PM
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2012
- Messages
- 3,145
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Best Alternative
- Vessel Make
- 36 Albin Aft Cabin
OK, I understand it. You get old, the boat gets too big, needs too much, costs too much, it too hard to handle, doesn't get used enough, is either showing quite a bit of deferred maintenance or is needing one big ticket repair or upgrade. Kids don't want it or can't afford it.The market is soft, not a good time to sell, you don't feel as "sharp" as when you were younger, boating can become confusing, etc, etc. The list goes on and on.
Don't despair, you DO have options..
First off, Sell the boat. I know, the market is soft, you are upside down on it, it needs work to sell, etc. I repeat.. Sell the boat! Make it a distress sale or a damn near "giveaway" . Make it cheap or even free, but get rid of the boat.
Now the fun part!!
Buy a Boat ! a smaller boat, trailerable. Prefer a little cuddy cabin.
Explore areas not available to the big trawler. A local navigable river. A nearby chain of lakes. A favorite marina you have visited before. Launch your new boat near the marina, chug on over to a transient slip enjoy a week or a weekend on your boat seeing the local sights you missed last time you were there.
Go fishing. OK it might be too much work to set up and catch a King Salmon on Lake Michigan but there are Walleyes in almost all the rivers now a days. Also lots of Sturgeon, Musky, catfish and bass right there in the marina.
Take a little one day cruise around a local land locked lake. Meet a few people, maybe have lunch at a local watering hole.
If your body has not completely fallen apart, get in your kayak. Many marinas are on rivers you can easily explore in an afternoon and then basically drift back to your cuddy cabin.
Don't forget your Dinghy! Marinas to explore, rivers to go up. Dinghy races and poker runs at many marinas.
While the new boat may not have room to carry your bikes the Suburban or truck you use to trailer the new boat certainly has plenty of room. If you are getting feeble, get a couple electric bikes. Within ten miles of darn near every marina are sights you will be glad to visit. Cherry picking, craft shows, flea markets museums, etc.
I know I barely scratched the surface. Any more ideas?
pete
Don't despair, you DO have options..
First off, Sell the boat. I know, the market is soft, you are upside down on it, it needs work to sell, etc. I repeat.. Sell the boat! Make it a distress sale or a damn near "giveaway" . Make it cheap or even free, but get rid of the boat.
Now the fun part!!
Buy a Boat ! a smaller boat, trailerable. Prefer a little cuddy cabin.
Explore areas not available to the big trawler. A local navigable river. A nearby chain of lakes. A favorite marina you have visited before. Launch your new boat near the marina, chug on over to a transient slip enjoy a week or a weekend on your boat seeing the local sights you missed last time you were there.
Go fishing. OK it might be too much work to set up and catch a King Salmon on Lake Michigan but there are Walleyes in almost all the rivers now a days. Also lots of Sturgeon, Musky, catfish and bass right there in the marina.
Take a little one day cruise around a local land locked lake. Meet a few people, maybe have lunch at a local watering hole.
If your body has not completely fallen apart, get in your kayak. Many marinas are on rivers you can easily explore in an afternoon and then basically drift back to your cuddy cabin.
Don't forget your Dinghy! Marinas to explore, rivers to go up. Dinghy races and poker runs at many marinas.
While the new boat may not have room to carry your bikes the Suburban or truck you use to trailer the new boat certainly has plenty of room. If you are getting feeble, get a couple electric bikes. Within ten miles of darn near every marina are sights you will be glad to visit. Cherry picking, craft shows, flea markets museums, etc.
I know I barely scratched the surface. Any more ideas?
pete