boat payments:-(

[fishincreek]

Yes...having enough in your pocket knowing you can fill the tank for the next trip. How many fish do you catch at 42 mph?

None at 42. I was really talking about 60-65 though. Fishing for me is more than just catching fish. I enjoy the total experience of it all, including getting away for everything(including paying bills and the costs!). To be honest I cannot recall the cost of one trip, yet I can vividly recall "that" fish I caught 20-25 years ago. Of my fishing buddies that have passed before me(including my grandfather who took me on my first fishing trip) I don't recall anybody chatting about boat payments, yet MANY spoke of the great times had on the water. I guess some folks endure life, I prefer to live it.

[HURRICANEBOB]

None at 42. I was really talking about 60-65 though. Fishing for me is more than just catching fish. I enjoy the total experience of it all, including getting away for everything(including paying bills and the costs!). To be honest I cannot recall the cost of one trip, yet I can vividly recall "that" fish I caught 20-25 years ago. Of my fishing buddies that have passed before me(including my grandfather who took me on my first fishing trip) I don't recall anybody chatting about boat payments, yet MANY spoke of the great times had on the water. I guess some folks endure life, I prefer to live it.

Well said....and I second' the only time I worry about a budget is when I'm not enjoying myself. That's what recreation is all about, a departure from the norm and a chance to enjoy life. You are a scholar sir!

[peter]

well almost have my boat paid off! and thank god for that. it was a10yr pay off!! I got to say I love my boat:-) but I will never do that again get a loan for a boat!! and the worse part of it have to put more money back in to it! carpet is in bad shape ect ect! anyway almost paid off! lol

Congratulations on paying off the loan! Gotta feel good.

[RIBLUEFISH]

Congrats on paying off the loan. I bought my first boat in 1990, Ranger 363V. I payed about 16K for it with a 7 year loan at 11.99%. I was still in school and working part time and had no credit and needed my StepDad to co sign. I never missed a payment and got 21 years out of that boat and traded it in for on a newer used one a few years ago. I am in a totally different situation now than I was then, but, I think I got my value out of that boat.

[fishhound]

Thanks peter it does feel really good to have it almost payed off:-) it will make fishing trips feel a little bit better! Lol. Bibluefish im glad to hear you got 20+ years out of your boat hope i can do the same:-)

[Les Young]

Lucky for me the last 3 boats I have owned including the one I have currently were all cash deals. I also bought a new Stratos in 2003 & financed it. I sold it when gas went through the roof after the hurricane. I had absolutley no problem making the payments. When I sold it I payed it off & pocketed a sizeable amount of cash that was left over. Some don't have the cash to go out & pay big money for boats, but some can make payments easily & pay them off a lot earlier than most folks would by paying extra each month. A boat loan is not a bad thing for someone that uses their head when they should. Like I said no payment on the last 3 I've owned, but a good chance there will be a loan for part of the next one I buy as I'll be stepping up quite a bit from what I have now although there is absolutley nothing wrong with my 95 Dyna Trak 180 STE I have now other than I want in the 20 foot range & thinking either a 201 Pro or Bullet. It won't bother me a bit to finance part of it & I currently don't have a loan of anykind on my vehicles, boat or home. I did , but they were buckled down & payed off way early & I am debt free. Why would I finance a boat ??? I would just as soon keep my savings where it's at. In the bank incase I need it.

[MSD]

Credit is not bad, if used wisely. I know of no one, including myself, that hasn't made poor choices when it comes to credit and making purchases. Unless one is born to a wealthy family, the use of credit is really the only way one can begin to accumulate wealth. I know some very wealthy people, multi-millionaires, and they themselves used credit. Without credit, I wouldn't have my house, truck, boat and many other things. If one can make the payments comfortably and it fits into their budget, then I see no real problem with using credit to get that boat that one really wants to have. I was 45 years old before I bought my first new boat. I wished I had done it earlier in life. I lost many years of fishing that I can never get back. Why 20 years ago,I could have worked all day and fished most of the night. Now after work, I ready for the recliner and have to wait for the weekends to fish. As said earlier.....to each, his own. Enjoy life while you can

[Hershey102]

"Unless one is born to a wealthy family, the use of credit is really the only way one can begin to accumulate wealth."

Not even close. Our grandparents saved, invested, and would never consider using their home equity like a piggy bank for vacations and toys. Pay yourself first, not some lender.

"I was 45 years old before I bought my first new boat. I wished I had done it earlier in life. I lost many years of fishing that I can never get back."

Wouldn't it have made more sense to buy a used boat that you could afford rather than not fish?