My boating (pipe?) dream

[sp007c]

After 4 years of owning a 30-year old boat, spending countless hours on maintenance and repairs, I am ready to give up.
However, I still love love love boating- so what options do I have?

I read about boat clubs (such *** the Freedom Boat Club), but there is no such club within 100 miles of me.
I've already tried renting a boat from a marina- but they won't allow me to take long (50+ mile) trips.
I found that p2p websites like fund2rent are unreliable.

What I ideally want is:
a) own my own boat, but
b) have someone else take care of it as it were their own.

Is such arrangement even possible? If so, how did you find the right partner?

P.S. I've just found these guys:
http://www.yourboatdoctor.com/#!flat-fee-plans/c59c

Does anyone have a contract like that?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Sounds like a wild goose chase to me unless you have LOTS of disposable income.

 

[sp007c]

Hi, smokeonthewater! Thank you for your quick response!
What is "LOTS"? Because honestly, I'd rather spend $500 than 50 hours a month (which is my best month these days).

 

[southkogs]

What kinda' boat are you fightin' with for 50 hours a month? Mine is over 40 years old with the "golden-Yugo" of drive systems on it, and I don't spend anywhere near that kinda' time on it.

If you're willing to spend $500 a month, I'd look at settin' that aside for a newer boat in a couple years.

 

[JimS123]

My family boat is 31 years old. I bought it new and and its been garage kept year round since day one. The hour meter now reads about 1400.

I probably spend 6 hours a YEAR on maintenance tasks, plus maybe another 6 hours every 4 or 5 years.

Buy new, do preventative maintenance and just plain take care of it. A boat will last a lifetime if taken care of from the start. A poorly maintained junker will have problems crop up every time you use it.

 

[jimbo_jwc]

My family boat is 31 years old. I bought it new and and its been garage kept year round since day one. The hour meter now reads about 1400.

I probably spend 6 hours a YEAR on maintenance tasks, plus maybe another 6 hours every 4 or 5 years.

Buy new, do preventative maintenance and just plain take care of it. A boat will last a lifetime if taken care of from the start. A poorly maintained junker will have problems crop up every time you use it.

Totally agree found my old boat with less than 40 hrs 1987 and after getting over the BOAT syndrome from age n sitting issues it should last till I get planted .

 

[dingbat]

Buy a 5 year old boat and have someone else do the annual maintance. I run anywhere from 100-150 hours a year. Average less than $400 per year in maintenance

 

[smokeonthewater]

Well 50 hrs labor at $120/hr adds up if it really needs that much work?

 

[Bondo]

Is such arrangement even possible?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,..... Anything is possible, if ya throw enough Money at it,.....

The guy I work for has a fleet of boats that I maintain,....
While the boats aren't the Only thing I do for 'im, it Is a major part of my responsibilities,...
I don't think I cost him much more than a grand a week for 26 weeks a year,....
'n for that 26 grand, I'm a phone call away, 24/7 for those weeks, 'n still make myself available for the other 26 weeks a year,..