OT: Bought a boat Options

[SteveL]

I have been shopping for a used open bow runabout to use for pleasure rides and pulling tubers and skiers. Finally settled on this one. It is a 95 Stingray 18' with a 135 Merc Cruiser.

[mharrison]

Congratulations! I have an '85 Stingray 18' bow-rider with a 140 Mercruiser. It's been a great boat. Be sure to check out http://www.stingrayboats.com/ it's the Stingray version of this website, even though the manufacturer hosts it. Go to the MyStingray section and sing up with your Hull Number. Only owners can get in.

Boats, like many other things, aren't too expensive if you do the repairs yourself or don't let the shop rape you. My '85 costs me about $30 to get ready for the reservoir every spring. A guy at work has a '97 Sea Ray that costs between $600 and $1000 to get ready every spring. That's after the same shop winterized it !!! It's probably got more new parts than a new boat!

Will I be GLAD when I sell it? MAYBE. Will I be SAD when I sell it? DEFINITELY

The one thing that I can say is USE IT OFTEN!

If you do, you will enjoy it more, be less likely to get to the "sell it" stage, and it will stay in better shape with regular use.