It sounds like a dream come true. Spending your weekends and nights on the water, letting the sun warm your neck as you navigate the surf. Whether it is a small fishing boat or a large yacht, boat owners know that it’s the most amazing experience, but it’s not all sunshine and waves.
We’ve put together five realities of owning a boat that people never tell you. There is no doubt that owning a boat is exciting, but it comes with lots of responsibilities you need to understand before making an investment.
Don’t buy a boat without knowing all the facts.
1. Boat Owners Need to Store Their Boat
If you live in an area where the winter is bitterly cold or you have a large boat that needs to stay on the water, then you need to store your boat. Smaller boats can be stored on your property depending on where you live.
Larger boats need to be stored in a dry boat storage facility and larger boats that are in a temperate climate need a slip. The costs vary depending on your area.
2. Invest in a Boat Lift
If you own a yacht or other large boat, then it seems only right to store it on the water. The problem is even the most durable boat will end up impacted from sitting water for long periods of time. Your boat will absorb the water and water levels fluctuate.
Boat lifts keep the boat out of the water and safe until you lower it. It also makes it easier for checking your hull for cracks and debris.
3. Many Boats Need Insurance
You can probably get away with a small fishing boat not having insurance or having it as part of your homeowner’s policy, but expensive boats need insurance because accidents happen on the water. All it takes is a rough wave or one split second not looking, and you can hit another boat.
There are many different types of insurance depending on the type of boat you own and its use. There’s yacht, sailboat, dinghy, and professional insurance to name a few.
4. Owning a Boat Takes Tender Loving Care
A boat is just like a car in that it needs regular maintenance to keep functioning. The outside hull coating needs washed and waxed regularly or else it can oxidize. Engines and other parts need checking and lubrication.
Also, if you boat in saltwater, then you’ll need to flush the engine after each use or else corrosion can set in.
5. Know Boat Owner’s Etiquette
You can’t just drive your boat on the water with reckless abandon. There are laws and etiquette that must be followed or else you could end up with a ticket or unhappy fellow boaters.
It can be small things to sailboats have the right of way over powerboats or speed limitations on lakes and rivers.
Owning a Boat Can Be Fun
While owning a boat is a responsibility just like owning any other large item, boat owners agree that it’s worth the effort. You can enjoy the water and enjoy the peace and quiet that goes with it.
If you want to learn more about owning a boat, then please explore our site.
