Your First Boat
Buying your first boat is a topic that really demands some introspection. As we make that decision, many of us have that little quote lodged in the backs our minds:
The two best days of your life are the day you buy a boat, and the day you sell it.
Why is this true for so many people? What is it that we misunderstand that catches up to us and makes us regret buying that boat? The answer is painfully simple. The fantasy far outweighs the reality of owning a boat. To get to that place where you are strapped in that chair, rod in one hand and beer in the other, you have work to do and money to spend. We underestimate what it takes to own a boat. The time, the cost, the fatal blow to our marriage… The list goes on. If we had just paused and taken a moment to look at ourselves before we bought the boat, we would have laid the proper groundwork.
Some key rules that will help you before you take that plunge
- Tell your significant other in the early days, they are part of a swinging relationship. They must share you with your boat (and other boaters, if you think you can successfully pitch that one).
- Start with a small boat and work your way up when you feel you are ready.
- Use the 80/20 Rule but in reverse. Assume the boat will cost 80% more to maintain in time and money than your initial estimate.
- Double the reverse of the 80/20 Rule if you buy a fixer-upper.
- Put a $20 dollar bill in a safe place and, when you’re out on the water in bad weather without any knowledge of how to operate the boat, tell yourself you will use the $20 to buy a drink if you make it back home. (Or apply that $20 toward a little bit of Instruction).
- Don’t get obsessed by a big white fish that got away after it took part of your leg with it.
We spend a lot of time in these posts talking about the Zen of boat ownership. Boats are remarkable tools that have taken people beyond the edges of the earth when nobody knew what was out there. In modern times, the technology has developed incredibly fast. We can now put our boats on autopilot and sit back while they deliver us to our destination, avoiding rocks, shallow areas and other obstacles. But they need your time and care to do their jobs well.
Some Things for the New Owner
Safety Equipment:
- Life jackets
- Throwable device
- Flotation device
- Fire extinguisher
- Visual distress signals
- Sound-producing device
- First aid kit
- VHF radio
- Anchor and anchor line
- Dry bag
Basic Tools:
- Pliers
- Screw drivers
- A small socket set
- Flashlight
- Good duct tape
- Fuses
- Hammer
- Jump pack for batteries
- Spare props
- Wrench for props
- Diving mask
Be wise before you buy and you may end up enjoying the sport!
Click here for posts about boating safety.
Here is a great link for understanding the true costs of boat ownership:
