Selling boat after less than 2 years

L

LakeHouse4305

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Joined
May 5, 2017
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9
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
I'm a wannabe that has been following this and other boating forums, subscribes to Passage Maker and has chartered a Ranger 27 and other boats. While I have narrowed the search to a few boats and would like to pull the trigger in the next 6 months there are nagging doubts. Recently I've observed a number of boats ranging from R23 OB's to 31's being bought and sold within the space of less than 2 years. While everyone's situation is different I'm curious why this happens so often and fear it could be my case if I buy a boat.

Clearly those who live very close to prime cruising areas have a great incentive to keep and use a boat. But for those of us that are 1-2 hours from the water is a boat bought and then sold upon realizing the usage is just not there? Obviously there are personal/life changes we all encounter and this probably a large factor too. Anyway, just appreciate your thoughts to help me decide to push forward or put aside the "dream". Thanks.
 
IMO folks are likely either selling to get a larger or faster boat. Ranger is good manufacturer. They are expensive to buy. Potentially less expensive to own.

Usage is a factor. IMO, if both parties in a relationship enjoy boating, the chance to spend more time in the boat is likely. If one is disinterested, that will impact usage.

As a Ranger owner, I would recommend buying 29-31 most for the comfort in sleeping. Especially if you are still working. Those of us who work need some rest on the weekend.

My two cents.




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In many cases we know, including our own, folks are upgrading. We know a number of boaters in the region (WA-BC-AK) who are on their 2nd or 3rd. We're anxious for the build of our 4th to get started.

Cheers,

Bruce
 
We bought and sold within that two year period you refer to. There were many reasons we did so. We kept our boat in a slip about 40 minutes away from our home. We never thought 40 minutes would become an issue but it eventually did. If you are 1 to 2 hours away from water and are trailering I would think long and hard about purchasing a boat.

We loved our R-23. Happy with the Ranger Tugs customer service and quality of the build. The Marina where we kept the boat was the best and never had an issue.

Over all we found the boating experience very stressful. After a day of boating we felt beat up and tired. We assumed it was supposed to be a relaxing day. In all fairness we have a lot of other interest that we enjoy more.

It was never a financial issue as we paid cash for the R-23. We have no regrets for if we never tried it we would always wonder if we missed something. They say on our death bed we don't regret the things we did but the things we did not.

The good news is we sold the R-23 to a very nice Tugnuts member who seems to be enjoying it far more than we ever would. That makes us feel good.

Think long and hard as it is a big decision.
 
We live 600+ miles from where we launch our R25 Classic It’s a 9-10 hour drive. So we don’t subscribe to the too far away theory.
After 10 years of owning a 24’ SeaRay Sundancer type boat we got tired of the local lakes and took it to the San Juan’s. Big mistake! Immediately we knew we needed a different boat! Out with the go-fast cabin cruiser and in with the Ranger Tug. After 3 years of ownership we have no intention to sell! Maybe sometime down the road we would trade up to a 27 Classic but we are not in any hurry.
Our mental break-even for time and $$ spent is 35 nights a year aboard the boat. We have exceeded that every year and this year we will probably be closer to 45 nights on board. We both love our 25 Classic!
 
The average boater owner, so i’m Told, puts less than 50 hours a year of use on their boat. If that is you, you will sell your boat in 2-3 years. Like any other toy you need to love it to use it and need to use it to love it. Despite all the new systems boating can be a daunting experience, like flying, except without the Z axis to worry about but there is still a lot to learn. If you love being out on the water, you will love your Ranger especially if you get familiar enough with the area and systems so it is second nature. Hard to beat the San Juan’s for protected cruising.

I was recently out beyond the GG bridge on a sunny CA day and there were three pods of hump back whales feeding on the biggest wall of tide driven bait I had ever seen- (right under the bridge) hard to beat stuff like that off the water, at least for me.
 
Agree with nzfisher!
The San Juans are great and the Gulf Islands are even better IMHO!
Our Journey has had four owners in 9 years. The first owner sold soon after purchase due to very serious and unexpected health issues, second owner sold to get a bigger boat for his growing family after one season of use, the third owners due to partnership problem related to a job move for one partner and we are now the fourth owners. Despite all that the boat has consistently been used 70-75 engine hours per year.
If you do not use the boat it will not make sense to continue your ownership. You may also need to sell sooner than you expected for health issues, a desire to get a bigger boat or for financial issues. But if you really love cruising in the PNW you could end up keeping your boat for a long, long time! Only you know how committed you are to using the boat! Just be sure you are getting the boat with the right attributes for what you will be doing on the water.
 
I think many folks that purchase a boat for the first time don't realize the amount of $$ and effort is requires to keep and maintain a boat. This may be another reason boats are sold in 1 to 2 years.

I have owned boats since 1957, 6 new and 3 used. I have found it doesn't matter if you purchase new or used, it will cost significant $$ and effort to keep and maintain a boat. If you have sufficient funds this may not matter, just let someone else completely maintain it for you. I chose to do the things I am comfortable with and let a good yard do the rest.

On the Chesapeake Bay where I keep my RT25SC it cost me in $$ around $6000 to $7000 a year to fix problems, slip fees, winterization, and painting the bottom and running gear. This $$ cost could go up significantly depending on slip fees or if I have a major equipment failure. I also average 1 work day a week during the season where I put in a full day working boat issues or cleaning, waxing or oiling teak.

To me it is worth the $$ and effort since my wife and I love boating and we live in one of the best boating areas of our country, the Chesapeake Bay.
 
As a boat owner of 30 or so over 50 or so years I see you self identify as a “wannabe” and I admire you having found the least painful boating arena, that of charter. There is no better feeling than stepping on board a boat your getting to operate without the slightest worry.

Then, when things go wrong (they always do) you step off, tell someone “Hey, your boat broke” and begin the refund negotiations.

If I may, In a very very heartfelt way suggest you continue this wise course of action, that of never, never, never owning a boat no matter how small, harmless and innocent they may appear.

Here at the end of my journey to recovery I’ve recently moved up from a R25 to a R29 which is on the RV pad at the house allowing me to spend hours in positions I’m usually not capable of assuming maintaining and repairing a plethora of systems.

In rationalizing the monetary end of things I figure the only true costs are the interest I can’t write off as a second home and insurance premiums. The rationalization part is figuring not having to pay slip fees and slip caused maintenance and repairs cover the true costs as outlined above.

Now in all seriousness we do boat weekends at least once a month and we do spend all of our vacations on board. We have six harbors within two hours drive for the weekend excursions and four large lakes within a days drive for the vacations.

For us the bottom line is we go boating everywhere and we can’t imagine going anywhere to do anything but boating! We’re boaters! Pray for us.

If I can’t talk you down off the bridge and you’re going to make the leap no matter what a Ranger Tug of any size and vintage is the spot to land on so to speak. That way the unknowing innocents, as you presently are, the fellow ‘Nutters, the Factory Support and the public at large can admire your tenacity in the face of adversity and you can rattle on and on and on here on the ‘Nuts as I do.

Years back I tried to ease small plane ownership past the wife and she steered me true, saying:

“You'd fall out of the sky, better just stick to boats.”
 
Bottom line: There is no rational financial reason to own a boat. Or an airplane.

I've owned both and the things my family and I have experienced with them are beyond financial measure.
 
For us, it purely came down to size. We needed a bigger boat. We absolutely love our R-27 and are sad to see it go. But onward and upward. Would highly recommend the boat, and the company to anyone looking for a well equipped boat with all the creature comforts!
 
only you can answer the value/tradeoff/cost argument.

you clearly have the itch badly 🙂 and have already moved from armchair dreaming to actual chartering. did you enjoy the experience?
what chartering didn't show you was the tinkering. this can be fun or a headache depending on your interest.

In these situations I ask my self what is the downside to the purchase. worst case: its depreciation and the sales tax.
you will either realize "why didnt I do this sooner?", or you will scratch the itch and move on. both are great learnings that you would never achieve without moving forward.
 
Thank you all for some very insightful comments. It has truly helped solidify some of my thoughts. We have another Ranger charter (a 31 this time) scheduled for next month in the PNW and will go into that experience with some new ideas and practical input. Based on all of that I feel confident that we will be well equipped to make a sound decision in the near future.

Maybe we'll see you on the water out there and share some of those great Northwest experiences!

Chris
 
There are also lots of owners who have had life changes they didn't expect we have loved and enjoyed our R27 for 4 years now Mr C has taken over my wife's body and we can no longer enjoy our boating together so I guess there are other owners in a similar position 🙁

Its not always a change of wanting a bigger boat but life goes on 🙂

Cheers
Peter B
 
Just curious, from whom are you chartering in the PNW? Would love to charter an RT there. Thanks, Roger Ware, Kingston, ON
 
Anacortes Yacht Charter has the most Rangers - - 27, 29 and 31'. San Juan Sailing has one. Two years ago we chartered a RT 27 Classic out of Vancouver but that boat is no longer available. So depends on what you want and availability of the desired boat for that time.
 
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