Boats are a pain to own?

[livemusic]

Do you think owning a boat (especially a fishing boat) is a never-ending exercise in frustration with failures here and there or not so? If you find your boat to be super reliable, what do you do to foster that?

 

Of course, it's more than just big motor stuff. We have a trolling motor, sonar and just this and that with structural stuff. Screws fall out, hinges fail, etc.  One of my seats broke yesterday, ugh.

 

Do you think modern 4-stroke outboards are game changers regarding reliability?

 

I was wondering if boats (especially 2 strokes) can be more problematic than we wish due to the fact that many of them are not used on as regular of a basis versus something like our vehicle. So, what should you do about that? Run it with muffs once a month, once a quarter? What do you think?

[TnRiver46]

There have certainly been times where it was a pain but it’s a glorious ride and I wouldn’t have it any other way . I’ve had problems with 2 and 4 stroke, things happen. Cars are 4 stroke and they break down too....... 

 

I would say the best running motor I had was a 25 merc 2 stroke from the mid 90s (some friendly folks decided to steal that one). I’ve put and untold amount of hours on all kinds of boats and motors. My current 50 hp merc 4 stroke has needed a new starter, rectifier, and a new lower unit or three (hit some rocks and got rear ended on the highway, not factory defects). But by golly, the internal combustion on that motor is smooth as silk, it’s never missed a beat in 11 years or so. 
 

Here’s a strange case: I put a harbor freight predator engine on a mud motor kit from Thailand and clamped that onto my small boat. That engine has performed flawlessly 100% of the time since I purchased it circa 2013. Go figure!!! It even sat for 2 years without running 

 

in summary, just learn to deal with hardships and get more boats. Turn your driveway into a marina!! I love boats 

[E-rude dude]

Bust

Out

Another

Thousand

 

There is no pain money can’t cure. Of course assuming you have the money.?

 

[Russ E]

There is an old saying . A boat owners happiest days are the day he buys it and the day he sells it.

 

I have owned a few boats in my lifetime from old beat up Jon boats to my current Ranger bass boat. 

They are all relatively high maintenance, 

If you don't have any mechanical or electrical skills, they can be expensive to own and maintain.

It is not just the boat. There is also maintenance on the trailer.

That does not keep me from owning a boat. 

It is just a part of boat ownership you have to accept

 

In regards to the new 4 stroke motor. They are very reliable, but expensive if repairs are needed.

 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

9 minutes ago, E-rude dude said:

Bust

Out

Another

Thousand

 

There is no pain money can’t cure. Of course assuming you have the money.?

 

I’ve even went into debt to fix them when I didn’t have the money. Priorities!!!

[A-Jay]

My passion (OK let's call it what it is - addiction) for the pay off,

easily over comes each & every "requirement" 

associated with being able to get out on the water.

Safety & Reliability come at a price, both figuratively & monetarily. 

I am going to do 'something' with my money, time & effort

and I can not think of a better way to spend it

than to do whatever I can to allow me access to something I truly love

and have since I was a boy.

Seems the seasons click away quicker and quicker.

Can't get them back.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

 

[padon]

yes they are somewhat of a pain in the neck. but its way better than not having one.the biggest thing i can say as to keeping them reliable is try to stay on things. i mean keep an eye on things that are likely issues before they even become issues. like you said alot of the problems come from infrequent use. so use the time to keep up on maintenance. i dont drive expensive cars take lavish vacations live in a huge house etc. so if i need to spend some money to maintain my boat so be it.

[BigAngus752]

The peace I find on the water more than makes up for it.  

[Deleted account]

Not a pain at all. They are a piece of equipment that costs money to acquire  and maintain, in some cases lots of money. The non reliability thing (except for Mecrs, they are a$$) is usually a matter of older equipment or lack of PMS. And, yes sitting around with no use for extended time is bad for all sort of machinery, but if that is the case, one probably not own a boat. We have a guideline in the salt, if you aren't fishing on it at least 50 times a year, don't do it. 4 strokes are great, but I don't think at this point they are new, they came from the last century....  

[livemusic]

25 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

My passion (OK let's call it what it is - addiction) for the pay off,

easily over comes each & every "requirement" 

associated with being able to get out on the water.

Safety & Reliability come at a price, both figuratively & monetarily. 

I am going to do 'something' with my money, time & effort

and I can not think of a better way to spend it

than to do whatever I can to allow me access to something I truly love

and have since I was a boy.

Seems the seasons click away quicker and quicker.

Can't get them back.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

 

 

Holy cow! I mean, smallmouth. Those are big 'uns.

 

Ok, you guys... if for just keeping things lubed up and the jets open, ANYone fires up their outboard on a regular basis and runs it with muffs or pulls into a launch and runs it without launching, (yes, I have done that, lol), lemmo know how often you do that.

[slonezp]

Weigh your priorities. Boat ownership isn't for everyone.

[GaryH]

Boats to me are not a investment. I don’t purchase them to make a profit down the road. We have a few guys on here that are top shelf mechanics when it comes to boats and they can buy scrap and turn it into gold and also enjoy them for years, but that talent is a art and not possessed by many.

Maintaining my equipment I find enjoyable and relaxing. Yes it can be expensive but how many hobbies aren’t?

My pain would come from watching people pull away from the dock and not being able to do the same. 
Buy it, maintain it, enjoy it.  ???

 

 

 

 

[Fishes in trees]

As addictions go, boat ownership is relatively painless, IMO,  plus it gives me something to ride around on when I go fishing.  Used to be a bank walker - but these days I think riding around in a boat is funner.  I think the appropriate comment here is "pay to play".

[WRB]

What price do you put on a hobby that you enjoy?

Money can’t buy time.

Boats are a hole in the water you pour $$ through. Stay within your means and take care of your investment.

Tom

[Darth-Baiter]

For me it’s just not the boat.  There is a truck. I subscribe to towing overkill - bigger is better.  So now I’m driving a big truck probably as my daily driver.  Where I live:  no thanks. 
 

second:  storage. All my friends pay for boat storage or have them at a parents house.  My house has no boat storage.  Add that cost. One friend pays $200 for sweet covered storage and rarely uses the boat cuz he needs to work overtime for - you guessed it, his boat and truck payment.  
 

it’s a vicious cycle.  One friend put his boat in the water once. He hints for me to buy his boat cheap, but....storage and truck

 

I got a kayak:)

[BBuck]

5 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

For me it’s just not the boat.  There is a truck. I subscribe to towing overkill - bigger is better.  So now I’m driving a big truck probably as my daily driver.  Where I live:  no thanks. 
 

second:  storage. All my friends pay for boat storage or have them at a parents house.  My house has no boat storage.  Add that cost. One friend pays $200 for sweet covered storage and rarely uses the boat cuz he needs to work overtime for - you guessed it, his boat and truck payment.  
 

it’s a vicious cycle.  One friend put his boat in the water once. He hints for me to buy his boat cheap, but....storage and truck

 

I got a kayak:)

What kind of boat does this friend of yours have he used once? 

[TOXIC]

As has been said, if you can’t do your own maintenance, a boat can be frustrating and expensive.  I fall right in the middle.  I’m no mechanic but I can do the general maintenance and I have a good friend who is a good mechanic.  Maintenance is key and the more your boat sits, the more there is.  I am in a bad situation right now.  My boat has been sitting for a good long time because I have been going with one of my friends most every weekend and we towed his boat behind my truck to Florida.  I need to decide whether to drain the fuel or just top it off and go run it.  It’s a 2 stroke Yamaha 250 with 480 hours so it’s good and broken in.?

[Alex from GA]

In my case a boat is just a tool to go fishing and a person usually takes good care of his tools.

[Michigander]

For me, I can't stand not having a boat. So all the blood, sweat, and treasure I expend to keep my boat going is worth it to me.

[Craig P]

I personally would not buy or own a boat if I did not have my own garage to store it.  Weather just kills boats.  I've seen 5 year old boats look 10 years old and after 15 years, they're sold to the next guy as a bargain fixer upper.  Unfortunately those second or third hand owners rarely get to use them, they just work on them and when they do get it out on the water, something else breaks.

 

While my boat is young at 4 years old, it looks and functions as close to new as you could get so on top of having controlled storage, it's right there for me to take a towel, tube of grease or wrench to.  It does not take much to maintain it, heck, it's actually fun but for the guy who stores it outside or elsewhere, maintenance can easily be forgotten or put off and that only leads to a decreased life span.

[evo2s197]

Being a boat owner is easy if you're mechanically inclined and you have common sense along with Being diligent with regular maintenance.

 

If you can't do your own oil changes,  or able to swap out something basic like a alternator, fuel pump, or wire up a new stereo in a car or truck which is as easy as it gets short of knowing how to pump gas, then you really don't have any business owning a boat unless you like paying someone to do every little thing, but what happens when you are out on the water and you don't have someone with knowledge out on the boat with you when something goes wrong because that's when it will.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Michigander said:

For me, I can't stand not having a boat. So all the blood, sweat, and treasure I expend to keep my boat going is worth it to me.

Preach it brother . When my bigger boat messed up in the fall I rebuilt the transom in my smaller one every night after work until I couldn’t stand up any longer. I can see why people build/rebuild a boat when they retire, it takes up a whole lot of time!!! (And is pretty fun) 

[TOXIC]

1 hour ago, Craig P said:

I personally would not buy or own a boat if I did not have my own garage to store it.  Weather just kills boats.  I've seen 5 year old boats look 10 years old and after 15 years, they're sold to the next guy as a bargain fixer upper.  Unfortunately those second or third hand owners rarely get to use them, they just work on them and when they do get it out on the water, something else breaks.

 

While my boat is young at 4 years old, it looks and functions as close to new as you could get so on top of having controlled storage, it's right there for me to take a towel, tube of grease or wrench to.  It does not take much to maintain it, heck, it's actually fun but for the guy who stores it outside or elsewhere, maintenance can easily be forgotten or put off and that only leads to a decreased life span.

While you are right, a boat left out in the elements will deteriorate very quickly, one that has the proper precautions will be just fine. My boat has never been parked under cover but I take extra precautions to make sure Mother Nature is kept at bay.  We get snow here and hot temps as well and for a 2005 model year, I think mine has done well.  No weather damage.

 

 

[gim]

My family always had a fishing boat growing up. It was as simple as a 16 foot aluminum tiller with a 25 hp 2-stroke outboard and basic sonar. Eventually we upgraded to a more modern boat that was bigger with more accessories. All of the boats I fish in now have modern 4-stroke motors. I spent a lot of time in those boats with my family fishing so I naturally wanted my own when I got old enough with the means to afford one. I personally prefer to store my boat in the garage too not only for peace of mind about items being stolen, but to also keep it out of the elements. If I had to store mine outside all the time, I wouldn’t own one.

 

I don’t do any maintenance on my outboard because I’m not mechanically savvy so I pay someone to winterize it every fall. I keep my boat maticulously clean though. You can eat off it. It’s 6 years old now and last year I had several people ask me if it was brand new.

 

Outboard maintenance, battery replacement, and trailer tires are items that need to be addressed as part of being a boat owner.

[Deephaven]

I ripped half the electrical nonsense out of my boat today.  Bought it with a fair number of hours, if the motor pops I'll build it.  Not terribly concerned.  Realistically if you are diligent one day in the spring and one in the fall and you can conquer all you need to do on your boat.  There are always exceptions, but when well maintained there isn't all that much to do.  Of course if you find changing the oil in your car difficult then it will cost you.