C lectric wrote:
I know if I jumped into the boat I have now we would no longer be boating.
Clark has made what I believe to be a really good point here.* His statement would have applied to us, too.* From a kid up I have always loved boats and being on the water, as has my wife.* I didn't have a boat or many opportunities to go out on one* until I was out of college and working in Hawaii.* At that point I began going out with friends on their sailboats and fishing with the owner of the flying school I used.
After moving here I crewed on a co-workers racing sailboat for a couple of seasons.* But it wasn't until I got married that I (with my wife) got my first I-own-it boat, an Arima trailer fishing boat, since that was our primary motivation for getting a boat at that time.* We still have that boat, by the way, and still enjoy using it.
We''ve flown floatplanes in this area and up the BC coast into SE Alaska for years so we were familiar with the region and saw all the "big boats" down below us and started thinking, "That could be neat."* But had we jumped right into the big boat world, I have no doubt that we'd have "survived" but I think there would have been more stress--- financially if nothing esle--- and it would not have had the same kind of positive impact on our lives as what we ultimately did.
Now that we've had the GB for over twelve years we feel, "Shoot, why didn't we do this earlier?"* But that's because we know how to run the boat now, how to maintain it, and what the associated costs are.* But if we force ourselves to think of where we were at before we got into boating, we feel, as Clark said, that we did it right by starting out with the Arima, then some ten years later chartering a GB to try it, and then buying our own GB.
Other people have decided out of the blue they want to be boaters and go out and buy a 45' boat.* And do fine.* So there's no one-size-fits-all rule.* But when one has a family, job responsibilities and schedules, little or no cruising experience, perhaps doesn't live right in a prime boating area, and is not even totally sure that the boating experience is really what one's family wants, starting out with a smaller boat can be a smart way to go.* The poster who cautioned not to get one too small is important to heed, too.* But there are nice trailer boats that can accomodate your family.* And obviously you will need the appropriate vehicle to tow a trailer boat.
But whether you start out with a trailer boat or determine that it's gotta be a "big" boat or nothing, I do agree with the "Do it now" camp. I would only add, "Do it intellegently."
*
-- Edited by Marin on Saturday 19th of February 2011 01:34:26 PM
! The bottom line for us- is we are glad we made the purchase, although we wish we were able to cruise more. As mentioned the monthly costs are substantial- but you don't have a choice on those, but the operating costs are minimal if you don't hit anything or break something. I am glad I am getting her in shape for when we have more time to cruise. 10 years from now I'm sure we are gonna be happy we went on and purchased.
