I sold my boat today

[HomerJ]

And, contrary to the common saying, it wasn't one of the happiest days of my life.

I was pretty sad.

But still, less headaches now. We've sold the lake condo, and now we're getting rid of everything else.

Streamlining our lives as we get ready for the next phase of our life.

We can take that money and use it to rent an occasional boat for a full day now and then. But that's not the same as having your own boat that you can take out for a quick hour sunset cruise at a whim..

Ah, well.

(What I'm REALLY going to miss is the jetski - Man I love that thing)

[Cheez-It Guy]

Condolences for your loss.

You should have gotten together with the guy on here who was buying a boat recently.

[Wricha]

FWIW I sold my boat (52ft catamaran) it just getting to be too much work. Felt like it was sad day, two years later it has become a much happier day. Don’t miss it a bit. Even sunset rides now walk the beach for the sunset.
Good luck on your next adventures

[ER2023]

HomerJ,

I was so surprised to read you sold your lake condo and jet ski! I always enjoy reading your posts (those posts really helped me stay the course this year), and recall how you purchased the condo when a close friend died of cancer at such a young age. It resonated with me a lot since none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow, so if you really want something, do it now. You and your family seemed to enjoy it and you will always have those memories - no regrets.

I wish you all the best as you begin your next chapter!

[smitcat]

Sorry to hear the boat is gone - hopefully a new one is somewhere in your future.

[New Providence]

And, contrary to the common saying, it wasn't one of the happiest days of my life.

I was pretty sad.

But still, less headaches now. We've sold the lake condo, and now we're getting rid of everything else.

Streamlining our lives as we get ready for the next phase of our life.

We can take that money and use it to rent an occasional boat for a full day now and then. But that's not the same as having your own boat that you can take out for a quick hour sunset cruise at a whim..

Ah, well.

(What I'm REALLY going to miss is the jetski - Man I love that thing)

For how much?

[btenny]

Boating and living on a lake is wonderful and fun. But I am sure there are other great ways to enjoy life and have fun. Good Luck and have fun with your new life plan.

[Teague]

Don't be too sad, if you change your mind you can always buy another one. Always your choice.

[Cycle]

I have an annual membership to our local boat rental. We bike there, go for a quick paddle, and bike home. They have four locations here, so never locked into one lake and never have to haul/store the boat. The shared economy is convenient.

[willthrill81]

I thought that you would always have a boat Homer! So sorry to hear about that.

How much does it cost to rent one in your area? In ours, it's $150/hr. We've been out on one a grand total of once in the last six years, and only then because it was half price and only a few hours.

[HomerJ]

HomerJ,

I was so surprised to read you sold your lake condo and jet ski! I always enjoy reading your posts (those posts really helped me stay the course this year), and recall how you purchased the condo when a close friend died of cancer at such a young age. It resonated with me a lot since none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow, so if you really want something, do it now. You and your family seemed to enjoy it and you will always have those memories - no regrets.

I wish you all the best as you begin your next chapter!

Thanks... It was well worth it.

We enjoyed it very much for 7 years, but the youngest kid grew up, has a job in the summers, so we can't go for long periods of time, like we did when he was younger. Maintenance costs were going up too, since everything that was new 7 years ago now needs some work.

Two houses was nice for a while, but now we are looking to make our lives a little easier with just one. I wanted the one to be the lake condo, but I was outvoted (somewhere in our marriage contract it says my wife wins 1-1 ties)

We also may move in a year or two to a retirement community with more stuff to do.

I will have to scratch my itch with boat and jetski rentals for now. We'll go back to renting for a week with family at various lakes, instead of everyone always coming to our place.

Maybe in 5-10 years we can revisit the idea of owning a summer and a winter home.

[HomerJ]

I thought that you would always have a boat Homer! So sorry to hear about that.

How much does it cost to rent one in your area? In ours, it's $150/hr. We've been out on one a grand total of once in the last six years, and only then because it was half price and only a few hours.

$300 for 4 hours in our area. So it does probably make financial sense to just rent.

[HomerJ]

Don't be too sad, if you change your mind you can always buy another one. Always your choice.

Yep, exactly.

[wilson08]

I have a great book by Elaine St. James entitled Simplify
Your Life with the subtitle: 100 Ways to Slow Down and
Enjoy the Things That Really Matter.
Your post reminded me of Item # 21: "Sell the Damn Boat".

[vested1]

My wife and I had a shared birthday yesterday and our kids, grandkids, and great granddaughter came over to help us celebrate. We pulled them around the lake all day on a tube (not all at one time however), which provided some hilarious memories and a few videos. So far the vote has been 2-0 to keep the boat, but if my wife ever decides that she's tired of all that fun, laughter, and gentle rocking, I'll have to call in the reinforcements by increasing the voting base to include those who visited today. If I ever decide to get rid of the boat it will have to go, mainly because my wife's only familiarity with a screwdriver involves a joke about drinking.

Congratulations on your new phase Homer, every change requires courage. Life is an adventure meant to be lived, and simplifying it is never a bad thing. Neither is complicating it occasionally. Good luck and bon voyage.

[HomerJ]

My wife and I had a shared birthday yesterday and our kids, grandkids, and great granddaughter came over to help us celebrate. We pulled them around the lake all day on a tube (not all at one time however), which provided some hilarious memories and a few videos. So far the vote has been 2-0 to keep the boat, but if my wife ever decides that she's tired of all that fun, laughter, and gentle rocking, I'll have to call in the reinforcements by increasing the voting base to include those who visited today. If I ever decide to get rid of the boat it will have to go, mainly because my wife's only familiarity with a screwdriver involves a joke about drinking.

Congratulations on your new phase Homer, every change requires courage. Life is an adventure meant to be lived, and simplifying it is never a bad thing. Neither is complicating it occasionally. Good luck and bon voyage.

I've got plenty of hilarious memories and many videos too....

But the kids are grown up, and there are no grandkids yet... Maybe in 10 years, if we have a few, I'll buy another boat.

[Tub84]

HomerJ,

I have just returned from a lake vacation (rental) with friends.....on a floating house......boats....jetski.

I was searching BH looking for perspective on the possibility of buying a lake vacation property when I came upon your recent (and past) experiences. Thank you for your posts on this topic (and your many others that I enjoyed). While I now intend to continue renting, I can understand why you owned (and also why you sold).

Fair winds to you!

[avenger]

We sold our boat the week before the country locked down in March. Just finishing putting in an inground pool and hoping to make just as many great memories.

Congratulations!

[nydoc]

Looks like living on the lake is fun. Now I need to find a lake in NYC area first.

[smitcat]

Looks like living on the lake is fun. Now I need to find a lake in NYC area first.

We have mostly boated on Long Island sound and the coast but there are many places where yo can go fresh water boating in and near NY as well.
The first and most obvious one is the Hudson river which turns to fresh water right around West Point at the "Worlds End" bend. Enjoying any part of the river all the way from the Statue of Liberty up to Albany with many things to see and do in between.
Other more typical lakes we have boated in:
- Lake George (smaller boats)
- Lake Champlain
- Lake Wallenpaupack
And there are those 'really big' lakes up north of Oswego that we traveled through a few years back as well.

[Random Musings]

I love to jetski. Tubing on a boat is also a blast. Lake houses can be money pits, although in the current environment I see more people spending far more time at the lake. Although it looks like in this case less time will be spent there which makes selling it the right answer.

RM

[snapvestor]

And, contrary to the common saying, it wasn't one of the happiest days of my life.

I was pretty sad.

I'm going through a boat sale right now and I'm pretty sad without even signing it over yet. How are feeling about the sale 6 months later? Just curious if this will pass.

[smitcat]

And, contrary to the common saying, it wasn't one of the happiest days of my life.

I was pretty sad.

I'm going through a boat sale right now and I'm pretty sad without even signing it over yet. How are feeling about the sale 6 months later? Just curious if this will pass.

"How are feeling about the sale 6 months later? Just curious if this will pass. "
In our case we bought another boat....

[avenger]

And, contrary to the common saying, it wasn't one of the happiest days of my life.

I was pretty sad.

I'm going through a boat sale right now and I'm pretty sad without even signing it over yet. How are feeling about the sale 6 months later? Just curious if this will pass.

We were fine.
But we also built a pool the same season.

[HomerJ]

And, contrary to the common saying, it wasn't one of the happiest days of my life.

I was pretty sad.

I'm going through a boat sale right now and I'm pretty sad without even signing it over yet. How are feeling about the sale 6 months later? Just curious if this will pass.

Heh, if I was still living in Kansas City, I would be worried about my dock and my boat at the lake wondering this is the year the ice will freeze enough to damage something.

Instead, I'm living in Phoenix and it's 72.

So, no, don't miss owning the boat here in February... And probably won't miss it next summer either (we'll have to see, but I am enjoying my new streamlined one home life)

But I know for sure I will miss the jetski....

Guess I can always go rent one.

[KneePartsPro]

Not long ago my neighbor bought a 1965 Chris Craft. One word describes the look on the seller's face as we towed it away. Heartbreak.

[Doogie]

Wish I could sell my pool.

[vested1]

Wish I could sell my pool.

+1. Wish I could sell my lawn.

[jpelder]

I've always heard that it's a better idea finacially to rent if it flies, floats, or... what's the third one?

My in-laws have bought and sold boats repeatedly over the past few decades. They like the lifestyle, but they confirm that they're all holes in the water that you pour money into.

[smitcat]

I've always heard that it's a better idea finacially to rent if it flies, floats, or... what's the third one?

My in-laws have bought and sold boats repeatedly over the past few decades. They like the lifestyle, but they confirm that they're all holes in the water that you pour money into.

Not in all cases.

[WhyNotUs]

We sold our sailboat a couple of years ago and it felt pretty good to take that off of the table.
Then we bought an RV during the pandemic

[btenny]

Sorry for your loss. What kind and size of boat did you have? Selling stuff that brings us great pleasure is hard. Maybe you will find renting a jet ski or a boat occasionally to be good enough. Or maybe you just need to travel to a lake/beach regularly and go swimming.

I am curious where was your lake home?

I too live in Phoenix and have a second home by a lake and a boat. We use ours a lot. We escape to the mountains and lake for the whole summer and a month or so each winter. But as we get older (now 70++) I am wondering if all the back and forth traveling to our second home is worth it. We are just not as active and agile as younger days. Plus there is the constant churn of repairs and updates on two places versus one. I used to fix a lot of stuff myself but now have to hire stuff out. GRRR.... Getting old is tough.

Let us know how this works for you.

Good Luck.

[janeking12]

And, contrary to the common saying, it wasn't one of the happiest days of my life.

I was pretty sad.

But still, less headaches now. We've sold the lake condo, and now we're getting rid of everything else.

Streamlining our lives as we get ready for the next phase of our life.

We can take that money and use it to rent an occasional boat for a full day now and then. But that's not the same as having your own boat that you can take out for a quick hour sunset cruise at a whim..

Ah, well.

(What I'm REALLY going to miss is the jetski - Man I love that thing)

Sorry to hear the boat is gone -I understand how hard it can be to let go of personal things. Well...I wish you well on the next phase of your life.

[finite_difference]

I've always heard that it's a better idea finacially to rent if it flies, floats, or... what's the third one?

My in-laws have bought and sold boats repeatedly over the past few decades. They like the lifestyle, but they confirm that they're all holes in the water that you pour money into.

Not in all cases.

I agree.

If you get a small fiberglass boat with a 4HP outboard motor it requires almost zero maintenance. Or a kayak or a canoe.

In America when people say “boat” they mean a pleasure boat or yacht or sailboat.

[snapvestor]

We wound up selling the boat. It was definitely sad. We made a lot of good memories. We'll most likely wind up with a smaller boat in our future.

[smitcat]

I've always heard that it's a better idea finacially to rent if it flies, floats, or... what's the third one?

My in-laws have bought and sold boats repeatedly over the past few decades. They like the lifestyle, but they confirm that they're all holes in the water that you pour money into.

Not in all cases.

I agree.

If you get a small fiberglass boat with a 4HP outboard motor it requires almost zero maintenance. Or a kayak or a canoe.

In America when people say “boat” they mean a pleasure boat or yacht or sailboat.

Our boats have varied from 12' to over 50' in length over time.

[HomerJ]

Sorry for your loss. What kind and size of boat did you have? Selling stuff that brings us great pleasure is hard. Maybe you will find renting a jet ski or a boat occasionally to be good enough. Or maybe you just need to travel to a lake/beach regularly and go swimming.

I am curious where was your lake home?

I too live in Phoenix and have a second home by a lake and a boat. We use ours a lot. We escape to the mountains and lake for the whole summer and a month or so each winter. But as we get older (now 70++) I am wondering if all the back and forth traveling to our second home is worth it. We are just not as active and agile as younger days. Plus there is the constant churn of repairs and updates on two places versus one. I used to fix a lot of stuff myself but now have to hire stuff out. GRRR.... Getting old is tough.

Let us know how this works for you.

Good Luck.

A year ago, we had two homes, one in Kansas City, one at Lake of the Ozarks (a condo - highly recommended for a second home, since no yard to maintain, and the docks were taken care of as well).

A year later, we are now living in Phoenix. Sold both houses, the boat, the jetski, sold and gave away 30 years of accumulated junk (we started THAT process 2 years ago).

And of course, did all this during a pandemic.

Quite a year...

But we are now living in a smaller house (didn't save much money though), streamlined possessions with no junk, in a 55+ community so lots of amenities and opportunities to meet people. Finally get to relax by the pool and enjoy the sunsets after that hectic last year...

(We had to RACE our moving truck across country to Phoenix. Guy picked up our stuff, said he'd be there in 3 days by noon. The moving company had told us it would take 5-7 days... Nice to get our stuff so quick, but we didn't leave town until the following morning, and had to race the guy to our new house... We got there 45 minutes before he did).

[IMO]

Sorry for your loss. What kind and size of boat did you have? Selling stuff that brings us great pleasure is hard. Maybe you will find renting a jet ski or a boat occasionally to be good enough. Or maybe you just need to travel to a lake/beach regularly and go swimming.

I am curious where was your lake home?

I too live in Phoenix and have a second home by a lake and a boat. We use ours a lot. We escape to the mountains and lake for the whole summer and a month or so each winter. But as we get older (now 70++) I am wondering if all the back and forth traveling to our second home is worth it. We are just not as active and agile as younger days. Plus there is the constant churn of repairs and updates on two places versus one. I used to fix a lot of stuff myself but now have to hire stuff out. GRRR.... Getting old is tough.

Let us know how this works for you.

Good Luck.

A year ago, we had two homes, one in Kansas City, one at Lake of the Ozarks (a condo - highly recommended for a second home, since no yard to maintain, and the docks were taken care of as well).

A year later, we are now living in Phoenix. Sold both houses, the boat, the jetski, sold and gave away 30 years of accumulated junk (we started THAT process 2 years ago).

And of course, did all this during a pandemic.

Quite a year...

But we are now living in a smaller house (didn't save much money though), streamlined possessions with no junk, in a 55+ community so lots of amenities and opportunities to meet people. Finally get to relax by the pool and enjoy the sunsets after that hectic last year...

(We had to RACE our moving truck across country to Phoenix. Guy picked up our stuff, said he'd be there in 3 days by noon. The moving company had told us it would take 5-7 days... Nice to get our stuff so quick, but we didn't leave town until the following morning, and had to race the guy to our new house... We got there 45 minutes before he did).

Don't be shocked if you don't buy another boat, or at least a jet ski . . . . if you've never been at a local lake when it's 110 in the summer you'll come to realize how the summer heat really isn't so bad. Especially when the schools normally go back to in person sessions in mid August and the mid-week time at the lakes is not so crowded (but that was pre-covid and pre-everyone wfh so it may no longer apply).

[jradisch]

My Lund fishing boat turns 10 years old this year and I'll be putting it for sale once it comes out of winter storage. I used it maybe 9-10 times last year and that was a lot for me. We will be moving/building near the NC coast as soon as my wife retires in 2 years so starting to liquidate hard assets now. I'll get back into fly fishing in the meantime.

[btenny]

Arizona is nice. I hope you learn to like it. It is a lot different than other places in many ways. Phoenix used to be small then millions of people came here so now it is like LA, just huge. The weather in the desert half of the state is cold for 6 weeks each winter and nice or hot the rest of the year. This makes it good for swimming and boating and fishing and jet skiing almost year round. I have boated on almost every lake in the state. Back then I had a ski boat and I trailered it all over. We have lots of desert lakes all around and most of them are man made so the federal government owns most of the land on the water. So no lake homes and very few marinas directly on the water. But you can trailer a jet ski or boat to all the various lakes and stay on the water. Shore camping is OK in limited cases.

If you are going to stay here year round I hope you have a pool in your yard or HOA pool close. It is really hot all summer and a pool that you can jump in makes staying out side OK. We leave and go to the Tahoe for the summer. When I worked I had a home with a big pool and I used it most days. Standard summer wear is sandals and a swimming suit and a t-shirt.

Welcome to Arizona. Good Luck.

[hnd]

i finally bought a boat when i was 30 (for walleye fishing). it was something i'd wanted my entire life and finally got to a point where i could afford it. It was 20 years old and lots of people told me all the old monikers of owning a boat.

But the past 10 years have been an absolute blast with it. I've had to do a few things here and there (eventually bypass the VRO) but outside of normal maintenance costs its been great.

My plan is to sell it within the next few years and upgrade.

[Grt2bOutdoors]

I've always heard that it's a better idea finacially to rent if it flies, floats, or... what's the third one?

My in-laws have bought and sold boats repeatedly over the past few decades. They like the lifestyle, but they confirm that they're all holes in the water that you pour money into.

My cousin bought a boat (mid life crisis) - hardly used it but it still needed maintenance and skip fees, etc. Then had it towed to a closer lake - after realizing how much it was costing besides the ridiculous outlay (bought new) - sold it at a substantial loss. Now this cousin wants to go on a boat - pays a fare or a rental charge but no need to own it.

Another cousin bought a boat and I don’t know how they did it - but they wound up putting a hole in the gas tank - ouch! They had the boat 3 weeks. Some are just not cut out for ownership. And he lives on a lake.