Our retirement boat

[jbmaine]

Hi all,

My wife and I love being out on the water fishing. It's what we do, when ever we can, all during the warm weather months. Our boat for the last 10 yrs is a 14 ft. Lund WC delux with a 20 hp Honda. It's been a great little boat but as we get older (we're both in our 60's) it is not as comfortable for us to spend time in as it once was.

 

Our game plan has been to get a bigger more comfortable boat to fish with as I near retirement.

 

We have been window shopping boats for the last several months in anticipation of my retirement in a couple of years, and after looking at every make from every local dealer we settled on a Lund Fury XL Sport. This looks perfect for us. it will get me away from tiller steer, and will give us more room, more storage, a casting deck and trolling motor. Plus the windshield will give more protection from the wind on cold days ( a must for my wife).

We got a quote from our local dealer on one with a 30hp motor and were close to ordering it when I developed medical conditions which may mean early retirement for me ( I'll know in a few months).

 

So facing the thought of retiring 2 yrs early with less money ( we're OK but far from well to do) we put a new boat on the back burner, that is until yesterday.

 

My lund dealer called and told me he could get me a special incentive if I ordered this boat before Oct. He offered the same boat with a 50 hp for about 1K less than the one we quoted with a 30hp. He also offered to store it for free until next spring.

 

As crazy as it sounds we are considering it.

 

If I can keep working all well and good 

 

if not our choices are- buy the new boat and really enjoy ourselves- hope a used boat comes up that fits our needs ( I have been looking for a long time, no luck)- Or keep using our current boat and fish less often.

 

We have the rest of this month to decide.

                                        Jim

 

[A-Jay]

Sorry to hear about your health concerns Jim.  

Hope you can get past this and get the new Lund.

Either way - enjoy your retirement.

A-Jay

[jbmaine]

thanks A-Jay,

Thankfully my issues are non life threatening.

I've been a machinist for the last 40+ yrs, and standing on cement floors all that time has taken a toll on my feet and back. I am currently out of work on short term disability, while my foot doctor tries to relieve the pain and keep me going.

My wife is also disabled and being on the water with me is one of the few things she can enjoy outside.

As is, with our current boat, a day on the water fishing is fun, but after a few hrs. we are both hurting and it takes us days to recover.

Even though the timing sucks right now, I am tempted to order this boat. We have the $$ now, but may not later, and it would allow us to keep enjoying ourselves out side fishing, instead of staying home most days wishing we were fishing. Worst case, down the road if we had to , we could sell it and get a lot of our $$ back.

                                                         Jim

                              

[WRB]

Don't retire with a mortgage or debt. You are a young man with a wife as your fishing partner with lots to look forward to. Enjoy you new boat.

Tom

[A-Jay]

6 hours ago, jbmaine said:

thanks A-Jay,

Thankfully my issues are non life threatening.

I've been a machinist for the last 40+ yrs, and standing on cement floors all that time has taken a toll on my feet and back. I am currently out of work on short term disability, while my foot doctor tries to relieve the pain and keep me going.

My wife is also disabled and being on the water with me is one of the few things she can enjoy outside.

As is, with our current boat, a day on the water fishing is fun, but after a few hrs. we are both hurting and it takes us days to recover.

Even though the timing sucks right now, I am tempted to order this boat. We have the $$ now, but may not later, and it would allow us to keep enjoying ourselves out side fishing, instead of staying home most days wishing we were fishing. Worst case, down the road if we had to , we could sell it and get a lot of our $$ back.

                                                         Jim

                              

I hear ya Jim ~ 

And I can certainly relate as my better half (and I really mean that) and favorite fishing partner is a 100% disabled Veteran.   

As for pulling the trigger or not on the new boat - There may not ever be a 'right' time - just days gone by that we'll never get back.  

Understanding that tomorrow's not guaranteed to any of us might make this a good time to live for today.

btw - I snagged a new rig last spring - knowing full well my opportunities to get out in it may me limited, but I went for it.  SO glad I did.

Best of Luck to you & yours moving forward.

A-Jay

[tcbass]

On 9/3/2017 at 6:40 AM, jbmaine said:

thanks A-Jay,

Thankfully my issues are non life threatening.

I've been a machinist for the last 40+ yrs, and standing on cement floors all that time has taken a toll on my feet and back. I am currently out of work on short term disability, while my foot doctor tries to relieve the pain and keep me going.

My wife is also disabled and being on the water with me is one of the few things she can enjoy outside.

As is, with our current boat, a day on the water fishing is fun, but after a few hrs. we are both hurting and it takes us days to recover.

Even though the timing sucks right now, I am tempted to order this boat. We have the $$ now, but may not later, and it would allow us to keep enjoying ourselves out side fishing, instead of staying home most days wishing we were fishing. Worst case, down the road if we had to , we could sell it and get a lot of our $$ back.

                                                         Jim

                              

 

 

I'd buy the boat now and enjoy it. You never know when life can take a turn for the worst. Enjoy it while you can.

[jbmaine]

Thanks everyone for the kind thoughts and encouragement. We'll let you know as our decision progresses.

                                                         Jim

[tcbass]

9 minutes ago, jbmaine said:

Thanks everyone for the kind thoughts and encouragement. We'll let you know as our decision progresses.

                                                         Jim

 

 

A friend of mine gets a new Ranger 620 every 5 years. He does this because when it comes time to start doing maintenance he doesn't want to do it and so he has a new boat. 

 

He said for his over $85k boat he only pays around $500 a month. I said that must be a long loan. He said it is a 15 year loan but only at 2.4% which isn't bad at all. 

 

 

Might want to consider that. With your much lower cost boat it might be very cheap. 

[gim]

On ‎9‎/‎2‎/‎2017 at 10:49 AM, jbmaine said:

My lund dealer called and told me he could get me a special incentive if I ordered this boat before Oct. He offered the same boat with a 50 hp for about 1K less than the one we quoted with a 30hp. He also offered to store it for free until next spring.

This is what happened to me in December 2015.  The salesman was trying to get rid of a 2015 model to make room for the 2016's and he offered me some items that would normally not be included with the purchase of a new boat plus the ability to store it inside until the following April.

 

[Further North]

I'd buy the boat...but that's me.

 

...can't take it with you...

 

 

[TOXIC]

My mindset has always been "Best Boat for the Buck"  Usually you can find a super clean 2 year old boat for a fraction of a new one.  Depreciation on a boat is front heavy and you really take a hit when you buy new.  If it were me, I would compare what is for sale on the used market comparing prices with the new boat you are considering.  If it's close, then I would go with the new rig and full warranties.  If not, I would get the newest I could that still had some warranty left and the ability to add more time to it.  Good Luck!!  

[lo n slo]

do it jb. i have been retired for over 6 years now and dont regret it one bit, although i still do side jobs for cash, it is at MY pace and discretion. go get your boat and spend that precious time with your wife. you've earned it! God bless.