Would you buy a Boat or a Trailer?

[Craig]

What would you do? Boat or Trailer.

We are a family of four ( kids 9 and 6 ). We like to camp, fish and other outdoor stuff. We are trying to decide if we should buy a boat or a trailer. it seams like both have there ups and downs.

 looking at a 26' - 29' trailer. would be fun to travel to more places and would be nice not to sleep in a tent. but then when we camp it would be nice to have a boat. we would need to rent a place to store it.

or

looking at a 18' - 21' ski/family/fishing ( lake fishing ) boat. we like going to Banks lake and other camping places with a lake and it would be nice to have our own boat. but then if we have a boat we are tent sleeping. or half the time we rent cabins. we can put a smaller boat in our garage. everyone says that boats are money pits.

So people with boats and/or trailers what do you think?

[jackelope]

I had a 21.5' Bluewater Cuddy cabin boat...4.3L v6...nice boat. We sold it when we were gonna have a kid. It was expensive to maintain, a lot of work to keep up in good shape and not all it was cracked up to be for us. We were confined to certain places we could take it because it was a bigger boat and heavy. Truck sucked a lot of gas pulling it and the boat used a lot of gas using it. Seems everywhere you go is crowded. Pretty much the same goes for a trailer. Next time it comes time to buy a toy, we're gonna get a trailer. We might rent one first just to make sure the wife likes it.

[carpsniperg2]

buy both

[Tony]

If you enjoy camping and being out in the woods a trailer is just a place to sleep. IMO i would continue to use the tent and get the boat.

[sako223]

Get a light weight trailer and an inflatable boat.

[dreamunelk]

Make a list of what you can do with a boat and one for the trailer.  I bet the boat wins.  Also Tent camping can be luxurious with a little planning and some good gear.  Boats are not a money pit if you maintain them.  I guess you figured out I vote for the boat.  Trailers are only good for when you are not home.

[Ironhead]

BOAT, you can't fish out of a trailer.

[jackelope]

I would get an aluminum boat too if you decide on a boat...It's fun to beach the boat to hang out and picnic or whatever else with the family but you gotta worry about beaching a glass boat.

[Drifterat]

You'll only be using the trailer when you're actually going out camping. But a boat you can use much more. Come home from work hook it up and take the kids tubing or fishing in the evenings during the summer is priceless. But you really only get 4 months out of the year to use it. A trailer you could use year round if you were so inclined, chance of getting the wife tent camping in November is slim I'd bet.

If I was in you position I'd get a boat, because I'd use it much more...

Have fun with you dilemma.

[elkaholic123]

Get a small camper for you and the wife and to cook and stuff,put up a tent for the kids,they like to tent anyway and then get a boat,you got it all 

[ICEMAN]

Boat.

Make the great camping memories out of tent camping. You can get the trailer later... Get the boat now, get em hooked on fishing, then camping in a tent same day/weekend... best of both worlds.

Can you imagine them not learning the joy of tenting at a young age?

Campers are for old fogies...  

[Caseyd]

Get a small camper for you and the wife and to cook and stuff,put up a tent for the kids,they like to tent anyway and then get a boat,you got it all 

That's the best plan so far!!

[Wingin it]

If you buy a big enough boat you will get a trailer too!  

[ICEMAN]

 

[Sorefeet]

I have a 22 Searay Sundeck. I have done all my own work on it so far so costs in the regard have been low. Fuel on the other hand can be quite a lot for the boat. You can learn ways to avoid breaking the bank with this also. We sometimes find piers to to tie up to so the kids can do cannon balls for and hour or so. No fuel used!!!

They are both money pits as I have had both. I was going to get a trailer again but I find it is much cheaper to stay in a nice hotel near where I want to be. Boat rentals can be had but that sometimes is harder to get.


Sometimes the rv places can be down right noisy with all the barking dogs and rowdy drinkers. Give me a nice room and a pool any day.

Price out how much a trailer will cost you over the year and compare it to a hotel.


Happy trails to whatever you decide.



Get both! Why have to choose.