Do you like boating? It has many advantages, including resetting our brains and inspiring creativity. And there are so many beautiful places to explore! Have you ever thought whether you should buy a boat? Although it would be pretty cool, owning a boat comes with more than one disadvantage. It might be better to simply rent one. Read on to learn why.
1. A boat costs too much to buy
Some people say that a boat is a hole in the water you pour money into. And they are not far from the truth. Used motorboats cost at least $20,000 in the US. New ones cost from $60,000 to $70,000 on average. Look for brand names, and you could reach $500,000 and more. But you don’t have to buy boats to experience boating pleasures. You can rent.
2. Boat maintenance is costly
Boat prices are nothing to sneeze at, at least for most people. But some say that buying the boat is actually the cheapest part. Others joke that BOAT stands for Bring Out Another Thousand. It is because boat maintenance costs are high. There are repairs, storage, insurance, and more. According to this article, boat insurance costs about 1.5% of its initial value per year. Storage can cost $1,000-2,000 per year. Add another $1,000 for yearly maintenance. Also, don’t forget the fuel: it can cost several thousand, depending on how much you use the boat. Finally, many people also get gear to make boating more fun, which costs another several thousand. By now, the cost might easily be double.
Also, boat maintenance takes up a lot of time. If you have a busy schedule, you may not want to buy a boat. Because, if you do buy one, you will have to dedicate time to taking care of it. Generally, you will want to spend some time maintaining it at least every second week.
3. The boat you buy depreciates
People say that the two happiest days in a boatowner’s life are when he buys and sells the boat. Unfortunately, boats depreciate, just like cars. Just, instead of mileage, the number of hours of engine use is counted. So the more you use your boat, the less valuable it becomes.
4. Boats are only used 19 days yearly
According to statistics, motorboats are only used 29 days and sailboats 12 days a year, which is 19 days on average. But you have to store and maintain the boat 365 days a year. Is it worth it then? On the other hand, when you rent a boat, you will only pay for the hours you use the boat.
But even if you don’t use it, you will still worry about the boat. Will it survive the storm in the winter if it is in a harbor? Is everything still working properly? Will it not drift away? You will have to take care of it regularly. And you might feel guilty that you are using the boat too little. But if you rent boats, you will not think about these things.
5. You can try many different kinds when you rent
Unless you are super rich, you will most likely only buy one boat. And then you will most likely want to use this one boat a lot. But isn’t it a bit of a shame when there are so many different boat types? If you wish to fish, there are fishing boats. Choose sailboats if you want to sail yourself like in the old times. Whatever type you want whenever you want!
Boating is super fun, and renting a boat is a great way to enjoy the boating lifestyle. But it can seem daunting at first. If you want to rent out a boat for the first time, read our tips for the best boat rental experience.