Boats?!?

[sitzlejd 0]

Hey guys, thinking about picking up a boat but I'm curious about the ins and outs. I'm basically looking for something fun for my friends and I to party on. Speed is not at all a concern for me.

Any advice on what type to get? I'm definitely looking used and can't spend more than 5k. Brands that are reliable? What does a typical day out on the water cost (fuel and other expenses?)? Thanks for your help guys.

[Ahriman 1]

Well regardless of type, your costs are going to be similar to a car in a lot of ways, yearly registration, fuel (regular grade gas), winter storage, trailer for boat, hauling service if you don't have something you can put a tow hitch on, and engine maintenance (about the same timeline as a car engine too) and the cost of a life vest for everyone on the boat, and an oar or two if you do end up running out of gas or have engine trouble, possibly something else in regards to seawater, I've only dealt with freshwater boating.

If you're looking for nothing but a mobile aquatic drinking platform then you'll want a pontoon boat, they can be really small to really large seating anywhere from 5 to 15 comfortably (or more not as comfortably :P). They are really the ideal "party boat", get one with an overhead shade and it's basically an amphibious backyard deck. However $5k isn't gonna buy you much in that regard, even used barebones pontoons come at $5k as an entry point and that means it's literally a floating board with guard rails, bring your own lawn chairs and coolers. The nice larger ones will be more, more 'proper' ones with built in seating will range from 8 to 20 grand.

In general no one boat company has a reliability problem as far as the hull itself (in my experience) but the engines attached to the motor is a different matter, I can't say which really though because it's never been a consistent pattern in the last 15 years or so. Though really if you take proper care of it you shouldn't have a problem. As soon as you let it drag on bottom because you're too shallow, let it idle for extended periods, dock it in too shallow water, you'll start getting engine knocking, cylinders misaligned, it will be stubborn to turn over, random engine kills while at or near idle, etc etc.

[silverclrk 0]

I had a boat the last 2 years it is an endless money pit. I highly would not recommend buying one. You have to think there are a lot of other costs associated with a boat. Launching fees or slip fees, maintenance (Do you know how to work on a boat not very easy you need to have good knowledge of electric and mechanical?) Oil and gas although it is cheaper now then last summer 70 or 80 gallons of gas can get expensive on the water. Have you ever operated a boat before much different then driving a car or a little 9 horse skiff. Depending what state you are you may need a license that was 85 bucks here in jersey and it was a whole Saturday I had to sit in the class. Also you defiantly want to have insurance at least to protect your liability in case you hit someone or something and have a fuel or oil leek.

But if I were you and I still decided to but a boat IO would look for something around 21 to 23 feet that is outboard, inboards are just a bitch. Also I would get a center console although I am partial to cabin cruisers. With the center console it will maximize your potential area to hang out and party or fish.

Let me know if you have any other?’s

[Chadd 916]

I had a boat the last 2 years it is an endless money pit.

I thought a boat was defined as: "a hole in the water where you throw money."

[RecLeagueHero 0]

Given the limited budget ever consider just renting a boat, or better yet, a jet ski? Realistically, there isn't much out there for 5 thousand dollars to begin with and if you really aren't an avid boater whose willing to expend a lot of your entertainment money on a boat then owning is probably not a good way to go. You have to factor in costs like storage, fuel, insurance, maintaining the engines, registration, and so on. But really, if you just want something to party on for those weekends with perfect boating weather just rent.

[Ahriman 1]

But if I were you and I still decided to but a boat IO would look for something around 21 to 23 feet that is outboard, inboards are just a bitch. Also I would get a center console although I am partial to cabin cruisers. With the center console it will maximize your potential area to hang out and party or fish.

Given the limited budget ever consider just renting a boat, or better yet, a jet ski?

He said he was looking for a low speed party boat.... neither of these would work well for that. Though renting a pontoon style would certainly help cut costs but again realistically there wont be a sea-worthy boat selling for $5k

[NYRfan 0]

You can find 1980s 17-20ft Boston Whalers (great boats) used for not too much more than 5k, but chances are you will be spending more on parts, etc. If you are going to use it in freshwater, the engine will take less of a beating (saltwater corrodes shit quickly).

[RecLeagueHero 0]

But if I were you and I still decided to but a boat IO would look for something around 21 to 23 feet that is outboard, inboards are just a bitch. Also I would get a center console although I am partial to cabin cruisers. With the center console it will maximize your potential area to hang out and party or fish.

Given the limited budget ever consider just renting a boat, or better yet, a jet ski?

He said he was looking for a low speed party boat.... neither of these would work well for that. Though renting a pontoon style would certainly help cut costs but again realistically there wont be a sea-worthy boat selling for $5k

Don't know about everywhere, but there are a couple of companies around here that rent everything from your typical waterskiing boat to the pontoon "go out and sit in the middle of the sound." As for the jet ski, I just meant than fun for your money wise you could get a decent used jet ski for $5k. Not going happen with a boat.

[silverclrk 0]

I had a boat the last 2 years it is an endless money pit.

I thought a boat was defined as: "a hole in the water where you throw money."

+1 THANKS for the help with the expression I just could not remember it.

But if I were you and I still decided to but a boat IO would look for something around 21 to 23 feet that is outboard, inboards are just a bitch. Also I would get a center console although I am partial to cabin cruisers. With the center console it will maximize your potential area to hang out and party or fish.

He said he was looking for a low speed party boat.... neither of these would work well for that. Though renting a pontoon style would certainly help cut costs but again realistically there wont be a sea-worthy boat selling for $5k

How low spead can you go. It's a boat if you don't have some speed it's takes forever to get where you gotta go . Also you now once you get used to the boat you are going to want more speed he could throw like a 50 horse on there at like 19 feet that will be just fine. Pontoon boats are cool but it is a floating raft much better for calm lake water.

[Ahriman 1]

I had a boat the last 2 years it is an endless money pit.

I thought a boat was defined as: "a hole in the water where you throw money."

+1 THANKS for the help with the expression I just could not remember it.

But if I were you and I still decided to but a boat IO would look for something around 21 to 23 feet that is outboard, inboards are just a bitch. Also I would get a center console although I am partial to cabin cruisers. With the center console it will maximize your potential area to hang out and party or fish.

He said he was looking for a low speed party boat.... neither of these would work well for that. Though renting a pontoon style would certainly help cut costs but again realistically there wont be a sea-worthy boat selling for $5k

How low spead can you go. It's a boat if you don't have some speed it's takes forever to get where you gotta go . Also you now once you get used to the boat you are going to want more speed he could throw like a 50 horse on there at like 19 feet that will be just fine. Pontoon boats are cool but it is a floating raft much better for calm lake water.

I'm pretty sure we're splitting hairs here but a 50 horse on a 19 footer is a floating raft if you have it full of people. Besides, there hasn't been any mention of what kind of water he'd be on anyways, it might be calm.

[armada 0]

Had a family boat passed down to me few years ago, at first it was great to have your own boat. But soon after it just became pain in the ass with paying gas, hauling it, gassing up the truck and being the only one responsible while everyone is getting trashed on your boat. Repeat the same process a few more times and you're over it. Find someone that has a boat and pitch in on gas when you go out, it's the best way to go.... and will save you thousands of dollars.

[legiahockey 3]

boat actually stands for B-break O-out A-another T-thousand. your in for alot of expenses my friend. boar engines for some reason seem to be the most unreliable machinery made. endless money pit for sure. but we got rid of ours after two years

[Jordan 13]

I have direct drive inboard tournament ski boat...in my case a Mastercraft Prostar 190...The most fun ever. I have owned all kinds of boats...also currently have an aluminum fishing boat and a little 14" whaler.

You can buy these on the cheap right now...and they are ultra dependable. I have over 1300 hours on mine and I have had to put almost nothing into it other than gas and insurance.

[shotty 7]

a very good friend of mine owns a boat and his general rule of thumb is that if you're buying a brand new boat, the yearly cost for maintenance (not including fuel) is 10% of its value... and for every year it grows older, add 0.5% percent.

so if you buy a $5000 boat, and it's 10 years old, expect to spend $750 a year on maintenance. like another person said, costs are variable depending on storage, moorage, trailering, condition... boating is a rich mans game any way you look at it. they are money pits and only really worth it if you LOVE doing it and dont mind spending the cash.

my advice, if you havent already done so, is to rent a boat a few time over the next few months or so to get an indication if it's something you might want to do long term.

as everyone's financial advisor says: "if it appreciates, buy it. if it depreciates, lease it"

[Moose 1]

Get a boat and bring t-pain

[Master P 0]

Naw moose.. Bring Bert and Ernie.