An unsexy hole in the water
We live in Florida, so it was inevitable: my husband and I are thinking about buying a boat. (Gas prices are way up! Perfect timing!)
Not only do we live in Florida, but we are in the Venice of America -- so called because of all the canals here -- and some people even consider this the boating capital of the world (although those folks haven't traveled much).
Almost everyone here has a boat. If you don't have a boat, then you make friends with someone who does, so you can go out on the water. At the very least you have a Jetski or Waverunner. After all, you have a rep to protect. You live in Florida! What will your relatives/friends/college roommates think of you if you live in Florida and don't even have a boat? Don't they just hand you a boat the moment you get a Florida driver's license?
I know enough about boats to quote the saying, "A boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into." As a teen, my family had what they call a cabin cruiser. My father accepted it as payment for a job he did. My stepmother hated it. It was fun, but something was always broken on that thing. Tied up at the dock along the canal behind our house, the boat eventually just became my sleepover spot when friends came over. When I'd go into a boating supply store with my family to pick up a part here or there, I remember seeing the marked-up prices on everything. Even a boating-themed plastic drinking tumbler was 10 times what you would normally pay for it. I guess the industry figures if you can afford a boat, you are rolling in the dough.
Which my husband and I are not. If and when we buy a boat, it will be used.
The type of boat to get has us discussing. Debating. Weighing pros and cons.
My husband is thinking about a Carolina skiff...
...when he's not dreaming about a cigarette boat.
(Yeah, right!)
I am thinking about -- SWEAR YOU WON'T LAUGH -- a pontoon boat.
Retired family friends who live on a lake elsewhere in the state have a pontoon boat, and they call it the AARP Barge (pronounced "arp barge").
Rather unsexy.
But a pontoon boat has lots of room. We could bring enough friends onto a pontoon to have a party. Or, with the right canopy and covers, we could camp on it. These boats typically have a barrier all the way around, which is perfect when you have a Man-cub. It can go in shallow water -- and Florida has lots of that.
Today, I was running errands with the Man-cub and passed a house with a pontoon boat in front. I called my husband to tell him about it. He actually stopped by that house on the way home from work. Turns out the boat is 13 years old, needs some new upholstery, a new battery, a new canopy and lots of pressure cleaning. And the owner is asking $5,000 "but will make a deal."
Um, yeah.
It makes my humble kayak (which I adore) look better all the time.
Not only do we live in Florida, but we are in the Venice of America -- so called because of all the canals here -- and some people even consider this the boating capital of the world (although those folks haven't traveled much).
Almost everyone here has a boat. If you don't have a boat, then you make friends with someone who does, so you can go out on the water. At the very least you have a Jetski or Waverunner. After all, you have a rep to protect. You live in Florida! What will your relatives/friends/college roommates think of you if you live in Florida and don't even have a boat? Don't they just hand you a boat the moment you get a Florida driver's license?
I know enough about boats to quote the saying, "A boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into." As a teen, my family had what they call a cabin cruiser. My father accepted it as payment for a job he did. My stepmother hated it. It was fun, but something was always broken on that thing. Tied up at the dock along the canal behind our house, the boat eventually just became my sleepover spot when friends came over. When I'd go into a boating supply store with my family to pick up a part here or there, I remember seeing the marked-up prices on everything. Even a boating-themed plastic drinking tumbler was 10 times what you would normally pay for it. I guess the industry figures if you can afford a boat, you are rolling in the dough.
Which my husband and I are not. If and when we buy a boat, it will be used.
The type of boat to get has us discussing. Debating. Weighing pros and cons.
My husband is thinking about a Carolina skiff...
...when he's not dreaming about a cigarette boat.
(Yeah, right!)
I am thinking about -- SWEAR YOU WON'T LAUGH -- a pontoon boat.
Retired family friends who live on a lake elsewhere in the state have a pontoon boat, and they call it the AARP Barge (pronounced "arp barge").
Rather unsexy.
But a pontoon boat has lots of room. We could bring enough friends onto a pontoon to have a party. Or, with the right canopy and covers, we could camp on it. These boats typically have a barrier all the way around, which is perfect when you have a Man-cub. It can go in shallow water -- and Florida has lots of that.
Today, I was running errands with the Man-cub and passed a house with a pontoon boat in front. I called my husband to tell him about it. He actually stopped by that house on the way home from work. Turns out the boat is 13 years old, needs some new upholstery, a new battery, a new canopy and lots of pressure cleaning. And the owner is asking $5,000 "but will make a deal."
Um, yeah.
It makes my humble kayak (which I adore) look better all the time.
Labels: boating, hello my name is, water fun
posted by Holly at Tropic of Mom at 7:12 AM
For Local Blog
13 Comments:
I can TOTALLY see you guys on a pontoon boat!!!
Guinevere, um, thank you?
Hey! A kayak IS a boat. But the pontoon boat would be fun.
Pontoon boats are fabulous. My aunt and uncle have one up on the lake near us. We are able to fit 12-13 people on it and have a blast. We are actually going to spend a day there for my father's 60th birthday in two weeks. Photos of their boat are on my blog.
Happy boat buying!
Holly, Did you read the story in my post on Tuesday? It goes with today's post.
Oh, and one more thing. Pontoon boat, definitely. You can't have sex in a kayak.
Pontoon boats ROCK! They aren't the fastest but they are the funnest. FOR REAL.
It's true, it's hard to avoid considering a boat when you live here. I obviously don't own one, but between my siblings and cousins there are quite a few. I love getting on a boat and spending an entire day out...
Of the 3, I LOVE the Pontoon boat! Then again, they just sent us an AARP membership (I kid you not, we were speechless). It does look rather roomy and stable.
My hubby dreams of owning a boat one day too...and a kayak...and a canoe. *sigh*
I love your kayak!
The pontoon looks fun! Like a mobile party :~)
Oh look! You DID link to me! Thanks girl!!!! You rock. :)
Now as for the boats. I am ALL THE WAY BEHIND YOU on the pontoon. Sexy it is not. BUT. You can fit a ton of ppl on one. You can get where you need to go. Fish, sunbathe, dive off of it, and your kid can't really slip right off and into the drink. Its got the shade. You so right about getting to shallow spots. It will be a floating island of fun, I tell you. And I can say this b/c we go out on our friend's pontoon all the time. B/C we don't have one either! ;)
I would totally choose that boat. Looks like the least one to sink lol.
I think pontoon is the way to go. What do I know though, I am a desert rat. Saying that I am impressed with you taking the kiddo out in a kayak that would scare me.
AARP Barge? No way! Around here we call pontoons Party Barges!
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