Boats Per Capita

[Bushwacker]

When I was a freshman in college(1997) I really wanted a boat and did a lot of research and found a deal on an $800 1987 Alumacraft Lunker with a 35hp motor. I did a lot of work on it, mostly elbow grease and not a lot of $$ into the upgrades. I ended up selling it for $2300 two years later. Then I bought a 1992 Alumacraft Competitor with a 60hp motor. I had to pay a little to boot, but still didn't have to take out a loan and I was in college doing basically summer jobs. I did a ton of work on that one too and ended up selling it for a more than I paid after using it for a couple years. I sold the Alumacraft because I wanted to get a bass boat. I found a steal of a deal on one down in Missouri and took a gamble and went down with my wife and bought it. I now have a pretty nice 19ft bass boat with a 150hp motor and I don't owe a dime on it and actually could sell it for quite a bit more than I paid for it. All from that original $800 investment basically. If you are willing to put in work and do a lot of searching, everyone can afford some type of boat to start out with. I have found that I caught just as many fish and had just as much fun in my 14ft aluminum boat as I do in my 19ft fiberglass. It is just a little faster and more comfortable now. I personally would never hold out for a hold out for a big dollar boat when there are a lot of great deals out there that can get you on the water to enjoy all these great lakes we have in MN.

[Daze Off]

ross -

the bills for a daughter (or a kid for that matter) never end - I am at the other end of the spectrum - daughter leaving for college - can buy a LOT of diapers for one year of tuition and room and board LOL.

At least when she is not in the house she can't "pick" my wallet...<g>

I'm trying to figure out how to upgrade the boat and still help her through college (without much luck I might add).

Daze Off

[BoxMN]

Hey Daze,

I am a stepdad of a early 30's daughter, and let me tell you, in some respects those college days were cheap... heh. They never stop being expensive! However, I will add, that "helping" them out is not always the best way to truly help them. Lesson learned here.

Now the grandkids, that is another story. They are fun to spend money on! My 7 year old Granddaughters favorite b-day present was the tackle box my wife and I gave her, compelte with all the goodies! Wow, that was fun, and now she teases her older brother cause she has "cool" stuff

[Ebiz]

As mentioned, it can be done. Three years ago I bought a 70's 14' Alumacraft & old trailer w/ 4.5 Evinrude for $800.00 off of hsolist. It worked but was bit underpowered and the trailer left wasn't the most reliable but it got me out fishing.

Next year I bought a stripped down 16' Starcraft for $100 on hsolist. Was planning on rebuilding it but never got around to it.

This spring I sold the project boat for $275, sold the 4.5 for $400, & sold the boat and trailer for $750 (trailer has issues but the new owner just wanted a boat to leave at their cabin anyways) - all done off on hsolist.

Went right back to hsolist and bought a bigger 70's Starcraft 14' boat with a brand new trailer for $800 and found a 1988 Evinrude 9.9 in mint condition for $600. I'm set for a few years at least until we have kids and did it all for a net investment of $875 and only had to leave the house twice, everyone else came to me.

Yeah, it took a little wheeling and dealing but to be honest the whole process was kind of fun. My wife thought I was kind of nuts, said it sounded like I was running a used car lot for a couple of weeks but in the end it all worked out.

[Bubbadust]

I haven't cracked the $100,000 mark yet and I own a boat. I have a 1973, 16' faded green aluminum Crestliner with a 1972 25 hp Johnson outboard. I bought the boat with the trailer, motor, trolling motor, and depth finder for $800 three years ago. It was a great find and the motor runs great.

I could afford a lot more boat, but I don't want to. I probably won't upgrade until it sinks.

[so haaad]

Six years of kolledge put me in one of those jobs that put me over that 50k mark. However, you would never know from my boat, beat up canoe or my last vehicle ('91 Jeep until last fall, 250,000 miles and run until death). I use money for function, not fashion. I know what duct tape is too, and so does most of everything that I own.