Get started with powerboating with NauticEd’s FREE online Navigation Rules for Powerboats, or become a competent powerboater with the Skipper Large Powerboat Course – a comprehensive online powerboating course for beginner to intermediate powerboaters wanting to learn how to operate larger powerboats greater than 26ft. Or upgrade to the Bareboat Charter Master for Powerboats Bundle of online courses to also master multiday and near-coastal powerboating as well as charter powerboats on vacations.
The Pros and Cons of Owning a Boat: From Someone Who’s Been There
Let’s be honest right out of the gate.
Pros?
You’re on a boat.
Cons?
Most of your friends will act like it’s their boat too—right up until something breaks or it’s time to scrub the deck.
Now, that old saying about the two happiest days of a boat owner’s life—the day you buy it and the day you sell it—is complete crap if you actually love the water.
Here’s the truth:
Boats are expensive.
Boats break.
Boats can be frustrating.
But if you’re the kind of person who says “it doesn’t matter as long as I’m getting out there,” then this whole boating thing is for you.
What Owning a Boat Really Means
Boat ownership is about getting out there—on the lake, the river, the bay—whatever your spot is. It’s about pulling a kid on a tube, grilling on the back deck, or killing the engine just to hear the water ripple against the hull. It’s about seeing your world from a different angle and realizing just how massive and peaceful nature really is.
And yeah, it’s about tinkering with stuff in the off-season. You’ll be amazed at how much you learn watching YouTube videos, trying to figure out what broke this time and how to fix it with zip ties and a stubborn attitude.
Pros of Boat Ownership
- Freedom – Go when you want, where you want. No need to check a calendar or make a reservation.
- Connection to Nature – You’ll see wildlife, sunrises, open water, and places most people never get to.
- Versatility – Fish. Swim. Cruise. Wake surf. Tube. Grill. Nap. Party. You name it.
- Family Time – It gets everyone off their screens and outside together. That’s rare these days.
- Alone Time – Sometimes you just need the wind and some music and nothing else.
- Customization – Add the rod holders, the sound system, the grill—whatever makes it your boat.
Cons of Boat Ownership
- It’s Work – You’re not just responsible for the boat, but for everyone on board too.
- Expenses Add Up – Slip fees, storage, fuel, parts, maintenance—it’s all part of the deal.
- Wear and Tear – Sun, salt, and water are relentless. Things rust, fade, corrode, and break.
- Time Commitment – Boats don’t like being ignored. You’ll either use it or regret it.
- You Might Pick the Wrong One First – And that’s okay. Needs change. Your perfect boat might be your second or third.
One Big Piece of Advice
Figure out what kind of boater you are before you spend big. Want to wake surf? Don’t buy a pontoon. Want to fish offshore? Don’t get a ski boat. And don’t assume what you think you want now is what you’ll still want two seasons from now. That houseboat I swore I’d never love? It’s my favorite boat I’ve ever owned.
Start with something that gets you on the water. Then learn from it.
Final Thought
If you’re even thinking about it, get the damn boat. Spend a day on the water with your family or solo with a rod in your hand and music playing. Feel the wind as you throttle up. Shut the engine off and just sit there. Breathe it in.
That’s when you’ll know.
And if it’s right, there’s no going back.
You’ll be a boat person for life.
Get started with powerboating with NauticEd’s FREE online Navigation Rules for Powerboats, or become a competent powerboater with the Skipper Large Powerboat Course – a comprehensive online powerboating course for beginner to intermediate powerboaters wanting to learn how to operate larger powerboats greater than 26ft. Or upgrade to the Bareboat Charter Master for Powerboats Bundle of online courses to also master multiday and near-coastal powerboating as well as charter powerboats on vacations.
