Boating is a lifestyle. That is what I have come to understand while researching everything I need to know about being a boater. A lifestyle that takes time and money and will hopefully be extremely exciting. Since my last boat post, where I explained our boat acquirement, my husband and I have been working diligently cleaning, researching, and budgeting what we will need for a safe and secure boating summer.
What have we realized? We are in way over our heads…good thing we have lifejackets (bad pun intended). We became starry eyed when we first started cleaning it out in our drive-way. There was music going, sun shining, and it seemed as if this boat was going to be a dream.
However, there are a few things that need to be done in order to make that dream a reality:
- Tarp cover/top: Professionally re-sewn. ($250)
- Rental of a boat slip near our home. ($2000)
- Survey of boat (since it is older and has not been in the water in three years). ($450)
- Lifejackets for every person on board, at all times. ($300)
- Boat registration ($200)
- Fill tanks with gas. ($800)
- Professional help to put our vessel in the water ($100)
- Insurance. (getting a quote, but needed and worth it)
Do you see a trend here? Money. Money that we did not expect. But, I told my husband that for the sake of this blog we are going to have to pull through and make this happen. (Also, we have already informed everyone we know of our free boat and invited them out to enjoy the summer with us.)
So, my husband went to the Secretary of State and got a copy of his boating safety certificate, which was issued in 1994, when he was 13 years old. I think we are going to need a refresher course. It is important to note that boaters need to be aware that not all states hold the same regulations and you are responsible for staying informed of any changes to your state’s boating safety requirements.
Our boat in action. (not our actual boat, but the same model)
Even though states have different requirements, many insurance companies (including Foremost) offer discounts for safe boaters that have a safety certificate and protective devices on board (like fire extinguisher, life-jackets, navigational device, etc.). Right there I should make back that money I will be spending on gas. So, I decided to schedule a survey in order to get insurance on the boat and be able to take it on the open sea (or the great lakes in my case).
Any boat enthusiasts out there see anything I’m missing before beginning my great adventure?
