... Value is more than just the tangibles and design match to user is more than just the boat itself.
There is a little lesson in marketing being given here...
Interesting!
Bruce
... Value is more than just the tangibles and design match to user is more than just the boat itself.
You also see a lot of Range Rovers and Hummers in your area. I think there are people who genuinely consider them both to be the best, the dream vehicles. .
"Who wants a truck or SUV that can't do more than is ever required of it? Who wants an automobile that can't go faster into traffic than is normally needed or hold more passengers than usually brought along?? Who wants a boat that can't take bigger seas than should/would be encountered... or.... offer more comfortable living design than is usually required???"
While I can understand the thoughts of buying 'extra' IMHO I have learned to carefully evaluate when is needed and buy what fits that 'spec' well. If over time if the 'spec' changes than a new one can be created and a change to a newer vehicle/boat to match that updated need or goal.
It has worked well with cars , trucks, boats , homes to not have things like speed, size and capability that will not be utilized as the time to maintain, costs and size clearly will affect the 'time of use' and aggravation level attached to that item.
Best bet is to plan well so you are much more likely to use and enjoy the item at hand.
Happy new year and have fun boating
The point is that if these destinations are desirable and time is limited then a full displacement boat is limiting. Thus the original question about design vs use...
Bruce
While there are many expensive boats rarely used I believe with most it's not choosing the wrong boat, it's no ego, it's one simple thing. TIME. Most working people today don't have time for their leisure pursuits. In the US especially, they don't get long vacations and many executives never take one. Time is worth far more than money and often much harder to come by. There are many reasons people don't have time, but most evolve around people caught in a rat race where they feel the must do certain things. I can give you many jobs in many companies where working a sane schedule on a reasonable workload that still provides you time with your family is impossible and will get you fired. How do we find the nerve to say no to those jobs in a time in which jobs can be difficult to find? As people rise in positions in their companies, find themselves with more income, they find themselves with even less time. So, they dream, they buy a boat, but they don't find a way to make enough time in their lives to enjoy it. Our country was known for a great work ethic, but in today's world, that work ethic is taken advantage of. Then there is the great lie that corporations have convinced themselves of how having such productive people putting in so many hours makes them great. Well, it may seem to, but exhausted employees with conflicts at home, inadequate family time, can work all the hours they want but they won't do the job as well. When I was young and single, I worked 60-70 hours a week. When I met my wife, that became a maximum of 45. When young and single I didn't take vacations. With my wife I took every vacation day I could. I was willing to be a poorer employee if that's what it took, but was amazed how much better I was when my life was in balance.
Sorry, I went a bit beyond my original intent, but so many of the unused boats do represent the difference between dreams and reality, the difference between the dream of Time and reality of not having it.
Bruce B - great thread! Interestingly my wife and I have sort of landed in the same place you are.
In my late 20's (the moment I could barely afford it) I bought a new Niagara 35 (that's a cruising sloop). I dreamed of crossing the Pacific, and named the boat Tahiti. I took every sailing course I course I could find right up to celestial navigation and offshore cruising. That was in the early 80's. Then life got in the way - started a business, couldn't afford the boat anymore, etc. Sold he, and for 30 years my only boat was a canoe. Fast forward to my 60's ...
Retirement looms and I start dreaming about boats again. Now I have a few bucks, and a different perspective. Too lazy to sail, and the admiral is frightened by heeling, and I no longer want to cross the Pacific. On a fishing trip in the Keys a few years ago, the guide says "what you need is a trawler." Huh? So I start researching, and discover TF! So for the last 1.5 years our "learner boat" has been Waterthrush - an Ocean Alexander 38. What did the admiral and I learn? Don't like flying bridges, don't really need 2 engines, and do want an aft cockpit, for fishing and sitting with a cocktail.
So we ended up at the American Tug 34. I guess we have "Reverse Twofootitis". Our new baby is being surveyed tomorrow! We will move aboard her late next summer, and become snowbirds for 6 months a year. We want to base near Fort Myers but mainly spend time in the Keys and the Bahamas.
Just one guy's journey.
"Also, we usually do not fill our house bedrooms but once a year during Christmas. For that purpose it is good to have a home a bit larger than we usually need."
I know the problem. I find that similar issue is often solved by 'renting' the item needed if it is very short term and only once or twice a year. At times we have solved for that one by either 'renting' hotel space for the folks arriving or by 'renting' a destination for all for us that will enhance the event.
Similarly when we moved to a large trailerable boat we had a large diesel pick up to make the trips to the ramp. Years later we were in a situation where we only needed to tow a larger boat twice a year - so we rented the tow vehicle on some occasions or just paid a boat mover for the limited tow. Having a smaller capacity pickup with the tows we do lately was a great move for matching the vehicle to what is does 99% of the time.
"The plenty of extra power has sometimes over the years come in handy for getting somewhere fast on plane at 17 knots during a cruise"
If that speed fits into your required goals 99% of the time then it makes perfect sense to have that capability. If on the other hand you only needed that once or twice a season there may be better ways to solve for the overall fun part of boating.
"it is good to have 360 hp. under the hood of my classic 1967 Buick Wildcat for hitting passing gear when needed on highways to get away from drivers that may seem out of hand regarding their own driving skills."
I do not see how this is a good solution to a safety situation but maybe it works for you. Most all of the 'high powered' cars I have owned or built were mostly utilized at a track where the capability would be potentially used.
Excellent post!
I see guys that are proud that they have 400 hours of annual leave on the books!
The point is that if these destinations are desirable and time is limited then a full displacement boat is limiting. Thus the original question about design vs use...
Bruce
every boat I have owned spent far more time at the dock than underway. So I would say all of them were very overbuilt for actual use.
Most recreational boats are designed for moderate use.
However, well built ones can be used much more than moderately (whatever that means) so long as good maintenance and kind-usage procedures are held to.
There have only been a couple of posters admitting to being over-equipped. Most of us have perfectly suited boats.
I might have to adjust my response to under equipped as I'm currently waiting on more favourable weather to cross Investigator Strait. The boat not only has to be capable but it has to be able to make all passengers feel safe and comfortable.
The admiral wasn't impressed with yesterday's 3 meter seas.
Yo, Larry...
Really nice boat - Enjoy!
Just cause you have this boat does not mean you at all need leave TF. This could also be called Power-Boat Forum... seeing as of many members (pretty much me included) do not have what purists believe is the make up of a Pleasure-Cruiser "Trawler".
Man is this ever a timely subject for me. After 5 years of owning my little trawler Boomarang, I have come to the conclusion it no longer suits my needs. In fact, it honestly never did. It was so unique, I rationalized it as an ideal boat, and imagined what I could do with it when I retired. Then I decided to continue working a few more years, and my boating is mostly limited to solo day-trips and weekends. The closest destination of any interest, Galveston, is 25 NM which is presently about 8 hours round trip. Not even enough time to stop for lunch or a little sightseeing.
I started looking for diesel express cruisers, but the choices below 35' in my price range was very limited in this area. Mainship Pilots seemed to meet my requirements, but there has only been one locally for sale in the last 6 months.
A month ago, I was walking past a local broker's dock and spied a new boat. Since they specialize in sportfishing boats, I almost never look their way. It was a Wellcraft 3300 Coastal twin diesel express cruiser. It had fresh Cummins power, new generator, and was otherwise completely original. I did a little research and found it cruises comfortably at 20+ kts and will top 30 kts. The range is about 300 nm at cruise. According to forums, they also handle well and are quite seaworthy.
The more I read, the more I realized it seemingly met all of my needs, but with that tower, I would never have considered it.
As you can probably guess, It is now mine and Boomarang is on the market. As I write this, a fresh Garmin suite is being installed from top to bottom.
I am really looking forward to boating with a more suitable vessel. I will have many more destinations within range, and I might even learn to fish now. A couple of my brothers and a number of my dockmates are pretty excited about the possibility of a little offshore fishing.
Ok, since this is sort of a fishing boat, it can technically trawl, right? I know, 'Trawler' is a stretch, but I will still hang with my friends at Trawler Forum.
My second liveaboard was a sportfish.
This liveaboard mght have been too had fuel not been headed for $5/gallon plus when I was looking 5 vyears ago.
If I could bet on fuel costs staying low, speed would definitely creep back into my equation.
A month ago, I was walking past a local broker's dock and spied a new boat. Since they specialize in sportfishing boats, I almost never look their way. It was a Wellcraft 3300 Coastal twin diesel express cruiser. It had fresh Cummins power, new generator, and was otherwise completely original. I did a little research and found it cruises comfortably at 20+ kts and will top 30 kts. The range is about 300 nm at cruise. According to forums, they also handle well and are quite seaworthy.
Ok, since this is sort of a fishing boat, it can technically trawl, right? I know, 'Trawler' is a stretch, but I will still hang with my friends at Trawler Forum.
it is all over the map....but my example would be my last.I know nothing about sportfish types, just how thirsty is a typical 40' sportfish at speed?
Bruce