Southwest Florida Boating & Fishing Magazine Nov 2015 | Seite 6

Buying A Boat Vs. Renting
What Is Best For Your Lifestyle

Whether you live near a lake or the ocean, you cannot help but think
that you would have more fun fishing, tubing, and cruising around in
a boat with family and friends. Catching a monster fish in some back
bay, or watching your family tube all day would be exciting. But there is
one question to ask, “How much will I actually use a boat?”
If your answer is once a month or
more, then buying a boat is more
reasonable. Owning your own boat has its
benefits, but there are some
considerations. First consider what the
maintenance of the boat and engine
entails. Running in fresh water or salt
water requires different maintenance.
Freshwater is easier on a boat’s engine,
and prop. In fresh water, there is no need
to flush the system after each outing or
to wash down the boat. Saltwater, on
the other hand, is harsh on the boat as a
whole. Salt is corrosive if left on any
surface and in any engine. A marine
engine costs far more to repair or replace
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than a car motor. So maintaining your
motor requires a freshwater flush after
every use. A bath with soap and water will
prevent rubber seals from going bad and
drying out your seats.
A second consideration is storage.
If you have a dock or your boat is small
enough to park in your driveway with a
trailer then problem solved, but if you
don’t, then there are storage options
available. Look around your area to see
what is out there. Marinas usually have
a warehouse to store smaller size boats.
Pricing can range from $250 to $600 a
month. Find out what is included in the
price. Most, if not all, will have your boat
in the water within an hour of you

South West Florida Boating & Fishing Magazine • www.swflboatandfishmag.com