire from the Navy in three weeks and am currently on a ship. I have spent the last 20 years on the water and love it but I am not going to get a boat because of the time (maintenance) and cost (storage, payments, insurance, cleaning and fuel) Like seahawk says, rent or charter is the way to go, at least then you are only paying to use it.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by crustychief

I have had several boats and I will not get another. I retire from the Navy in three weeks and am currently on a ship. I have spent the last 20 years on the water and love it but I am not going to get a boat because of the time (maintenance) and cost (storage, payments, insurance, cleaning and fuel) Like seahawk says, rent or charter is the way to go, at least then you are only paying to use it.

I think I said this before, but congrats, Chief, on your retirement. I just did as well. I wish you the best in your next career, Shipmate.

My Mothers side was all Navy, a bunch of Uncles who were Chiefs in WWII, her Father was a Warrant Officer in the same spat.

[cl8ton]

Originally Posted by dmcummins

So anyway, any suggestions and what to look for?

I have been a boat owner for 15 years now, the wife and I love boating!

Not sure if a pontoon party barge would work on the Mississippi, but thought I would at least share some pics of mine

This is my second boat bought new in 2006 made by Bennington. It can seat 15 people and has a top speed of about 30 knots.
It does have a bathroom / dressing room on it, the last pic shows the fan tale that opens up and a spring loaded cage/curtain pops up

btw, the bathroom has never been used because I could not delegate the dumping responsibilities

The captain is not always right but he is always the captain, dammit!

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by austin552

It's better to have a friend with a boat than to have a boat.

hole in the water you throw money into

I had a nice boat slip on Lake Conroe, man that was a sweet spot before they built all those newer, slapdash units...point just north of Banana Bay, now defunct, (blind monkey would make a mint with a place on that lake, those guys moust have drunk a lot or done a lot of drugs, likely both with all that dough) I fondly recall the first time I laid eyes on my bride. She won a bikini contest, long blonde hair, scant bikini on a state champion tennis and gymnastic tuned frame, a straw Stetson, braces on her teeth. Her brother subsequently laid out the biggest Indian(sorry, Native American) I ever saw with one punch. Trippy to see a little 5'6" 150# cat knock some 6'4" 275 pound behemoth out. He bent down, as if to grab the smaller man, took one on the chin that had both feet well off the ground. Heather checks the guy is breathing, Buddy and Heather leave with alacrity as I was walking up to the bar.

Met her at work(her last day there, starting at my primary hospital) six months later. I put together the bikini-hat-unconcious offensive lineman thing when her brother walked in wearing the hat when I brought her home from our second date.

Where are you takin' it exactly. How about a nice houseboat or pontoon boat like the one pictured. I tended to fish off the dock myself, even when I had full access to the boat being stored in my slip. Pontoon is nice, put a little grill on there, couple ice chests, even can get a little portable head for the ladies if you like

I would rent, unless I lived right there and was going out every day. But when I lived on the water, I fished off the dock, like I say.

[dmcummins]

I liked my sailboat but sailing in the river was a pain. There just was not enough room and the wind was just seldom there. I don't know anywhere to rent boats on the river, and I am now retired, kids are 25, and can walk to the marina, so time is not an issue. I keep hearing that times are tough and figure I can get a used boat for a good price. I am not interested in skiing, just something to go up and down the river with.

Ive had several project Porsche's so I abviously am use to throwing money away.

[dhoward]

Mark, I sold mine out of Woodland a few years ago. My guess is you.re not looking for go-fast. Look for a 27-33 ft. Carver. You should be able to find a few, up and down. take a day nd hit all of the marinas up the dardienne slough. There's usually plenty. I may also have a friend who's looking to trade up from a 27 w/twin 350s.

[mattdavis11]

You don't need to buy a boat until your woman can tolerate peeing in the water.