If you look at the dollars and cents of owning a boat, it makes little to no sense at all. At least in my case and I'd assume most others, you could jump on a party or charter boat several times a week and still be way ahead of the game. Plus you don' have to worry about fuel, maintainence, cutting bait and cleaning up the boat when you get back in.
Having said all this, it's hard to put a price tag on all the freedom you get by having your own boat. Just knowing you can get out whenever you want, finding the fish, choosing your own spots. It's all part of it for me.
Not sure about others, but my schedule is all over the place and most of my fising is done at the spur of the moment when time and weather allows. Make a few calls, get a crew together and your fishing.
Having the boat in a slip adds to the
spontaneity. If I had to go and launch the boat each time I fished, I probably would'nt go as often and probably would not have a boat. And many times, I'll just go down to the marina to hang out, relax and fart around.
I don't have excess money to throw around either. What little I do have, I choose to spend on the boat since I get so much enjoyment from it. If I didn't have one there certainly would be a void that would be hard to fill.
We each have our own hobbies, pleasures and priorities. Mine happens to be a hole in the water in to which I pour way too much money
As long as I'm healthy and can afford it, I will always have one.
