Talk me down from the ledge (..selling)

[JetboatDrvr]

I love our little boat, I really do but I think I'm the only one. It's just the wife and I so I do all the maintenance, cleaning, towing, driving...actually, the only thing any else does is show up and sit. The water near us (within 1.5 hours) is not really conducive to a small boat or wake sports in general so I'm thinking of selling the AR and getting a sport cruiser or something with a deep-v hull that can handle the chop. If no one but me is going to surf but I'm also the only one that will drive, it seems silly to keep a sport driven boat. Thoughts???

 

[Dixie Highway]

I say, if you love being on the water and the boat you have doesn't suit your style of use, then try to get something else. Anyone that buys a boat has to know it is not an investment, it is a diversion. A hobby. Hobbies are meant to be enjoyable, it sounds like yours has become a burden. So take the part that's burdensome and change it, and remember why you love the hobby!

 

[marcham]

What's your main water for boating?

I clean, wax, I mod, I drive, I back up the trailer, load/unload the boat (wife will drive trailer out of the water though, as long as no backing is involved). On the other hand, she mows the lawn, does the recycling, etc.... she loves to just sit and enjoy the boat, although she will drive when I need to get behind the boat and surf (with trepidation of course).

I think I got the better end of the bargain!

The wrong boat for the location/conditions/occupants makes for an unpleasant outing. When some of your crew don't like it, guess what, they won't want to do it for much longer.

I much prefer sailing. Wife and daughter not so much. So we have a sport boat. I'm just happy we have a boat and I can get on the water and spend time with my family. Get something that works for everybody, not just one person, otherwise you might find yourself boating without a crew one day!

 

[Whisky]

Absolutely a fair concern. I agree, if boating is no longer fun..... then there may be better places to spend your money. That being said, if being in the water is what you love, and even better love to do together, maybe a different boat would make you more comfortable.

Maybe she may want to get more involved, but needs to be brought along to it, overcome some either fear, or uncertainty around operating?

 

[Scottintexas]

from what you've written I'd say sell it, it's not bringing you the enjoyment it should,

but a few other questions, comments,
what does she think about selling it and moving to a different boat?
if she's indifferent towards it what about renting a boat or even chartering a surf boat for a few times a year (you could get your fix and she enjoy the ride), no storage, no cleaning, no taxes, very little risk,
do you ever have friends going out with you? what about entering a deal with one of them to learn how to drive?

if chop is a bigger issue what about installing trim tabs to help smooth the ride?

 

[njmr2fan]

Based on your comments I'd say sell it. I currently have our boat on the market as we still use it. If someone buys it, I'm okay with that. If not, I'm okay with that. Boat is paid for, it has a spot in the garage, and insurance is cheap. Maybe you and your wife would rather have a Class B RV and drive places and stay a few days. Maybe there's something else (Hobby-wise) that will fill in and engage both of you a little more fully!

 

[I_squared_r]

I love our little boat, I really do but I think I'm the only one. It's just the wife and I so I do all the maintenance, cleaning, towing, driving...actually, the only thing any else does is show up and sit. The water near us (within 1.5 hours) is not really conducive to a small boat or wake sports in general so I'm thinking of selling the AR and getting a sport cruiser or something with a deep-v hull that can handle the chop. If no one but me is going to surf but I'm also the only one that will drive, it seems silly to keep a sport driven boat. Thoughts???

Always the boat owner takes the burden of all the work. Maintenance, cleaning, towing, driving is intimidating and people want to contribute, but don't know how. . You can ask them to help in other ways like prepare food, organize things etc. Maybe you can task your wife to look online for planning weekend trips on your boat. Teach her how to drive etc. try different ways to get her engaged in boating. Another boat isn't going to magically reduce the work and get people involved. I went through this with a girl that I dated and tried everything to get her engaged. She just wanted to sit there and enjoy the fruits of my labor. After a while I got rid of her instead of the boat (i'm not suggesting this ? ) If you can't resolve this in a season then maybe a different boat fits your life style. What does the wife think?

 

[jdkaeser]

Sounds like pontoon time! The ladies really like those. Hell, I like them, just don't have the space to store one. You can beach them without worrying about scratching the finish, walk around easily, still do water sports and fishing. If I didn't own a Yamaha I would buy a pontoon.

 

[JetboatDrvr]

So...wife is on board with a different style boat. I/We are leaning towards a Sea Ray Sundancer...definitely not new. To be fair, I really don't mind the maintenance, it gives me close contact time with the boat so I know exactly what's going on.

If we weren't on coastal waters, a pontoon would absolutely be the choice.

I'm going to try and go take some good pictures and post the boat for sale. Anybody want a '16 AR 190 with 100 hours?

 

[I_squared_r]

So...wife is on board with a different style boat. I/We are leaning towards a Sea Ray Sundancer...definitely not new. To be fair, I really don't mind the maintenance, it gives me close contact time with the boat so I know exactly what's going on.

If we weren't on coastal waters, a pontoon would absolutely be the choice.

I'm going to try and go take some good pictures and post the boat for sale. Anybody want a '16 AR 190 with 100 hours?

Good choice on the Sundancer. The 28' Sundancer is my dream boat right now, but I want to keep the AR192 on the trailer for watersports or lake trips. Maybe i'l do it when the AR192 is paid off. Can you do the same?

 

[Dean P]

So...wife is on board with a different style boat. I/We are leaning towards a Sea Ray Sundancer...definitely not new. To be fair, I really don't mind the maintenance, it gives me close contact time with the boat so I know exactly what's going on.

If we weren't on coastal waters, a pontoon would absolutely be the choice.

I'm going to try and go take some good pictures and post the boat for sale. Anybody want a '16 AR 190 with 100 hours?

I had a 25' Sundancer; probably my favorite (boys were young and we spent weekends "everywhere"). The boat handled okay but still get banged around some. You'll definitely want trim tabs. Mine had a 5.7 with Bravo 3 out drive. The Sea Rays are heavy so make sure you can pull it.

 

[marcham]

So...wife is on board with a different style boat. I/We are leaning towards a Sea Ray Sundancer...definitely not new.

I've always had googly eyes for those while walking along the seawall in Vancouver....that and Ranger Tugs (different speed experience though!). On a 280 you can easily spend a few nights aboard comfortably which would make the 1.5hr drive seem like less of a chore.

If she's willing to go boating, get whatever makes her comfortable and happy!

 

[JetboatDrvr]

Thanks everyone! She seems excited about the Sea Ray so that is probably the direction we will go. My mental problem now is looking at the bigger boat, all I see are clamps that will need to be replaced, hard to access engines, bottom paint, etc...

I know it comes with the territory. I grew up on sail boats which are just monsters to take care of so very familiar with the routine. Looking forward to the some coastal cruising! If I could move the budget decimal place to the right one slot, we could get a really sweet cruiser.