nordwest,
Thanks for passing on the info. You are lucky, going into this early. The price is not anywhere near there anymore, at least here in California. I wish it still is.
Thanks
BTW, both of your boats look beautiful.

My wife's uncle was a boat fanatic who lived in Sanford, Florida. Once he bought into the ocean going size boats, he always had at least two engines (inboard or outboard). Said he was too old to have to paddle across the gulf! Also, many years ago a friend of mine had a Lightning racing sail boat, a nice little 21 footer that carried a spinnaker. It did not have an engine but we did name the paddle "Evenrude"!

Congrats! Buying a boat is the best decision we ever made. 9-ish years ago and on boat #3, been worth every penny. Boating has created more happy family memories than any other activity. I’m getting ready to book at least five weekends at Lake of the Ozarks tonight.

;)Boats? Yeah got one...http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1611277435.jpg

I started looking for a river cruiser in July and this year good value ones have been going the day they were advertised. The Inly exceptions are US made boats with V6 or V8 petrol engines which are unecessarily powerful and ridiculously thirsty and often too tall to go under many of our bridges, so even though they are cheap nobody wants them for rivers. I finally bought a 24'6" 1978 inboard diesel shaft drive 4 berth in October, and three days later we went into lockdown so the only trip I have had on it was 1.5 hours each way from its slip down to the boat lift for its pre-purchase inspection.
We have speed limits on our non-tidal rivers and canals, strictly enforced( big fines). Tidal rivers and estuaries it's ok to go faster but my boat/ motor won't achieve more than about 9-10 knots. All I have done so far, in between lockdowns, is install a shower and sink in the heads, and a solar panel for maintaining battery charge, because we either had ice in the marina, or the river has been too high to safely use the locks and get under the bridge half a mile down river.



I started looking for an inexpensive river cruiser in July, but seems the rest of the UK was doing so too. Finally boat 1978 24'6" 4 berth diesel shaft drive Freeman 24 in October 3 days before Lockdown 2.0. Only tip I have done on the boat was 1.5 hours each way to the boat lift for pre-purchase inspection.( Required to be able to get comprehensive insurance). In between then and Lockdown 3.0 we have had the marina iced over or such high water that the locks were unusable and the bridge nearby too low to allow most boats to pass under. All I have really done is install a solar panel to maintain battery charge and fitted shower and sink in the heads( sealed the plastic wall panels and use shower curtain to protect the varnished veneered door, the floor has a drain pump)

We don’t have a big fancy boat, but the one we have has not cost us much more than gas and oil. And I don’t think my dog Axel would be happy if we sold it.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1611280111.jpg

We eased our way in with a used 17 ft, then a used 23 ft, and now a used 27 ft. I’ve only had to do routine maintenance and repairs, and have done some optional upgrades like stereo system, nicer carpet, Seadek on the rear deck of our current boat, etc. If you can work on a car you can work on a boat and the parts are cheap. My wife and I are very OCD and take very good care of our stuff, so far we’ve made money on the two boats we have sold. They drop like a rock in value when new but then level off and tend to hold their value if taken care of.

Those that say the happiest day is when you buy it and you sell it are probably penny pinchers. I

'll admit that I'm a conservative guy when it comes to expenses, but I can honestly say that the happiest day (one of...) was the day I took it out on my first trip and anchored and turned the engines off. The feeling of accomplishing something I thought would never happen was overwhelming to say the least and I'd give everything I have right now to recapture that moment in my life.

The day I "had to" sell it (partnership that went sour) was one of the saddest day. I took the money and bought yet another piece of property. Do I regret buying the property? No. Do I believe the property is a better financial decision? Yes. Would I rather own a boat instead of the property? YES!

Boating is not cheap nor applicable to those who are faint of heart. Heck, you'd be lucky to get 1 MPG and makes Porsche maintenance look cheap in comparison, but it's an altogether different feeling, one that cannot be expressed in words. Can't wait until I'm once again in a financial position to buy another (by myself and with more family comfort into consideration).

See below (my ex-boat, a Pursuit 3070 Express):
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1611287654.jpg

I have a hard time seeing a scenario where I will be without a boat. I would sell everything else before the boat. It’s my favorite thing, and being at Lake of the Ozarks is my favorite place.

Do you already have property (or your eye on a place there)? Do it .... :D!

....and quit tellin' everyone about the place too ;)

I feel that boats are like gym memberships. They get expensive when you never use them. Growing up, the family always had a boat. For a while, it was a larger Carver cabin cruiser that was never used. Created arguments with my parents, etc. Then, had a smaller boat on a small lake and it was used all the time. We pulled it out ourselves, winterized it, and it stayed in the garage over winter. Very low cost, and a lot of fun.

I'll have to work harder on convincing my wife of a boat this year. We're one mile from a really big lake, and it's a shame we aren't taking advantage of it.

Gus Berges's is amazing . beautiful, cabin for female, hard roof, lot of space ... fit all kinds of activities I like to do. I would be even more happy than the way you described.

Thanks rnln. It was a "dream come true" when I got it. Will admit that "not bad" for my first boat ;):D

That style (express) suited our needs very well, though if I were to do it again, I'd make sure it would have a built in generator as having the AC in the cabin at all times helps a lot with the heat and humidity we experience down here. The foldable extended rear shade that I had made for the boat was also a neat feature as it allowed us to have shade when not fishing and easily get it out of the way when we had our lines out (outriggers included). Our trips were at least 10nm out and quite a few that were 50-120 nm out to sea.

More eye candy :cool:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1611345054.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1611345054.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1611345054.JPG

Very nice Pursuit, I looked at them before buying mine. My 32’ Intrepid is my first large powerboat, I owned a 27’ sailboat for a while years ago.

Since I’m a old retired guy I can use the boat pretty much whenever I want, weather permitting, which is year round down here.

And it’s also nice that I live on a canal that puts the boat in my backyard.

Here is a pic of my fishing buddy, we had to throw the grouper back because it was a little short, but we caught quite a few other fish that were keepers. We were in the Gulf, about 20 miles out.

I keep telling him if something were to happen he needs to go east, that way he should hit land.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1611345984.jpg

Gus,
I can see that it is great for family bonding/vacations. yes, "dream come true". I love it.

dmcummins,
the expression on the kids' faces when they catch the fish would worth a lot :)

@dmcummins: Intrepids are very nice boats! I've seen your post on it and having the canal behind the house must be very convenient. I had to time my outings along with the tide as in low tide, not enough depth for me to go out. I see your grouper and raise you mine (which was promptly put back in the water...., not caught off my boat...) :D:D


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1611346358.JPG

Oh man that a big fish. I don't think we have big grouper like that around here . Also, Grouper is protected here, in CA, I think. reeling it in would be tough huh?

this species is called Goliath Grouper and it is a protected species, hence we put it back in the water a minute after this pic was taken and we watched it slowly swim back to the bottom of the ocean.

Caught it on live bait with a stand up rod using 30lb test weight line. I think it would have been easier to lift the Titanic instead of this sucker. My arms and legs were "gone" after that fight. It's just dead weight that wants to permanently pull you overboard, specially with such a low freeboard on this boat (Bertram 31).

Nice Fish! We’ve caught a few keeper grouper, and lots of snappers. And various other fish. But nothing like that, we had a small shark on for a while, but didn’t get it in the boat.

Ive only had the boat around 6 months or so and haven’t been out fishing as much as I’d like. Also saltwater fishing is new to me and right now I’m just happy catching fish. Hopefully we will find more spots and get a little better. My sons boss took us out and gave us a few of his spots that he has had some luck with.

This is my friend Dave who came to visit last week from MO. He caught a fish on the first cast, but the two foot rollers caused him to lose his breakfast a little bit later. He toughed it out and we stayed out for a few hours more.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1611347967.jpg

Friends looking to buy now that don’t have a boat. We have a boat. Therefore we have an agreement.:)