So, I've been browsing some homes with the outlook to buy one.
Came across one that comes with a mooring which got me thinking… Maybe I should also get a boat?
After some time on boatsales.com.au, the conclusion is no. I absolutely, most definitely should not buy a boat.
Now I'm stuck wondering, do many people on OzBargain have a boat?
rent one if you really wanted to do a couple of trips a year.
We do this for fishing trips, over 4-5 people its like 100 to 150 for a day out
I've been thinking about doing this. Any tips? Do you have your license?
I don't have a license but a couple of the guys do. There are a few places in Sydney that have great boats and provide a professional service. Without naming names, avoid a certain company with "oz" in their title. Very unprofessional and will ruin your day.
The only thing you will have a problem with though is, a few of the people in your group have to be really good at what they do. For example if you have a group of semi casual social fisherman that sometimes go out, you won't know where to go to get maximum benefit with the limited time you have the boat hired for. So you may spend the day feeling like it was a waste of money as 12 hours flies by really quick. I'm lucky that I have a few mates who are really good, they know on specific days and conditions where to go, what to use, what to target to get the maximum benefit so out of the few times we've been we always catch something nice (sometimes not as much as others). We don't spend half the day stuffing around due to their experience. If you don't have this available to you, then you will likely waste money as you will constantly trial and error locations. Without them, I would have no clue, I just tow the line and follow suit.
Yep if it f#$@s flies or floats it's going to cost a fortune.
Boats actually hold their value quite well. My friend recently sold their boat (to buy a bigger one). They sold it for $500 less than they bought it 10 years prior.
You'd also have to factor in 10 years of inflation into the amount your friend got for their boat too.
Although to be fair for a car for example you wouldn't get nearly that amount of return for a 10 year old car.
The biggest cost of a boat isn't even the purchase price - it's the cost of ownership.
They say the 2 happiest days boating are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.
Boats require a lot of maintenance. At the low end, a tinny on a trailer needs to be washed and flushed after every trip, and the motor fairly regularly serviced. You don't want it to refuse to start when you are out of sight of shore. Add in rego fees each year.
If you keep a boat on a mooring it needs to be anti-fouled at least once, but likely twice a year. Sitting in the weather means everything exposed needs maintenance several times a year. Mooring fees can be cheap, but are an extra.
I might consider a catamaran or other little trailer-able sail boat for messing around off the beach - but then you can hire one for a few dollars and don't have to store it or replace ageing sails etc.
If I was retired, lived on the water, and had some friends or family into it, I suppose I might own a boat as a hobby, or maybe as a project - but I already have a mile long to do list, so adding more regular jobs so it doesn't seem smart.
Big Sailboats may be the worst wife you'll ever have. Avoid.
Being a twice boat owner, buy the smallest boat to suit you, and that you can secure. Had more fun from paddling with friends, than from my rescue experiences or from some great days out on a 30ft cat.
I've had trailer-sailers and motor boats (outboards).
As others have said, maintenance never ends (with costs) and you need to constantly use it to make it viable.
No boat but seriously considering a PWC instead with convenient trailer. Possibly a jet ski or smaller speedboat style.
I have kayaks, some motorized, some not.
I'd like a boat but it would have to be one large enough to justify keeping it on water. Not a fan of reversing boats and maintaining them.
I have a few mates with boats and there is a common adage - the best boat is someone elses'
Didn't know kayaks came with motors! That's quite interesting, will look into those.
Lots come with a motor option.
Hobies come with Torqueedo options ($$$$)
Few other major competitors come with Minn Kota options ($$$)
DIY add-on with watersnake ($)
They usually don't come standard but you can throw a trolling motor on the back of your kayak for a few hundred dollars.
Have one. Love it. Use it around 100 days every year. Costs a bomb but awesome family time.
Use it around 100 days every year.
If you're not just joking around - how do you find the time?
yeah man, do you really average twice a week?!
It's moored on a private pontoon on the Murray from November to April. Use it most days (we love daylight savings) due to convenience factor and family are big into wakeboarding and skiing.
A good friend of mine has a sailboat, just parking it costs a lot of money every year. Better off spending it on a holiday
After some time on boatsales.com.au, the conclusion is no. I absolutely, most definitely should not buy a boat.
Lol. Yes, indeed. Rule of thumb is something like $X to buy the boat, $10X to own it.
cheaper to live in a boat than paying mortgage for a unit in Sydney
Have one and it's great when I have the time to use it.
Depends what you want from it. If you just want to get together with a few mates that want to go fishing once a year then you're better off just hiring a tinny or a bigger boat when you ever want to go out.
However, if it's something you're going to use more often or you're one that just wants your own boat (and can afford the upkeep) then it's great.
I probably wouldn't just get a boat just 'cause you've now got a mooring though.. you're better off renting it out.
Middle aged men with boats are the highest suicide demographic. Just saying.
Well that settles it, I'm getting a boat.
Interesting statistic. Not sure if true or not but sounds plausible.
Nope but my place has a designated parking space for one. I'm planning to build a workshop at the exact spot.
No, I have friends with a Bring Out Another Thousand. They're fun, but think it's cheaper to rent one if you really wanted to do a couple of trips a year.