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View Full Version : Boat v's Reeftank


t11t5
08/08/2007, 01:38 AM
I am thinking of buying a boat. My monthly expenses could be my payment. I am undecided.

Snowboarda42
08/08/2007, 02:00 AM
You're on a pretty biased site, so I'm going to predict lots more votes for reeftanks.

Plus boats are pretty seasonal, while I can sit in front of my warm tank in the winter while its snowing...

LukFox
08/08/2007, 02:07 AM
I have a boat and a tank and I have to say I get a lot more out of my tank than the boat.

Subliminal
08/08/2007, 06:24 AM
Pfffft!

I love my tank, but spending 6 hours every week in the sun, jumping the wake is pretty much a hard thing to beat, in my opinion.

Get the boat!

RODSREEF
08/08/2007, 07:13 AM
If pulling out a one hundred dollar bill and flushing it down the toilet doesn't bother you then boating is for you!

B. O. A. T.
Break Out Another Thousand

Boats are a hoot! Go for the Boat! Beware though, you'll start with an 18 footer or smaller and end up with a 36 footer.

Have fun!

lpsluver
08/08/2007, 07:26 AM
You must have a nice tank if your mo'ly expenses would cover a payment.:p Add to that insurance, the upfront cost of all of the other things (life vests, skis, tubing stuff, ski rope or all of the fishing stuff) and the fuel costs. No thanks. I'll stick to the tanks and go out on someone else's boat when I get the urge.

The next best thing to owning a boat is having a friend with a boat.

RODSREEF
08/08/2007, 07:48 AM
This is an example of what I pay for the pleasure of owning a boat.

Used boat 4000.00 Cheap at the time.
Repairing the hidden problems. 2000.00 - 10,000.00 Feel lucky?
Updating the boat to your liking. 3000.00
Fuel usage for a V8. 12 gals per hour. 4.50 per gal. marina
Slip. you can trailer but it's a P.I.T.A. 288.00 month
Preventive maintanence. 30.00 - 50.00 every couple of months.
Can't put a price on the feeling it gives when you're cruising. it's worth every penny to me.

Still want a boat? Mines a 24 footer. Looking to move up to at least a 32 footer.

If I lived on the East or West coast I'd be in big trouble!

reefkoi
08/08/2007, 07:58 AM
I bet if you post this on the boat forum you'll get swayed to buy a boat :rolleyes:

PrivateJoker64
08/08/2007, 08:04 AM
I have both. There's no option in the poll for that.
Nitro 591 / Mercury Optimax 150.
If I had to give up one or the other, the tank would go. Gotta bass fish!

ACBlinky
08/08/2007, 08:50 AM
When I was a teenager I had a friend with a fairly big boat (I believe it slept six). I would go fishing with the family on weekends, and learned a lot about fish, lakes and nature in general during that time. I had one of the best night's sleep I've ever had on that boat - I slept like a baby, with the waves gently rocking me all night long. 17 years later, I'm still searching for the mattress that comes even close.

My hubby and I aren't in a position to buy a boat any time soon, but we're moving in a few weeks to a city with a beautiful river, lift locks, and a big boating community. Good thing we have a friend with a boat! I'm hoping we can share some time with our buddy and his wife, enjoying the water (eventually I'm sure we'll get our own boat, it's inevitable).

Yes, boats are expensive, then again so are our tanks. If you already have a reef, I say go for the boat. If you can only have one, much as I like boating I'm going to have to vote reef.

Just think: if you lived in the tropics, you could take your boat out to visit a reef and have the best of both worlds! :)

t11t5
08/08/2007, 09:06 AM
Im not looking to buy a cheap boat. I had one of them for 3 years it was 25'. I am going 2 years old or newer. I will still have warrenty. I have been looking and asking questions. Im just not sure if I would want a reef and a boat. My electric bill was $65 now its $221. It takes alot of space. I know boats are biggerbut, they are outside.

ruiny
08/08/2007, 09:15 AM
Well a boat is great help to your first interest :)

t11t5
08/08/2007, 09:17 AM
SOLD.

Der_Iron_Chef
08/08/2007, 09:22 AM
That would be a tough call for me. Ultimately it would depend on the awesomeness of my reef tank :)

Reefbox
08/08/2007, 09:32 AM
Get both. I have both. You can buy a sweet nice, used boat for a steal. Actually I would never buy a new boat again. People buy them and dont use them and u can pick one up cheap.

as a matter of fact I'm off to boating on the lake right now.

U know what they say about boats is:
"the best two days of owning a boat is the day u buy it and the day u sell it"

Puffdragon
08/08/2007, 10:58 AM
Ranger Fish & Ski for the warm weekends and a 120 plus 65 gallon pieces of the ocean. Gotta have both when you are a sea goat.

Subliminal
08/08/2007, 11:36 AM
You could downgrade your tank to a nano with some t5 lighting, take your favorite corals and stick in there, and you'd probably never even notice it on your monthly electric bill, get a boat, and have both!

b.branscombe
08/08/2007, 11:45 AM
Tough call. If I lived on a lake I would definitely go for a reef tank. However, if I lived in a tropical area near the ocean I would go for the boat. Scuba diving in the tropics is just too much fun.

DW62
08/08/2007, 11:55 AM
I have both. My boat is a 22' Bennington Pontoon. My reef tank is 75 Gallons. If I had to give up one.....anybody want to buy a pontoon?

greenmonkey51
08/08/2007, 12:01 PM
Get a big waverrunner. You can get a nice used one cheap and there a lot more fun than a boat.

Scissorhand
08/08/2007, 12:12 PM
So what's the verdict here?

an411
08/08/2007, 12:24 PM
I have both and I would be getting rid of my tank before I sold the boat? Boat = fun with friends and family.

Tank = fun for me and anyone else who cares

Kannin
08/08/2007, 01:00 PM
I take 2 vacations a summer and take my boat into the San Juan Islands. Plus the weekends on the lake. When I am on my boat... there is no place I'd rather be. But, I get enjoyment from my reef every single day. Tough call! Fortunately... I don't have to choose.

HDAlien
08/08/2007, 01:19 PM
I voted for the reef tank, but I will say this: I'd go for the boat and SCUBA lessons if you live at or south of Marathon Key Florida! :)

kysard1
08/08/2007, 04:53 PM
After 12 years of boating I sold my last boat a couple months ago and decided to set up a reef tank again.

Boat Negatives:
1. crowds on the weekends
2. maintenance cost and time
3. gas price
4. high initial investment
5. can only enjoy it mabey 12 hrs a month if you are lucky
6. during winter it is useless
7. can't buy cheap reliable 2-stroke outboards anymore
8. need an expensive truck to tow
9. long drives to boat launch
10. space in your driveway, or slip fees
11. kids get sea-sick


A negative for a reef tank is the terrible resale if you have to move, I found boats have pretty good resale. Also the electric bill for a reef tank is a negative, but you can be smart about it.

A reef tank can be enjoyed every day.

1SickReefer
08/08/2007, 05:14 PM
This poll is right on spot for me... I just sold my 120g and my boat is about to come out of the shop. completely re-powered with new motor.

I had the below tank in my signature and all the equipment, I bought a boat 6/16. 5 weeks later the motor blows up and I put $6000 into a new motor and labor. Had to sell the below equipment to pay off the credit card :(

And here is the kicker, I'm so glad I bought the boat and sold the tank. I actually do stuff outside of the house now with my family.. unlike the tank that just sits there indoors with me indoors with it. I actually feel like I have more of a life now... if that makes sense.

I'm going to save big on all 3 monthly utilities.

Sewer is going to go way down b/c no more RO waste water
Water is going to go way down for the above reason
Electric, obvious

I say go for the boat! there is nothing like being on the water..

MC Lighting
08/08/2007, 05:15 PM
have owned several boats and I am in the ball park of the whole favorite 2 days of a boat owners life is the day he buys and the day he sells they are a pain in the ars especially if you are talking ocean going, monthly expenses no matter what, and most of the rare times you can actually go out an use it they won't start or have some other problem. I love my reef tank and if I can someday afford both MAYBE I might consider a brand new boat with a full coverage waranty otherwise FORGET IT! but to each his own thats what makes the world go round...

scotmc
08/08/2007, 05:34 PM
I have both. I guess it really depends on what size boat and tank were talking about.

In my Situation, I have 90 tank. The costs don't even come close to owing a boat. Owing a boat is one back hole. It just sucks money out of ya. I have spent 2k on my set up and all the goodies. The monthly costs are 100. My boat costs are about 1000.

The tank really adds enjoyment to my home Espically during the winter. Nothing beats time on the open ocean.

For me, it's a boat.

t11t5
08/08/2007, 10:12 PM
Im probably going to sell the reef. Then I can buy a new house and not worry about moving the tank. Then I can buy a boat. Then I can start a new reef. This all sound good.

HBtank
08/08/2007, 10:44 PM
Boats are money pits. Period.

I know very few truely happy boat owners, and the ones that seem to be are driven by another activity that they are VERY involved with, such as wakeboarding or fishing, or are just rich enough to not care. If it is to just go out for "fun in the sun".. no way IMO.

That aside, and if I could afford the one I wanted, I personally would choose boat :) I would be heading over to the channel islands all the time.

PUGroyale
08/08/2007, 10:58 PM
I've got both and wouldn't trade either :D

I get way more day to day satisfaction out of the tank but if you've ever wakeboarded on a glassy mountain lake... it's a religious experience ;)

mountaindew
08/09/2007, 12:54 AM
To me both are usefull. The boat is used for fun and sun, party! The reef is a work of natural art and is used for peace and quiet. Variety in life is good for you !

t11t5
08/09/2007, 03:32 AM
I wakeboard, waterski, tube, snorkel, scuba dive. If it involves water I'm into it. I think I am going towards the boat. Like I said before, I had a 25' closed bow, but it was to big for me. I'm looking at 20-22' openbow. I'm more likely to wait till next spring to get serious about one. Now I'm looking and researching.

Nano Chris
08/09/2007, 05:42 AM
Depending on how much you want to spend on the boat, say $5-10k? Maybe more, i would have an ultimate aquarium for that. :D

t11t5
08/09/2007, 07:33 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10513540#post10513540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Criminal#58369
Depending on how much you want to spend on the boat, say $5-10k? Maybe more, i would have an ultimate aquarium for that. :D

I have been looking alot lately at boats. For what I want I am going to spend 20-25 thousand. Thats not bad I think.

jimwat
08/09/2007, 07:38 AM
This week my tank is ticking me off (bryopsis problem) so I'm voting Boat. Next week...

Subliminal
08/09/2007, 08:09 AM
My neighbor has a boat. It's a 18 foot searay with a Merc 125 outboard.

He's owned it for about 4 years now, and bought the boat, trailer and motor for $8k.

Besides the props we've bent up, the skag that's made to break off, and the bimini top, his only expenses have been the $100 a summer for the ramp, gas, oil and one set of tires.

He's not even changed the plugs yet.

Given, it's a little small for some people's taste, and if you get more than 5-6 people on it, it starts to get crowded real fast, but we wakeboard/waterski on that thing EVERY weekend from June to September (and sometimes to October).

So, saying they're always money pits isn't necessarily the truth....they're USUALLY money pits. :)

JRoweNole
08/09/2007, 08:37 AM
I've got both (2006 Searay 340 Sundancer and a 92 gallon reef tank), and I have to have both of them!

It really comes down to financial responsibility - if you can TRULY only afford one, go for that one and save for the other.

If you go boat - go high quality and newer, or high quality with fewer hours on engines. Do your homework and research many sources (boatus.com, trailerboats.com., boats.com, etc.), and obtain a surveyor if you go used (kind of like a house inspector). With this, you will lessen your chances of problems.

xtm
08/09/2007, 10:30 AM
The REAL question is.. Scuba Gear or Reef Tank?

t11t5
08/09/2007, 09:28 PM
I could afford both. I don't want the responsibility of both. I am afraid in the summer I would lack on the care of the tank. I don't want to put the inhabitants through hell cause I want to go boating.

InLimbo87
08/09/2007, 09:30 PM
I say buy a boat and set up a nano tank. That way you can still have a reef tank, and have your boat :)

t11t5
08/10/2007, 01:10 AM
I have a JBJ 12g DX. I hate it. Biggest POS. I was thinking of a 75g. Not to big not to small. I want to keep a few corals I have. Im still leaning towards the boat idea.

JRoweNole
08/10/2007, 08:50 AM
It's not that hard or overly time consuming to be able to enjoy your boat and maintain your reef tank.

I've got a boat, a 92 gallon reef tank, a dog, a 20 year old Leopard Tortoise, a formal garden, a wife, and an 800 gallon pond. I have a full-time job and I am an exercise nut.

57chevygirl57
08/10/2007, 10:16 AM
$500 for a weekend with our boat?
$500 for a bunch of corals for our tanks?

as much as I love my boat,
I would have to say, our tanks.
from one hobby to the next.

The boat has been in the garage for 5 years,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Maybe next summer,,??

bobt2
08/10/2007, 10:21 AM
i have both !you can really appreaciate the reef tank when do jump off the boat with a mask on!

t11t5
08/14/2007, 07:19 AM
I went cuba diving in Hawaii in 2001. I think that is what inspired me the most to start a reef.

dkellyrc
08/14/2007, 08:08 AM
my wife always says "why choose? get both!". And yes, we have a 40' boat and several reef tanks.

MrSpiffy
08/14/2007, 09:09 AM
Man, it'll be nice to be able to ask myself that question. :) It'll be a long time before my wife and I will even think of having a boat! Granted, we're young and only married for 2 years. But, if we can afford a boat, we can probably afford the boat and a tank. Ahhh... I can see it now...! :D

t11t5
08/17/2007, 09:10 AM
Im single with no kids. I love it......

Aquaman
08/17/2007, 10:13 AM
LOL,

One is a box you put into water.
One is a box you put water into.

Take your pick

Aquaman
08/17/2007, 10:14 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10573166#post10573166 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by t11t5
Im single with no kids. I love it......


Join the club brother! :smokin:

t11t5
09/01/2007, 09:31 AM
I have good news. 3 of my friends have a boat, so I decided not to get one and keep the reef. I can go on theres and save money. I have been just relaxing and staring into my tank alot lately. I love the growth of the coral. It is very interesting to me. I cant wait till the frags are all grown out and I have a full reef.

t11t5
09/03/2007, 09:38 AM
Going on my friends Chaparral today, so maybe I will change my mind again. LOL