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.

[BLKBEARKLR]

I have both and they serve their own purposes. It does suck when you want to go gishing and camping and have to use two rigs to go there. Right now I have a 23 foot toy hauler and a 21 foot bass boat.


So what I am in the process of doing is finding a 14 foot aluminum boat that fits in the toy hauler with a lil 25 hp and have the best of both worlds.

Joe

[FC]

If you want a fishing boat but are worried about cost, get a smaller boat! I've had mine for about 8 years now and I can't imagine not having it, it's small, a 15' aluminum (Northwood) with a 25hp 4 stroke Mercury. It will only do about 30 mph but it will troll all day (8-10 hours) on about 3-4 gallons of gas, you have to pick your days when using in salt water (where mine gets the most use) but salt water fishing is very do-able even in a boat this size and it doesn't break me to take it out. Between truck and boat gas, a couple of bags of ice for the cooler and launch fee I spend about $25-30 for a day fishing and generally don't have too much trouble limiting the boat (usually myself and one friend). If you get yourself a basic fishing boat they really aren't much to maintain.

 If getting an outboard powered boat GET A 4 STROKE MOTOR!!! The cost difference will be nothing to what a 2 stroke will cost you regularly at the pump.

[PolarBear]

I just sold my 30' travel trailer because I couldn't haul it and a boat.  I say BOAT!  Iv'e got 4 of them and wish that I had more.  They are a lot more fun than trailers IMO.  The camper thing is a good idea that way you can still tow a boat behind.

[DeerHarvester]

Go with a boat, you can always get a camper for the truck later if you find you don't want to be in a tent.  Or buy both if you can afford it.  You can find some good deals on craigslist.  I think you will get a lot more use out of a boat.  Around here you can use a boat 9 or 10 months out of the year, between trout, bass, salmon and winter steelhead.  If you plan on fishing in the winter go with an outboard.  I just sold my boat last week to buy a bigger one and I'm loosing my mind not having one in my garage.  I have been looking non stop for a new boat.  I had a 16' fiberglass and now I want a 18 to 20 ft aluminum. 

[jeepasaurusrex]

Get both!  

[ICEMAN]

Nice! 

[Da stump]

The joy of camping is not found in a trailer.  At least it is not the same as tenting.  It is nice to go out and find someplace to pitch a tent and have a small fire for the evening.  A trailer is like going to a motel room, great for down town but you miss so much of the outdoors when in a rv.  The good and the bad.
 
A boat is great if you use it.  I have a 17 ft Alumnaweld and in a few weeks it is on its way to Alaska with Teacherman.  I will be following them soon.  You can reach so many different places with a boat and have all kinds of fun too.  Fishing is only one of many aspects of having a boat.  Sight seeing, tubing, skiing, swimming and just getting out away from the bugs are just a few of the things you can do in a boat.  A trailer you can sleep, play cards,stare out the window, watch tv, listen to the radio.  Why buy it, you can do all that at home.

Da Stump

[Magnum_Willys]

Does your wife fish?  You and just the kids could get by with a 12' aluminum in the back of the pickup with a trailer behind.  Kids are a little young for sking / wakeboarding maybe.   Had a 19' bayliner and that was a blast.  Have just a trailer now and we like that the best - camping all over the west - Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Tetons, Jackson Hole, Redwoods, Bryce, Badlands, Sturgis, Mt Rushmore, Great Salt Lake, Golden Spike, Dinosaur Monument, Pink Coral Sand Dunes - that kind of adventure is priceless with kids if you can swing it.  If I wasn't going to go on big trips I would get the boat if your kids like the water and swim well.

[cohoho]

Boat for sure.  The camping you get to do with a trailer is within ear shot of fifty of your best friends from wherever, never seen a trailer in a isolated location with true peace and quiet (if that is why your camping)...  Boat, get one that is dual purpose, one that you can water ski or pull tubers and also fish or explore the sound the next day...  With windshield and cover to get them out of the elements so they enjoy going back....  I learned the hard way my old fishing boat wasn't good for the family fun...  Kids lost interest in fishing due to having the rain, sleet and winds beat them every trip...  And the fishing was beyond good..   

[Blacklab]

Have to admit the memories I have of my daughters on our first boat are priceless. Lots of good times tubeing, skiing and a little fishing. A trailer is just basicaly for sleep and a boat is fun fun fun 

[NRA4LIFE]

Do you have a decent sized pickup?  Maybe a truck camper then and a boat.  If not, I'd get a boat before a camper.  I use my boat a lot more than I would use a camper.

[chrisb]

Buy the trailer and make friends with a guy who has a boat

[runamuk]

Boat......here is my reasoning.  We didn't have a boat but we had friends who had boats and jet ski's from the time my boys were born they were on boats and camping in the woods......both my boys love to fish love boating learned to swim at an early age loved the kneeboard and tube........from ages 2-teen my boys looked forward to our trips to chelan every year....the best memories of their childhood usually include "remember that time on Seans boat,  Remember when Al brought the wetbikes over"....they never mention the lack of luxury found in a tent     no I am the one who to this day who vividly remembers the trip in the tent with a baby only 6 weeks old and a damn bear that screwed with us for 3 nights until the boats showed up and we went uplake    stupid bears

[PolarBear]

Get a boat big enough to fish and camp in!  We do all of our "camping" by boat.

[whacker1]

Weigh the options and how many days you would use one vs the other.  We use our boat a lot from June - early september.  10-12 weekends per year, but we would use a trailer more.  

Tough scenario

[yakimarcher]

Boat all the way!!!

[hoyt5199]

I would go with the trailer. You can use that all year long.

[quadrafire]

I have a tent trailer, and a 16ft fishing boat w/ a 60HP 4stroke merc. I can pull the kids on a knee board. It has a bow mount trolling motor, live well, full canvas So mostly the boat is used for fishing. I am about to list it in the classifieds as we just aren't into the boat scene. I bought it and was gung-ho, but the kids are into different things, so Life changes keep that in mind as well.
We have enjoyed both, but for different things. We have also packed all the gear on the boat and camped on Roosevelt as well.

[alanger]

Boy do i have the set up for you!

1995 f-250 powertroke
1996 camper 11'3 legend sleeps 4 has a bunk bed above the table and the dining table makes into a bed. has generator and tons of additonal options
1995 spectrum 19 pro avenger 19ft. 135 hp merc outboard with kicker downrigger brackets, and a color fish finder. pedistal seats in main area for 4, then has a rear pedistal for sitting back and running kicker, and a pedistal for the bow to fish out of. has livewell and all.

[kramman]

Nice set up alanger im half way there with the boat.Personally my wife likes to stay in a cabin so we have a boat 20ft thunderjet.If it was up to me a boat with a canvas tent bigger and roomier then a trailer.Its all about the memories so either way.I say boat you can take the boat on day trips not the trailer. 

[alanger]

Nice set up alanger im half way there with the boat.Personally my wife likes to stay in a cabin so we have a boat 20ft thunderjet.If it was up to me a boat with a canvas tent bigger and roomier then a trailer.Its all about the memories so either way.I say boat you can take the boat on day trips not the trailer. 

what kind of engine do you have on your thunderjet?

[mkcj]

Buy a toy hauler trailer then you can put a 14' aluminum boat and trailer inside it! 2 birds 1 stone.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

We have a 31 foot 5th wheel. We upgraded from a 22 foot trailer. If i had my choice i would buy a boat. I would be able to use a boat year round. I can use the 5th wheel year round but i would rather have a boat. Wife prefers the 5th wheel. Guess what we have.
I want a boat. But wife says if i had a boat i would never be home. She is right, i would probably be guiding on the weekend.

[YellowDog]

We have a 31 foot 5th wheel. We upgraded from a 22 foot trailer. If i had my choice i would buy a boat. I would be able to use a boat year round. I can use the 5th wheel year round but i would rather have a boat. Wife prefers the 5th wheel. Guess what we have.
I want a boat. But wife says if i had a boat i would never be home. She is right, i would probably be guiding on the weekend.

So, just to clarify, did you say you want a boat?   

[bowtech721]

BOAT! As mentioned a trailer if just a place to sleep. Personally i have a boat and a small truck camper. It does the trick pretty well and you can pick up a camper on cl pretty cheap if you shop around a bit and arent really picky. 

[predatorpro]

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

thats not true i see coasties do it all the time down at sun lake lol