To buy a boat or join a boat club?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Henry on March 3, 2010 at 8:21am

This is buyers market, perhaps the best ever.. If one boat will fill all your needs owenership is great in my opinion.
I own 3 boats, a 35' offshore center console, a 31' cruiser, and a 17' flats boat. How you would store it is a concern.
If you are able to trailer it, and can park it at your home, them no slip or marina fees's are incured. You also can
take it with you on vacations, such as to the Keys, west coast or panhandle. Once you own it, and if it stays on a
trailer at your home, you only pay when you use it. Maintance is easier when kept away from the water also.

On the other hand, if a variety of boats are needed to achieve your boaters desires, and your are not a do-it
yourselfer as far as regular maintance and cleaning goes, and you are not able to trailer it, then paying someone
else to handle that is certainly an option worth considering.

I myself would never consider not owning my own boat. If I am going to pay a club as much as boat payments would
be then I want to decide when, where and how I use it. Plus, like a lease deal, at the end you own nothing, but my
boats are all mine. Again it is a buyers market, and buying a good preowned boat from a private owner can get
you much more boat for a fraction of the cost only a couple years ago.

Capt. Henry
ACME Ventures Fishing
"Wile E Coyote"
www.ACME-Ventures-Fishing.com

Permalink Reply by Randall on March 3, 2010 at 10:47am

OWN a BOAT....or CLUB MEMBERSHIP for FLEET of Boats
The club is not for everyone.
Ive been a member at the Adventure Boat Club in daytona Beach since last year. It's awesome.
I have owned boats all my life, and I agree there could be many reasons you would like to have your own. Especially if you can afford to own 3 of them. And you are willing and capable of maintaining, and able to store them yourself.

Boat ownership at the end of payments is nice, but I hardly call that a benefit. With a typical boat loan you make a 5-10 year committment, and are probably upside down in equity until the last year or two. If you want a payment near club pricing you will need to find a 15+ yr loan, and that comes with it's own issues. And each year you are driving an older boat. With the Club you make a 1 year committment, and continue anually if you like. New boats are added every year. And it's all less than a typical down payment, and/or monthly payments.

HOWEVER, as a previous boat owner, I have never been so happy NOT owning a boat. I like to fish...mostly offshore, sometimes in the back water shallows.. I like to cruise, kids like to ski, and we all like disappearing island and overnight St Augustine trips. I can get a boat that fits my needs for the day, (I Never had any issues getting the type of boat I want because they have many of each kind) But the best part, like they say, when you're done...JUST WALK AWAY.

I no longer worry if the boat has sat too long and won't start. I don't have to spend time before the trip to clean it up and get it ready, and I no longer have to try to get my friends to help clean up when we are done. (good luck with that one) The club has great boats and a great staff, which makes my day on the water enjoyable everytime. Don't forget, in addition to vests and safety gear they supply wakeboards, tubes, skiis, and fishing poles. The training they gave was extremely helpful, even for a seasoned boater.

And they now have a Key West connection, so I now have boating options in the keys, without hauling a boat down that 2 lane highway.

NOT FOR EVERYONE...OK. But it is for me.

A Very Happy Member of Adventure Boat Club
Randall

Permalink Reply by Ann on March 3, 2010 at 12:07pm

We owned our own boat, and my husband maintained it. That didn't always work out the way we planned. And after a few years on the same boat it was kind of boring. Each season we spend a bunch on new vests and toys (kids grow) I checked out the club yesterday, and saw some awesome boats. And the Clubhouse was very nice. I think it works for us. Thanks for the advice Henry and Randall!
Happy Boating!

Permalink Reply by BoatVolusia.com on March 3, 2010 at 1:22pm

There are many other boat clubs to consider. To avoid free advertising for the boat club mentioned. Please discuss others near Volusia that can and should be considered.. Some others include Freedom Boat Club, CarefreeBoats, the Jacksonville Boat Club, and All Points Boat Club. Remember to do your research, speak to other members, look at all the boats they have. It would not be a bad idea to even ask for maintenance records.

Permalink Reply by Randall on March 3, 2010 at 4:30pm

I looked at All Points before I joined. It was the only other club local to Daytona, but they only had a few boats in Daytona. Closest Freedom was in Jax. I did the research, and was happy with what I found. Thanks.
Randall