GulfC

Approaching year 6 of retirement has opened a question not realized before. Boating interest has waxed and waned over the years but ALWAYS comes back.....no matter what. A neighbor has a POS boat that is 20 plus years old. He bought it new. Some years, he uses it obsessively, other years it sits neglected, filling with leaf litter. Sooo I’m trying to figure out a boat to own loooong term. It won’t be so exposed as my neighbors but may sit for a while unused.

I would really enjoy hearing stories from such long term, one-boat owners. At 62 yo, if I do it again, I want it to last the test of time.

Tommy81459

I’m in the same “boat”. Will be interesting to see what kind of replies you get.

bassholes

I had my boat for 15 years. Crazy when I think about it. It's a Jones bro. Basic maintenance, painted hull with awlgrip couple years ago. Looks great. Always stored outside..

Rockfish9

I'm 63, I've owned the same 18' center console since 1980..we dont travel like we used to(I used to trailer from Mass to lake Ontario in NY twice a year as well as lake Champlain in VT).. these days she lives in her slip From May until October, and fishes 3 nights a week and also run lobsterpots, I've always done any and all maintenance and am fanatical about it.. when this boat becomes more than I can handle, I'll take up a rocking chair and remember when.

NedLloyd

My boats are a bit different (wood among other things), I have had one of mine, a 16 ft inboard Jersey speed skiff for,... oh almost 44 years now.

redsport

I'm on 2+ years (not looong, yet) with a 16ft Carolina Skiff with a 40hp Honda outboard but it is the kind of boat you could keep forever. It's small enough to launch and retrieve on my own and it's great for fishing and hunting in the marsh or taking the family out to the sandbar. It reminds me of the 14ft Sea Nymph my dad had years ago in Michigan, nothing big or fancy but something easy to get out on the water with. He always regretted getting rid of that boat. I have a friend with a 16ft Xpress aluminum boat that he's had for 15 years that has probably been used 3 days a week for years, same concept, cheap to run, easy to maintain and easy to operate.

Clinker

To fit that criteria I would get a simple-ish boat so there’s not a whole lot to maintain and see if you can arrange some undercover storage if you think there will be extended periods when you won’t be able to use it.

JollyMonNJ

GulfC,
I have owned the same Sea Hunt 21 since 2003. My boat differs from the Sea Hunts of today as it is a simple set up with a T-Top, some canvas and a few cushions I rarely use.
I re powered her last year. In my opinion, the beauty of this set up is her simplicity. Easy to keep clean, no overly complicated systems. I have no plans of selling it anytime soon.
(In full disclosure, I also have a Worldcat 27TE that used to belong to my father. Not sure what I'm doing with that one, but not parting with the Sea Hunt)
Best of luck in your search.
JollyMonNJ

harley'sboat

I normally keep boats 7 to 1o years. My as one for 15 years
I am 62 ordered and got most likely my last big (to me) big boat. a 34 Sea Vee. I am a anal about keeping it up. Fortunately I can afford it, but it is physically harder and harder. So when it is too much I will sell and get a smaller single engine. We had to wait almost two years for this boat. We played around on a 14 foot ridged inflatable with a 60hp and we had a blast. most trouble free I have had in a long time

brisboats

I have had my Henry O 18 ' going on 20 years. It gets parked and revived every few years, If it were an upholstered boat it would be destroyed.
I tend to get bored with boats every 3-5 years and want to try something new .
But the Henry O just seems to always be there. Its a simple no nonsense boat tough as nails and that's why it stays around.
B

30Concept

I thought my previous boat would be my forever boat. Nope. As I go through life my boating needs change as well as my financial situation.

Spooled

Owned my key west 2300 since 2003. Only owner it's a 2002 leftovers. Toyed over years moving up but never pulled trigger. Now gonna stay the course . Does most of what I want to do any don't run as far o. A regular basis. At this point depreciated as far as it will until engine goes. Have replaced nothing major. Had 1150 hours.

At 61 almost 62 and others have newer bigger boats I think I'm good. Unless I get an offer I can't refuse

Evolution

Just avoid the things that deteriorate from sitting or disuse. Pumps, vinyl, aluminum (anodized, powercoated or polished, doesn't matter. Aluminum has no place on a boat other than t-top/tower support.). Keep the boat dry and covered with a good sunbrella cover that is maintained and kept clean so it stays water proof. Wax the boat at least once per year. Start the motor at least once every few months, even if it's just on muffs. Keep everything properly lubed. Change the fluids before you let it sit and after it sits for a long time, especially steering hydraulic fluid as its hydroscopic. Never put it away with any salt anywhere. Spray mild bleach on all the holds every six months to keep mold at bay. Do all this and the boat will stay bristol for as long as you want to keep it.

BoatsnHoes7

I have had 2003 McKee since 2009. Thing will last forever.

Mpellet

I’ve owned the same Parker 2520XL since 2006, boat is a 2005, I bought it it in like new condition with 39 hours on the engine. My boat is not neglected mechanically. Over the years I have replaced steering, repowered with a new engine, replaced fuel tank and added a lot of electronics. My boat looks good but it’s not pristine, I fish the boat a lot, 380 hours on the new engine that was hung Spring of 2019. Boat gets a major cleaning once a year, wax, buffed and everything polished, but the rest of the year it’s a rinse with the hose to get rid of salt, blood and slime but that’s it. I am 56 and fish alone frequently. At the end of most of my days at sea, after a couple of trips hauling gear boat to truck my back is typically KILLING me.

I flush my engine every trip and rinse the boat down with a hose but unless something breaks, that’s all I do aside from typically one mid season change of engine fluids. My decals are fading and flaking off a bit, a windows not quite as tight as they’d be on a new boat but for the most part I like to think that she’s all there and a lot more capable of a vessel then she was when I bought her in the Spring of 2006. This boat suits my needs, no interest in a bigger or more complicated boat to maintain but good Lord willing I do hope to keep this current vessel operating for years to come.

I don’t think long term ownership of a boat presents any impossible challenges but depending upon the boat and your expectations for it’s operational readiness and what you’re going to do with the boat will determine how much neglect will be acceptable. I fish my boat typically 20 miles offshore 35-50 days a year both day and night and in a variety of different weather conditions. I require everything to work. Many people at my marina party on their boats parked at the slip all Summer long, many have old boats. They absolutely have a lot of FUN. I’d wager most don’t have a functional radar or nav lights, some the engines never run all season, their definition of owning an older boat and mine might be different but it doesn’t make me right or them wrong.

If your neighbor does zero work on his boat but it still does what he needs it to do, I say he wins............

mdemott

At 75 I run a boat that is easy for me to fish alone and take the granddaughters out. Bought a 2012 20ft. Skeeter bay boat in 2015 and cleaned up the wiring and repowered it to a 150hp. Boat is big enough for me without feeling cramped.

SeaCat22

Where are you boating? How big. How much money. How many folks? Launching by yourself?

I'd say, a modest size boat you can handle by yourself. Easily launched and loaded. Not too expensive to run...etc. I like aluminum boats for their longevity and ruggedness, but they aren't for everyone or all conditions.
I would consider a few factors in making a decision. Hull material, design/hull type, shape and size, and power plant.
Happy hunting.

1 Finale

Twenty years worth of owning this one. Kinda like a labor of love. Sometimes you use it and sometimes you don't. Got mine the way I want it. Go for it and enjoy your time.

tompass

Age 77 and have had present boat since 2004. Rack stored here in SC. Regular maintenance issues and an occasional "suprise" every now and then. Generally get out twice a week weather permitting.

ktdtx

Had the same 24' bay boat since 2005. Hangs in a slip at my house. Takes some effort to put it on a trailer and go get maintenance, waxed, etc.
I do NOT use it as much as I should--lazy and seems always something else cutting into the day BUT, I can't imagine not having it hanging in my boat lift.
Sometimes guilt is the motivating factor for me to go use it and I'm always glad when I do.

I had a 3 year break-2015-2018 where I neglected the bay boat as I bought a larger boat and based it in Anacortes, Washington and we went for two 6 month cruises from there to SE Alaska & back. Now I tell myself each day to go fishing, take the boat for a ride and, usually, I don't.................................BUT--I'm going to!! ;-)