Do you ever notice the number of old bassboats just rotting away in backyards?

[Neveredge]

This isn't really a johnyrude thing but I have noticed an awful lot of beatup bassboats in peoples yards lately. Kinda makes me sad to see all those unused boats because you know the owners would like to be fishing. I think what happens is that the boats run fine for a few years then have a breakdown that the owner just can't afford to fix at the moment and then the boat just gets forgotten.

When we buy a boat we should keep in mind the overall cost involved in operarating it, not just gas but maintance also. For every hour we run our boats we should put a certain amount aside for repairs and the eventual rebuild and repaint and carpet. If we look at hourly costs for our boat it would give us a shock.

Lets say I bought a new $40,000 boat. if nothing ever breaks down on it it would cost about $50 per hour for the purchace price. Based on the cash price and 80 hours of use per year for 10 years. An 800 hour motor is ready for a re-ring at the least and complete overhaul or replacemnt at worst. Figure $10 an hour for this at 2015 prices. Now for fuel and oil. Lets say your new etec only averages 10 gal per hour fuel burn, at todays prices your looking at $30 an hour just to fish. Wow!!! $90 an hour chasing little green fish! And that is if nothing ever breaks and you didn't pay any interest on the loan. Don't let your wife see this post!

[Won Hunglo]

Yea, we see a lot of older Tritons like that around here. You know, the older 1997-2003 models.

[Lockjaw]

There is an old boat out on the way to my mother in laws with a BIG A$$ snake on the bass seat. It must be rubber or something, because it has been there for a few weeks, but it looks real to me.

Leaving a boat outside is a death warrant for one if you ask me. Especially in the summer.

I feel the same way when I go by a junkyard, and see old cars there. I would love to just go buy one, and redo it. Just for fun.

[ProcraftMike]

Oh ya, I notice and actually bought one of these (92 Procraft) several years ago for under $700. A little elbow grease, a motor and a little money, and a little more money and...you get the drift, I have a nice boat.

But, I do agree, with the way some people take care of things. I always see several snowmobiles in Wisconsin, that people just leave out in the yard all summer long, uncovered. Some of these are new sleds and probably were worth $5,000-$7,000 dollars, but not now. I'm sure they were never "summerized" either.

I guess I was brought up to take care of my toys. It also make them last longer.

[Won Hunglo]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lockjaw &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There is an old boat out on the way to my mother in laws with a BIG A$$ snake on the bass seat. It must be rubber or something, because it has been there for a few weeks, but it looks real to me.
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That is common around here. It keeps the birds & mice out of your boat.

[RogerR]

When I bought a bigger boat 3 yrs ago kept my 78 Glastron for my son that was in the Navy. Ran the boat once a year. Now he is out of the service but never took boat to Atlanta with him. I ran it on a hose yesterday and it sounded bad so I cleaned the carbs and tried to go run it today. Now it either has a worn prop bushing or something wrong with gears. 1978 model 85 Evinrude, revs up but doesn't move faster than idle speed. Am I safe to assume it's the prop bushing.

[PJCodner]

Man that must be a southern thing because up there all that is laying around are real old boats from the late 50's/60's and they use them for lawn ornaments or fill them with dirt and use them for flower beds. Otherwise if it still floats they fish out of it.


Modified by MNJAVELIN at 10:19 AM 8/25/2005

[CULLN]

I've got a neighbor that has a '04 procraft and he lets it sit uncovered, under pine trees. I've told him several times that the sap is eating away at everything, and he says it's no big deal, he will just buy another one.

Now here is a dumb ass that won't go buy a $150 cover for it but will let a $35,000 boat sit there and ruin. I've offered to buy it from him and he refuses to sell. He never uses it.