would you keep 2 boats?

[mrpike1973]

hi i have 2 boats. i have them mostly for when the whole family gets together. however i do use both of them. i noticed lately that we dont go all out as much but when we do its fun. 1 boat is a 14 foot g3 with a 15 hp motor. just a plain boat the other is a 14 foot starcraft with a 25 hp motor again plain jane boat. i will keep the g3 no matter what. what our your thoughts. i use the starcraft for the chain of lakes catfishing mostly because i dont want to scuff the new boat up. not that i beat on them. moneys not the issue just wondering if you would keep both our not. i know its my call but i'm sure some of you have 2 boats. any advice thanks

[toughguy]

I have a 16.5 Lund and I'm thinking of adding an old Jon Boat to my fleet for smaller rivers. I say keep it. To me space is the issue. No where to keep it. If you have the space and the $ keep it.

[leechlake]

if you do the math it doesn't make sense to have both but I've found math vs family fun never adds up. The few times you get the family fun outweighs all "logic" the math would show. Keep both boats because any money you'd save isn't worth the value of the family fun.

[EBass]

You could sell both and get a 17' something with big enough motor to pull the kids on a tube or water ski. If you have a vechile to pull it.

[BoxMN]

Between me and brother we share two boats (16.5' w 50hp; 18' w 150hp) and a fleet of duck boats - I think 4 at last count, and I gave one to a buddy (14' w 15hp). I also have a new pontoon and a paddleboat at cabin

So, I guess I am in the "keep the boat" camp, unless you need the money, or the space. Nothing beats being able to say you have a "fleet" of boats, even if most are old and just duck boats Above all else, have fun!

[toughguy]

So, I guess I am in the "keep the boat" camp

Boat Hoarder

[jerkin'm]

I justify my multiple boats by them all having a different purpose....It seems you have two similar if not virtually the same style boat. If it's not about money at all I would consider getting rid of one of them and getting something a different style, pontoon, couple canoes, classic runabout, etc....I have a serious boat problem, counting canoes, I am at 6....they all have very different uses though...

[cylinder]

I have a second boat for the occasions that I want to go to another lake to fish. One stays on the lift and the other in the garage. All I have to do is pop off the depth finder unit and put it in the mount in the other boat, then grab a couple of rods and a traveling tackle box. I'd probably never go to another lake if I had to go to the hassle of taking the boat to the ramp 2 miles away, then walk back to get the trailer (leaving the boat unattended) and then come back and load up the boat.

[solbes]

Keep em I say. I have 2 boats.

One 16' with a 75 for fishing, skiing, tubing. Bought a lightweight 12' with a 2Hp for guests to take out at the lake. Eventually I will let the kids take that out as well. The second boat gets a lot of use now to bring us out to the swim platform, no more swimming through weeds

[Sonicrunch]

Keep.

[CaptainMusky]

My initial reaction was to sell both and buy 1 boat that would better meet the needs of your family knowing that some of the time it would be overkill.

The thing with having multiple is then you have double the maintenance, double the insurance, registration, etc. Getting gas for two boats, mixing one, not the other, etc etc etc.

If you are talking about 10 folks going out when everyone goes, then obviously 1 boat isnt going to work and a pontoon is just a pain to fish solo so then I would say keep them both.

But if you are talking 5 or less people, I say sell them both and get one bigger one.

[nofishfisherman]

Keep them both and buy a third. Its the only answer that makes any sense.

[Brad B]

I say keep them both. and turn the starcraft into strictly a cat fishing boat. a boat like that is usable on more then the horseshoe chain. you could go cattin with that on the Minnesota river( when the water is up, last summer it got really low and jet boat guys were having troubles) and could also do the Mississippi above the st cloud dam or pool 2 at saint paul and the rest of the way down river. that boat would be good for the Red River also if you ever get up there(which if you like to chase channel cats, I recommend you make the trip up to the Grand Forks, ND area and chase some of the trophy class channel cats from up there).

[harvey lee]

If you do not need the cash and you have room for the boats, I would keep them. Once the boat is gone, shortly therafter, the money will be to and now no money or the boat.

[Wanderer]

If they both get used then they are both NEEDED!

[mrpike1973]

wow lot of replies. i think i will keep them both we have no kids but take nieces and nephew out and ma,pa and sis. not enough room for all on one boat i like the smaller boats because there easy to load. i believe the memories are the 1 thing that stops me. i just feel like a hoarder having 2 like i should feel guilty. after reading this i dont think so thanks

[traveler]

I've kept 2 boats for a long time...a 20 ft CC with a 150 and a 16 ft lund w/25 hp. Sometimes it gets busy at the cabin, and storage isn't an issue. Then theres the canoe, and the paddleboat, and the hobie....

Yeah, I think I have it covered:)

[Grum]

Like others have stated, if money and space aren't a problem guilt shouldn't be a problem either. You don't feel guilty about having more than one fishing lure do you? I think you owe yourself a canoe or kayak, just for being a nice guy and concerned about hoarding boats.

[Gordie]

I would keep both for that "what if moment"

I had 4 boats and a canoe all at the same time, so it was very tough for me to get rid of a few of them, but when things "have to be done they have to be done".

I miss not having the option of which do I use and the "what if" moment has hit and I have nothing to fall back on.

[dan z]

Having more than han one boat gives you the ability to make one for foe those times that calls for a particular situation make it a trolling only boat, a jigging only boat or what gave you... there are 3 boats in the family and all three are made for direct applications.

I say if you have the space get another one!

[low277]

Its called "MBS" multiple boat syndrome. I myself have it and many of my friends also have it.

Keep them both and find more reasons to get everyone together and use them.

[B-man715]

Its called "MBS" multiple boat syndrome. I myself have it and many of my friends also have it.

Keep them both and find more reasons to get everyone together and use them.

This ^^^^^^^

It too suffer from MBS, but they all get used every year. The big boat is used most for me, but my 14' 6hp can be used in skinny river water or dragged off the ice for an early Rainy trip. I have a couple cheap kayaks that have paid for themselves with multiple trips down the Namekagon, a 14' glass skinoe w/4hp dedicated for duck hunting, and a 16' poly canoe that can do it all (hunting, fishing, river floats, camping).

If you use them, keep them. If not, pass one along to an eager kid in the family that will. He/she will never forget the memories made in their first boat

[Basscaster]

Keep both if you have storage and a use for 2 boats.I have a 1998 Ranger r82 bought in 2001. I just found a 2005 Lund rebel with a 25hp for my hp restriction lakes in IL. I use the rebel almost every other week in my small IL. waters. The ranger hasn't been used this year but I am taking on a 2 week fishing vacation in Minn. at the end of August. I really don't think good 10 year old fishing boats lose any money when you sell them so they are worth it to keep. I don't have insurance on Ranger(clean) but carry full $100/year on the Lund because of thief.

[CANOPY SAM]

I think it's all about utility and need.

1) I have my primary fishing/recreational boat, for big water, good quality landings, and (the whole) family outings.

2) I have the smaller bare bones camo 14 ft. Lund with a 7 1/2 Merc for little lakes with shallow landings, muddy river landings cat-fishing, duck hunting, etc.

3) and lastly, I have two canoes. a) a 17 ft aluminum camo job for rocky river runs and portages, built to withstand some bumps with heavy cargo, and duck hunting where motors aren't allowed and a 17 ft light fiberglass wide body for the kids when we're simply fishing the river, or out having fun in the canoes.

I have ample storage for all, and have no intention of parting with any of them.