A couple of months ago, I posted a question about buying an older hull that was professionally rebuilt. Well, I've been working with the guy who is rebuilding a Privateer 24 center console, and I told him exactly how I wanted the boat laid out...exactly what kind of console, exactly what kind of leaning post, exactly what kind of livewell, massive sunpad/casting area in the bow, my choice of Awlgrip color, my choice of non-skid for the interior, my choice of bracket for the engine, plenty of built-in storage, everything. Everything that would make the boat feel, well, like it was "mine".

I have to say, part of me was hoping that he would not be able to do something that I wanted, so that I could walk away. But it's all do-able. Next, I was hoping that the price would be so outrageously high that I couldn't afford it, and therefore i could walk away...but no, the price was just at the max of what I thought I could afford (16k for the hull...no electronics, no power...everything re-built from the hull up, all composite, no wood, done by a team of pros).

I have a 4 year old, a 1 year old, and #3 is due on June 1. On top of that, we live about 70 miles from where I like to boat. So it's not like we'll be using this thing a lot, for now at least. And the kids' 529 plans could sure use that money. So my brain is saying "let's think about this"...Plus, my wife just stopped working, to be a full-time Mom. So we'll have one more mouth to feed, with a bit less income than we are used to (she was working 15 hours a week).

My heart is screaming "are you NUTS, just buy it!!" If I wait until the kids are all older, #1 I may not have the money, and #2 I might not have the opportunity to get a boat I love (Privateer 24) customized to my exact desires.

I wanted to thank all who responded to my original post. If we pull the trigger, I will be posting pics of the rebuild...

A couple of months ago, I posted a question about buying an older hull that was professionally rebuilt. Well, I've been working with the guy who is rebuilding a Privateer 24 center console, and I told him exactly how I wanted the boat laid out...exactly what kind of console, exactly what kind of leaning post, exactly what kind of livewell, massive sunpad/casting area in the bow, my choice of Awlgrip color, my choice of non-skid for the interior, my choice of bracket for the engine, plenty of built-in storage, everything. Everything that would make the boat feel, well, like it was "mine".

I have to say, part of me was hoping that he would not be able to do something that I wanted, so that I could walk away. But it's all do-able. Next, I was hoping that the price would be so outrageously high that I couldn't afford it, and therefore i could walk away...but no, the price was just at the max of what I thought I could afford (16k for the hull...no electronics, no power...everything re-built from the hull up, all composite, no wood, done by a team of pros).

I have a 4 year old, a 1 year old, and #3 is due on June 1. On top of that, we live about 70 miles from where I like to boat. So it's not like we'll be using this thing a lot, for now at least. And the kids' 529 plans could sure use that money. So my brain is saying "let's think about this"...Plus, my wife just stopped working, to be a full-time Mom. So we'll have one more mouth to feed, with a bit less income than we are used to (she was working 15 hours a week).

My heart is screaming "are you NUTS, just buy it!!" If I wait until the kids are all older, #1 I may not have the money, and #2 I might not have the opportunity to get a boat I love (Privateer 24) customized to my exact desires.

I wanted to thank all who responded to my original post. If we pull the trigger, I will be posting pics of the rebuild...


My advice is to wait.

If you lived near the water and your family loved to boat it might make sense. But 70 miles away means several hours travel time to use it, plus the time you are out in it. That is a lot of time away from your kids....and a lot of strain on your marriage.

You also are about to start the youth sports thing. Within several years, weekends will not be spent on your boat....at least during the day.

There will never be any shortage of Privateers or guys who can rebuild them. Your kids, however, WILL grow up and move on. Any action you take at this stage of your life should have them as the priority.

My advice is to wait.

If you lived near the water and your family loved to boat it might make sense. But 70 miles away means several hours travel time to use it, plus the time you are out in it. That is a lot of time away from your kids....and a lot of strain on your marriage.

You also are about to start the youth sports thing. Within several years, weekends will not be spent on your boat....at least during the day.

There will never be any shortage of Privateers or guys who can rebuild them. Your kids, however, WILL grow up and move on. Any action you take at this stage of your life should have them as the priority.

Well said, and true, always reminds me of that Harry Chapin song,
Cats in the cradle.

On top of that, we live about 70 miles from where I like to boat. So it's not like we'll be using this thing a lot, for now at least. ...

Do what I did for a number of years: private charter! Sure beats the heck out of owning your own boat, maintenance, running costs, etc and meets THE NEED of having to get out on the water.

Remember it is not just the fuel costs of running the boat, you appear to have 140 mile RT towing commute.

Good luck with whatever decision you make!

The key is balance.With three children myself I can speak from experience.As much as I love to fish, I like being a part of their lives even more.I'm about an hour away from the water no matter where I fish,but fish I do.If your not stealing time from the kids and you have your wifes blessing(most important part) then go for it.Nobody has the right to judge how your free time is spent besides your family and your conscience will be your compass.I have some wonderful memories as well as pictures of fishing with the kids.Your decision,although selfish to an extent,was made with the childrens comfort in mind so enjoy.Now it's off to Webster MA? for travel soccer!!!But last week I was catching cod on the bank.Good Luck.

I should have stated that my wife LOVES being on a boat (we owned a 20 foot Key West center console at one time, she absolutely loves it), and my 4 year-old (thus far) loves to fish. I do NOT envision this boat as an excuse for me to get away from my family, I see it as a way for my family to spend quality time together. I don't spend much time at all away from my kids. My "alone" time is a 6 AM hike with the golden retriever most Sunday mornings, getting home when the kids are waking up. I'm not one to sneak off for hours...

And I also should point out that my wife is slightly (according to her) leaning towards wanting to get the boat. I wouldn't do it if she wasn't on board...

But I hear you on the youth sports thing, as I'm the type of guy who would like to coach most of the teams my kids are on.

And no towing, I am looking at rack storage facililties.

Our boat is just over an hour away from me (and 5 minutes from my dad). We used to get out a lot on weekends and after work, but then my son was born. In the interest of remaining married and being a good dad, I fished much less once my son got old enough to notice I wasn't home. Now my weekends are filled with kids sports and going to birthday parties, etc.... I got out on the boat a grand total of 3 times last year and twice were bottom fishing trips with my son. The silver lining was that I fished more last year than ever before from shore. It's much easier and less taxing on the home life to fish when the wife and child are asleep. I also like the fact that shore fishing is much less dependent on weather. I still love boat fishing and hope to get out a lot this year, but I'll be going when my son can come along if he wants to.

Whatever you decide, good luck. As others have said, it's important to have a balance and not neglect the family, while also feeling that you haven't shortchanged yourself. I would also add that if part of you is hoping for reasons not to buy this boat, you might want to think a little harder about it. A decision this big shouldn't be made if you're having doubts.

If you are taking the family fishing you might be better off to look at a walkaround, the kids will take long naps down below. You would have a hard time finding aplace for them to sleep on a CC.

If you are taking the family fishing you might be better off to look at a walkaround, the kids will take long naps down below. You would have a hard time finding aplace for them to sleep on a CC.

Great point, but I believe I have that covered! This CC will have a MASSIVE raised casting deck that literally runs from in front of the console, all the way up to the bow. It will be huge, massive (the boat has a beam of 9'1"). I can get cushions for that, and the builder is proposing a bow dodger (basically a canvas tent to cover the whole casting deck). All 5 of us would easily be able to lay down up there. There will be more napping room up there than in any cabin on any 24 foot walkaround.

Our first boat was a Grady 20 foot walkaround. We had visions of spending weekends on there...we did it once, not nearly enough room. I've owned backpacking tents that had more square footage than that cabin.

If you can afford it and your wife is "on board", go for it. You will find time for it and with rack storage you will use it. It's easy to say "I'm too busy" when trailering.

Just my 2 cents

Do what I did for a number of years: private charter! Sure beats the heck out of owning your own boat, maintenance, running costs, etc and meets THE NEED of having to get out on the water.

Remember it is not just the fuel costs of running the boat, you appear to have 140 mile RT towing commute.

Good luck with whatever decision you make!

What he said!

dont do it .....family first...fish with a friend....

There will always be boats for sale. These things depreciate faster than ice cups on a summer day. And become less attractive as fuels costs rise. Boats are getting cheaper by the day. The used boat market is flooded, and the new boat market... well there is no new boat market. Not much is moving. Big boats with old technology can be gotten for next to nothing as the headache becomes mind numbing in today's economy.
Tell your wife the boat gets about 2 miles per gallon and it will be near impossible to sell the boat if we change our mind. Never, I repeat, never under any circumstance take a loan out on a boat. Paying interest on a asset that depreciates so fast that is hard to unload and has high maintenance costs is a bad decision.
IMO If you don't plan to put a couple hundred hours on a boat per year...don't buy it. If you want to go fishing or take your family out...charter someone for the day. Trust me you don't want to get into this living 70 miles from where you want to use the boat.

Fish w/family, wife onboard, and your question was what ?

has this guy already rebuilt boat to your specs?... if not how long to complete and rig.

If your at 16k for a stripped down hull, you could add anouther 30k for engines, and 10k for electronics.

has this guy already rebuilt boat to your specs?... if not how long to complete and rig.

No, but we spent a couple hours going over exactly what I want. He said it would take a couple of months after I sent the deposit, I'm in no hurry at all...

If your at 16k for a stripped down hull, you could add anouther 30k for engines, and 10k for electronics.

I'm more frugal than that...I can get a brand new Honda 225 installed for about $15k from the guy who sold me the previous 2 boats I owned, and I can get all the electronics I need for $5k. I have all the fishing gear anyone could need, probably 20 rod-reel combos for all types of inshore fishing...

If it was me... The 70 mile commute would be why I wouldn't do it. Not all the other stuff. 10 miles per gallon as long as its a flat ride = 14 gallons x 4.00 = 56.00 per trip. + bait, food, more gas. Your talking over a c note per trip easy for not much fishing when it's all said and done.

The other stuff I would figure out. But I also don't make great decisions when I really want something.
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The other stuff I would figure out. But I also don't make great decisions when I really want something.
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I hear that! I did fing a nice rack storage place higher up in the CT river, which is much closer to my house. It's a good place to do the skiing/tubing/swimming/picnic thing. That may be a good bet for a few years...

I have owned a boat for three years now. My kids are now 11 and 9. Some of our best memories as a family have been created while on that boat. Whales at Stellwagen, beaching on Naushon Island etc. I say do it.

Like others have said the only tough part will be the commute to get there. If this boat is exactly what you want then pull the trigger.

If you need a good divorce attorney to defend yourself next fall, I have a good one I can recommend..

If you need a good divorce attorney to defend yourself next fall, I have a good one I can recommend..

I hear you!

I am fortunate in that my wife also loves to boat. I am also fortunate in that my wife understands that it really pains me to not have a boat, and she knows I don't have any other vices (I don't gamble, rarely drink, don't play golf, don't watch football on TV), etc...SO she gets that there are worse things than having a hubby who likes to boat and fish.

I found out as an adult that I really love fishing and boating...I didn't grow up with it, no one in my family likes boating or fishing. I'd love to give my kids that opportunity to grow up with it...

I am fortunate in that my wife also loves to boat. I am also fortunate in that my wife understands that it really pains me to not have a boat, and she knows I don't have any other vices (I don't gamble, rarely drink, don't play golf, don't watch football on TV), etc...SO she gets that there are worse things than having a hubby who likes to boat and fish.


That's my defense too! I always say, "Hey I could be in a back alley looking for crack" I've got other way worse "could be's" but I think they might get edited :)