• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Benchrest vs boat.

haha, both can definitely be money and time pits!

Suppose it depends on the type of boat you're talking about here. But both are super fun hobbies.

Feels more like, if you had a boat and were doing benchrest. Which one would take all your time to stop you doing the other! I couldn't imagine being seriously into both at the same time....
 
I never really thought maintenance on a boat (at least ours) was that bad. Change oil and gear lubes, keep it tuned (plugs wires etc.) and keep it clean. Always kept it covered even at the lake.
 
I grew up around boats, some of my best times involved boating. Spent way too much $ on them. Never did both at the same time. Got out around y2k. Got serious about shooting about 2010. I was also a motorcyclist for over 50 years, off and on the road. Lots of stories, boats bikes and cars.
Editing with a picture of one of my favorites.

IMG_0221.jpeg
 
Last edited:
As long as toys aren't financed buy away. Everything is expensive. Don't be the guy who levers up his home to buy that $150k boat and then wonders what the heck happened in 5-10 years....
 
I grew up with boats, fishing and waterskiing. I’ve owned several myself. Problem was, you use it a lot the first year. Then usage drops 50% each year, and soon it collects dust. Then after divorce, I started racing stock car. I got tired of getting wrecked, and having to repair, for little payouts. Then got into shooting competition. Guys right away told me that it was expensive, I replied that I came from racing. Oh, never mind!
 
Been boating since the early 80's .Pleasure boats speed boats and fishing boats . I moved down on the Chesapeake Bay 5-6 years ago and my wife purchased a 26' deadrise. Willard Norris last 26' he had been building boats since a teenager and was in his 80's at this time. No plans , all in his head he was the last of the old boat builder of his time. This one'IMG_20221021_141408203.jpgs my first all wooden boat and it will probably be my last. A lot of maintenance.PXL_20250226_184653931.MP.jpg
 
Last edited:
My advice. Buy a CLEAN used boat.
I bought a 22ft. Starcraft Holiday Cruiser w/305 Chevy I/O for $6000 in the mid 80s from my boss and it was like new. Sold it about 10 years ago when the wife's health took a turn and we didn't use it much. I asked a ridiculous price and he couldn't get the money out fast enough.
This is true lately, the only caveat to this is you need to take care of the boat. I have sold boats for over 4 times what I paid for them and used them for 10-20 years and I have had buddy's see what I did and put their boat up for sale and couldn't sell it. They wine to me and ask why my boat sold so fast and they cant sell theirs, I reminded them of their comments to me about why we have to wash my boat after every trip in the salt water and tell me I'm so annal about my boats. Then I would ask them why we have to take my boat every time we go fishing... oh ya it's because mine always works and is reliable! The condition of a boat is everything.

One of my current boats I bout in 2005 for $49,899 and used for 20 years I can sell for $180,00 right now, but I take great care of it.

Now which is cheaper, showing or a boat...... that an open ended question, it matters what the persons view of BR is and what your idea of a boat is and what your planning on doing with it. A very broad question for sure.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: CJ6
If ya spend more time and money cleaning, maintaining and storing the boat than you do using it, it's time to get a smaller, easier boat.
jd
I run long distances out in the open ocean, sometimes 70-80 miles out the golden gate, so cleaning and maintenance is paramount to being able to depend on your vessel being sound and reliable, and when your that far out on your the only boat out there that becomes very important. It only takes one time of breaking down out in big water and you will never want to go through that again. LOL
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
165,964
Messages
2,207,144
Members
79,237
Latest member
claydunbar
Back
Top