BENIFITS OF BOAT RENTAL / THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG QUESTION

 

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Boat Ownership Options / Should You Buy, When to Buy

 

 

 

There are some of us that fall in love with boats immediately! For many new boaters the introduction to boating starts when visiting a friend or relative who has already made the commitment to boating. A visit to a boat, and they start to think about having a boat for themselves (and their family). Right away other boaters start to inform them of the perfect boat to buy. Or potential boat buyers contact a broker or dealer and utter those fatal words "I am looking for a boat". Most boat sales persons will sell you what they have not what you want or need. Unless you boat for at least a season you really don't know what your needs are. Some sales people will try to weed out of you what you plan to use your boat for, how many people are in your family and were you plan to boat. All valid questions however until you have been out with your family several times a new boater can only make an educated guess.

So how do you get the time on the water on your own without breaking the bank. You need to know that a lot of new boaters buy the wrong boat the first time around. This is even more true when buying a used boat. A new boat has a longer honey moon period with the new owner. This is because well:  A- The boat is new and every one loves new toys    B- You are not going to be out of pocket immediately for broken items. All used boats require an investment almost right away to make it yours.                 So lets talk options other than diving in blind to the boating world!

1. You really sell yourself on the idea that you can pick the ideal first boat. Sometimes buyers do get lucky and strike gold. The buyer finds the boat of there dreams that makes themselves and their family happy
2. You get informed about the boats that interest you. The buyer places his trust in a seller and hopefully a marine surveyor and jumps in with both feet.
3. Attend a multitude of dealers and brokers tour as many boats as you can, this can mean driving or flying all over and becoming a shopaholic until you make your purchase.
4. Go out with, or borrow a boat from a friend who owns a boat and see how boating fits you and your family. Take advantage of being in the marina and visit many other boats to see what will work for you
5. And this one makes the most amount of sense- Rent a boat or several if you can try them out with you and your family and see which type of boat seems to suite you best and make an informed decision based on personal experience.
6. Don't buy a boat at all rent when you have the time to get out.
7. Co ownership of a boat, this works for some people who do not want the burden of all the maintenance and cost of ownership.

If you are the kind of person who has several other commitments that take away weekends and seasonal time that would affect your boating time then consider other options. A boat will die waiting for you to come back and I mean that literally. I know a lot of boaters who are boating fanatics they practically move onto their boats at launch and stay on board until haul out. These are boat owners who truly get their moneys worth out of the investment a boat requires. Remember its not just the boat purchase you need to invest in mooring, insurance -which is currently not to bad but expect increases, (I spoke to the tech from one of the major repair providers in Ontario and claims on new boats are easily exceeding 70,000 dollars on average). If you make the mistake of adding your boat to your house policy hold on! There is also the expense of new safety gear and repairs and maintenance. This is not for the faint of heart.

If you only use your boat a couple of weekends a year, and do not have buckets of money to throw away on an investment you never see or use. Look at other options, Boat rental in Canada and in other communities is a relatively new idea. There are companies now established to walk you through all aspects of boating, including safe boat operation. A real plus if you have never been a captain before.

 

At Boat Nut we consider ourselves industry critical, in this case we genuinely feel that boat rental is an area of our industry which needs support. Boat Nut ran into Carefree Boat Club an organization we know from Florida. They have made the decision to bring their program to  Ontario Canada. So we invited Care Free Boat Club to join this discussion with us!

Membership Benefits

Carefree Boat Club has revolutionized the way people enjoy boating. With us, the expense and hassle of boat ownership is a thing of the past.
With a Carefree Boat Club membership you get:

AFFORDABILITY

• In most cases, the cost of membership is about 1/3 the cost of owning a boat.
• We cover the cost of boat purchase, slip fees, insurance, maintenance, repair, taxes, towing coverage, winterization and depreciation.

UNLIMITED USAGE

• Use the boats as often as you would like with no additional cost.
• Boats are reserved using an on-line reservation system that allows you to pick the day, time, boat and Carefree location so you can design your perfect outing…easily.

LARGE VARIETY OF BOATS

• Variety includes but not limited to 18’-27’ Cruiser, Deck, Bowrider, Pontoon, Fishing, Ski and Sail Boats.
• As a member you’re not stuck with one kind of boating. You can take your family on a nice cruise this weekend and next week go fishing. The possibilities are endless!

 

 

GREAT AVAILABILITY

• We have been making boats available for our members for over a decade and the key to our success is the ratios of boats to members, an easy to use on line reservation system and spur of the moment walk on access.
• Members predict and control their own availability same day up to 6 months in advance.

LOCATION OPTIONS

• Members have access to all US and Canada locations.

ON THE WATER INSTRUCTION

• Instructors at each location provide Boat Safety training and handling skills.
• We teach you to operate a boat in tight quarters, navigate channels, practice emergencies, dock, rules of the road, radio operation, and how to use the many amenities that you will find on most boats.

We await their reply.

This is not a new idea, or is it a bad idea. The Pleasure Boat International Resource Guide names several countries that have embraced this idea.

Author BW

 Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided

Toronto Boat Show 2016 SNEAK PEAK

 

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2016 TORONTO BOAT SHOW  SNEAK PEAK    What to expect this year!

The Toronto Boat Show starts Jan 8 2016, so we got a teaser for you! What's new, who's back and what is all the rage this year.

It's another dark year at the Boat Show. The colors I mean, black and navy blue are all the rage! If you read my previous blog were I discuss new boat  boat design and how most new boats look the same, not much has changed this year. The boat manufacturers have however come up with a new way for us to recognize their brand, HUGE logos with their manufacturer name in silver and chrome, unless your a staple line like SEA RAY. Some colors just wont die, secondary colors like lime green and light blues are still the standard. LARSON and GLASTRON have figured out that untrimmed glass windshields are not going to work, although any one who has been a boater could have predicted that design as a failure. WELLCRAFT is back with a line that includes the SCARAB name adorning a off shore center console, however what the hell are they thinking still sporting the name SCARAB on some small jet boats which used to be Sea Doo's jet boat line up. Scarab is an off shore name and should have been shelved until this boat showed up.

The sail boat manufacturers are still in the mix JEANNUE and BENITEAU, These boats are looking less like sailboats with out a mast. There is a MONTI CARLO lined up in this row which shows some promise of being the most unique yacht at the show this year. However it sports some odd trim that the first anchor drop will quickly remove for the new owner. BAYLINER has a bath tub with an outboard on the back and Moomba looks like the manufacturers got to the stern and just gave up.

 If you like black take it all in as a white boat is as rare as a two dollar bill.

The great thing about all most all of the new boats is that they will fit neatly into your shoe box shaped slip and boat house, corner to corner front and back. They are almost perfect rectangles now,  it is either this shape or stubby noses boats that look like someone cut away ten feet in the for deck. I am sure that they fit queen size beds in the v birth cabin. I can't wait to get inside one and see what the super wide rounded out noses give you. Again style swapped for ergonomics.

I am however happy to say that some builders have stuck to their roots and provide us with exactly with what we expect from them. Particularly BOSTON WHALER and CHRIS CRAFT. The yachts are either bridge boats or (the copied by all) enclosed cockpit style. Everybody has one now in their line up.  Ridiculous fake side vent graphics are all the rage at many of the displays. This complete with king queen stepped motorcycle style seats from SEA DOO.

There is one new, well not new, color that has crept back into the fold and that is the color I will refer to as pewter.

I hope you enjoy the show we will be bring you more as the #TorontoBoatShow opening day gets closer, here's hoping you find your dream enjoy the show!

Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided.        

Author TN

Spring start up / Boat Restoration 1998 280 Bayliner

                                         

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BOAT RESTORATION  Project #1 1998 BAYLINER 280

Boat Nut Media thought it would interesting to follow several spring start up boats this year, we have tried to select a cross section of different boats and budgets. Saving the dream! Boat Nut Media has selected a 2001- 410 Silverton Yacht (Sport Bridge),1998-280 Bayliner (Cruiser), 2001- 260 Sea Ray (Small Cruiser) and a 2010- Center Console fishing boat (Fully Rigged with Kicker, Radar, Down Riggers, all the toys)

2015 Spring Project Boat  1998 Bayliner 28 Cierra

List of spring work to be completed: 

1- Restore the exterior of the alpha drive

2- Replace the universal joints

3- Alpha Drive spring service - Gear Oil, Water Pump, Prop Repair, etc.

4- Gel coat repairs to hull on Port and Starboard sides and the back edge of swim platform

5- Replace hull graphics

6- Polish and wax the whole boat

7- Repaint the wiper arm components

8- Replace the haws pipe at anchor locker

9- Replace the horn

10- Replace the VHF radio

11- Repair the wood grain dash all the printing is gone

12- Replace the fridge

13- Clean up the interior like new (remove mildew stains)

14- Clean up and restore exterior upholstery

15- Spring start up on 5.7 liter motor. Fluids, paint the works.

16- Replace the dockside water fitting

17- Replace the Bimini and install tonneau cover

18- Full systems check and repair any failures 

19- New bottom paint
20- New prop

After all work is completed there will be a sea trial and delivery to a new marina. The reason for all this work is the boat has only had 1 hour of operation time in the last 3 years. Boat Nut Media will video the boat at the start of the project, and take you through the project to completion. Work will begin late this week, we will upload videos every two days. If you have a similar projects on your boat you will see the products and procedures that are used to make this boat look like new again.

Bringing this boat back to its former pride and glory will be a lot of work. This is one of those boats that begs the question, what do you do and were do I start? Do you let it go cheap or spend the time and money and bring the boat back to a clean reliable boat. There are a lot of these types of project boats out there and not all of them are worth repairing. Why do boats end up in this condition? Well for whatever reason the owner has not had time, has lost interest in the boat, or cannot afford the boat. How do you determine which boats to save? Boats like this one reach a tipping point, and this one is right on the cusp. Another year of no use and no interest would have pushed it over the edge. This is when the cost to repair starts to exceed the value.

Here is an example of a 2010 Bayliner 260 after one season abandoned at the dock

This boat was chained to the dock with a smashed out port cabin side window all of last summer. The boat literally was frozen when Boat Nut was asked to get it to the ramp! This boat will be for sale this year would you want to be the next owner? There are always tell tail signs of a boat that was abandon or let go. For information on how to detect this type of boat check out Telemarinetech Services from Boat Nut Media.

 If you get to this point you should have sold the boat the first year that you were not using it. If you do not have the budget, the time or the want to repair your boat sell it ASAP take the loss and walk away. Even one year of no use or hours really hurts a boat. This 28 Bayliner will take weeks of time and a large budget to bring it back to where it should be, the fortunate part about this story is the boat has been put away every year correctly. Boats that have been left by owners who have lost all interest rarely seek the correct seasonal services. So luckily in this case the important parts of this boat are still in good shape, the motor, the structure etc. So with the right planning this boat will be one to be proud of again. This boat is going to receive this work not for a profit but for the love of the boat.

Fixing and flipping can be a risky proposition and you can be with the boat for some time. There is no sure thing. I have seen sure fire flip boats be for sale for three years you must be prepared for this or cut your losses.

At the end the boat will either be loved again or it will be sold. No matter what the out come this boat is going to enter the second stage of its life.

 If you are a do it yourself boater this 28 Bayliner would have been a great candidate for a fixer upper, and that cannot be said for too many loss of interest boats out there. Do not be fooled by the story, the boat has had no use in the last couple of years so this boat will be in better shape than a boat that has been used regularly. That is bull, the boat that has been used and maintained will ninety percent of the time the better boat. If you are considering buying a fixer upper this project will be one to follow. You will certainly get a feel for what it takes to restore a mid size cruise.

Boat Nut Media will include the costs of labor and parts for each step, giving you an idea of how much of a budget is necessary, and how to manage this type of project.

Telemarinetech information is available on our next blog and at boatnutmedia@gmail.com

To guarantee access to all of  Boat Nut Magazine articles, pictures and featured services visit the official Boat Nut Magazine ©™ website. Be sure to reply to the Boat Nut Association registration on our site for the latest Boat Nut weekly and monthly news letters and opportunities.

http://boatnutmagazine.com/

Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided.

Proud to now be a CBOC Featured Marine Author

 

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CBOC MARINE and BOAT NUT MEDIA HAVE TEAMED UP!

Together we will bring boaters around the world, the best, unbiased and informative information on boating and the marine industry!

We are proud to announce we have partnered up with CBOC Marine to bring our readers, and boaters nationally and internationally the best of the best when it comes to up to date information in the boating community!

You will now have the chance to communicate with us and post questions for us on the CBOC website forum! We highly recommend you join both CBOC and us on the web, Twitter, and Facebook for the most up to date information.
We look forward to this new opportunity and would like to thank David, from CBOC for allowing us to be a new featured author. Keep an eye out for us, we will be changing the boating communities access to information, education, safety, and the ins and outs to the marine industry!!

Please welcome CBOC to our blog, and visit their website
http://www.cdnbaylinerownersclub.com/
You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook!!
@CdnBayliner
https://www.facebook.com/CanadianBoatOwners

And as always you can find us on twitter and Facebook as well!
@BoatNutMedia
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boat-Nut-Media/441474996009835

"We'll make a Boat Nut out of you"

To guarantee access to all of  Boat Nut Magazine articles, pictures and featured services visit the official Boat Nut Magazine ©™ website. Be sure to reply to the Boat Nut Association registration on our site for the latest Boat Nut weekly and monthly news letters and opportunities.

http://boatnutmagazine.com/

Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided.

Boating in Toronto- One Hull of an Adventure

 

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Toronto / One Hull of an Adventure        Regional Boater Access Development Program

So what is there to do when boating in Toronto or surrounding area?

Most of the local boaters in the city of Toronto are of the opinion that boating in the city is sort of boring. I guess if you consider the inner harbor your only boating option. You are right, we can go into the eastern gap, through the inner harbor out the western gap around the back of the island, then back to your slip for a BBQ and drinks. For a real adventure we can go the other way!

You can overnight at Toronto Island if you can find a spot on the wall, what a disappointment when you load up your party get over to the island and find its full. Now your arranging the rest of your trip without a plan, with a restless crew, not at all a fun way to find yourself particularly if its an occasion day. Through the week however you will probably find a nice spot, but on a weekend or on a long weekend you need to take your boat over days early to get a slip. If you have good weather its even more frustrating. On the other hand it is possible to open the throttles for five minutes and drop the anchor at the western end of Toronto Island. You should know it can get rough and very crowded.. Other options include the local big cruise, you can go to Port Credit or around the point to Woodbine Beach. Wow your right kind of boring!

The sad part of all this is there is always something going on in this city. Toronto like every other major city on the water under utilizes this fantastic water front we have. Boat Nut Media has thought about this and why boaters are bored with this region. We have come to a couple of conclusions on why local boaters do not utilize or attend local events or destinations. First they are not informed of when, where and who to go or see, they generally find out by word of mouth or by accident. Any events which are promoted for boater attendance are poorly organized to handle their needs. The second conclusion is the destination stops such as bars or restaurants downtown are confusing to get to (where can you legally tie up and leave the boat for a period of time), or these business's  have terrible docking facilities, docks that will damage a your pleasure boat (these are mainly ship peers they are to high and made of concrete) No security leaving your boat at risk of uninvited boarding and theft.

Toronto has a lot of great places and things to do while boating, they just don't understand the needs of boaters, you can not just assume because the event or business is on the water boaters will show up to enjoy themselves and spend money. Promotion, and consideration of needs will allow boaters to take advantage and enjoy the Toronto boating region completely. The lake the rivers and all that surrounds us. For this reason Boat Nut Media will promote Toronto One Hull of an Adventure. We will contact and work with any and all business's and events which would be of benefit to both parties. If you have any ideas, events or business' you as a boater would like to improve, promote or change please contact Boat Nut Media.

Boat Nut Media will be looking to partner with the province and local municipalities on behalf of boaters needs currently and consideration in future development. We will keep you posted!

To guarantee access to all of  Boat Nut Magazine articles, pictures and featured services visit the official Boat Nut Magazine ©™ website. Be sure to reply to the Boat Nut Association registration on our site for the latest Boat Nut weekly and monthly news letters and opportunities.

http://boatnutmagazine.com/

Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided.