Before You Buy a Boat: Here Are Some Reasons to Rent Instead

Are you one of those people who spend all of your free time on the water?

If your family enjoys waterskiing, sailing, fishing and tubing you’ve probably passed many a days — on a boat. So much so, that now you may be considering a new purchase.

But you can still enjoy all of these water activities – without making such a huge investment.

Here are some reasons to rent instead of buying a boat:

Costs – There’s a widely used saying about boats, “they are holes in the water, into which you throw money”! Don’t forget the initial cost (most places require 20% down) of purchase is just the beginning. There will be maintenance, insurance, registration fees, equipment, insurance, trailer registration, dock fees, taxes, fuel/oil, winter storage if needed and instruction and safety course fees. If you rent a boat, you know the upfront cost. You pay it, enjoy the boat for a period of time and walk away!

Unlimited options – From sport boats to party boats, fishing boats to sailing vessels, there are many different types of boats. If you buy a boat, you don’t have the flexibility to be able to enjoy the various activities that you could if you had access to a fleet of boats.

Continuing Maintenance – Whether you buy a new or used boat, both come with its share of problems. Sure a new boat is under warranty so you don’t personally have to spend time on maintenance or repairs. However, you can’t use the boat when it’s in the shop. As a boat owner, it is your responsibility to fix any issues. That’s extra time and money. And if you live in an area with a cold winter, you also have to consider storage options.

Convenience – Towing a boat that you own to the lake and launching it takes up a lot of time and effort. When you rent a boat you do not have to store, tow or launch a boat. With most rentals, the boat is waiting on the water for you to climb aboard and get going!

Before making any decisions, you should sit and calculate the cost of ownership. Then shop around and price renting, leasing and chartering a boat. Also, if the use of your boat is limited by season or other factors, renting may be the wiser choice.

The Volente Boat Club is a Boating Country Club offering members private access to more than 20 of the best boats available. To see a cost of ownership comparison – in both initial capital required and ongoing monthly expenses, click here.