Do your kids want a boat when they get older?

[Bpracing1127]

I was talking to my almost 5 year old and

he said “daddy, I want a cobra when I get older like you!”

I said “oh yea which kinda cobra?”
He said “that one!”

He wasn’t pointing at the all blue cobra python (very sexy boat)

So that begs the question, do your kids want a boat when they get older? For those of you with older kids, are the likely to get one? Do they still want one? Or do they like mom and dads boat?

Curious what the next generation of boaters will be like?

 

[Sportin' Wood]

My kids are now older. My son wants a rowdy jet boat, my daughter wants me to buy another boat so she can just enjoy riding with her family.

 

[Orange Juice]

It all starts with wiping down someone else’s boat, wishing it was your own.

 

[Bpracing1127]

My kids are now older. My son wants a rowdy jet boat, my daughter wants me to buy another boat so she can just enjoy riding with her family.

How old is your son?

 

[HocusPocus]

Our kids all loved going to the lake, no matter what boat we had at the time. Now all 4 are all adults and married, one with 3 kids, they don't go with us as much. I haven't seen any of them interested in buying a boat.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

I think it’s another example of youth vs older. When you’re not paying the bills you want the hot boat. When you’re paying the bills the hot boat can be less fun and you start thinking about something simpler like a pontoon.

To me I was happy just getting on a lake in something. And now at my age, it’s even more true that I care less about looks and more about functionality. I’ll go to the lake in anything if it gets me on the lake. As a kid however, having the family race boat was pretty bad ass.

 

[samsah33]

My daughters said "no, you already have one so why would we need one...?" As long as I have one, I don't think they'll want one. They already know what many of us found out the hard way: other people's boats are always better... Like the saying goes, the 2 best days in a boater's life are...

 

[grumpy88]

My grandson asked me about the boat this weekend . He just loves being on the water . I don't think he cares what boat as long as it floats.

 

[C_J_J_C]

Do they want to boat.... hell yes.
Do they want to buy a boat and cover the full cost of trips..... hell no.

My kids want new experiences, different places each time, not the same place over and over.

 

[ChrisV]

I sure hope so. Dad ruined my life so I’m do the same.

 

[02HoWaRd26]

My 8 year old is infatuated with the M44, i keep trying to get him to realize an M37 or Skater 328 is more suited to the upper river.

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

Yep, he is only 3 and when we are in havasu he will get up in the morning and play around in the boat while I'm making breakfast

 

[Orange Juice]

New 19’ searay with a 200hp mercruiser, on a single axle trailer (base) lists out at $54k (45-55mph)

That seems manageable for a single family, if they had a side yard large enough to cover and store the boat. Tow vehicle could be something with a v6, or electric. ($45-60k).

 

[dread Pirate]

My 18yr old son has spent a fair amount of time under the deck of our Crusader tunnel this summer grinding and repairing a bunch of issues, making new bulkheads and more. Drilled and dowled all the holes in the stringers. Going to rewrap them and then cover them in carbon fiber. He told me his plan was to have all the glass work done before he goes off to welding school, then he can send money home for me to buy stuff while he's working.

 

[cofooter]

My two daughters grew up waterskiing and wakeboarding almost every week from the time they were toddlers til they got older and and had other interests like school. jobs, etc. One daughter today has zero interest in boating. The other daughter and her husband just bought a boat and are teaching their own small sons to ski and wakeboard. They go out all the time around Phoenix and we all get together a few times a year in Havasu. Makes my heart happy!!

 

[Orange Juice]

My 18yr old son has spent a fair amount of time under the deck of our Crusader tunnel this summer grinding and repairing a bunch of issues, making new bulkheads and more. Drilled and dowled all the holes in the stringers. Going to rewrap them and then cover them in carbon fiber. He told me his plan was to have all the glass work done before he goes off to welding school, then he can send money home for me to buy stuff while he's working.

Let’s just focus on Welding school.

 

[dread Pirate]

Let’s just focus on Welding school.

I can only hope,,,, Kid can't leave anything alone. Keeps talking about putting a turbo on his slammed Honda CR-V,,,,,

 

[Sportin' Wood]

How old is your son?

@CJKnoll0530 is 27. My daughter is 30. CJ is on the boards, he just moved from Reno to Kingman.

 

[ChrisV]

I can only hope,,,, Kid can't leave anything alone. Keeps talking about putting a turbo on his slammed Honda CR-V,,,,,

Pre 2000 Crv? Got potential to be a sleeper.. haha

 

[dread Pirate]

Pre 2000 Crv? Got potential to be a sleeper.. haha

It's a 2001 so yes first gen. Keep telling him it's your fun daily and just put a stereo in it. But,,,,,I have a friend who has an 8 second Civic and he hasn't been any help at all,,,,

 

[MOUZER]

my kids have no zero interest in the boating life

 

[Roosky01]

Pretty sure that the boat my daughters want is the one Dad provides for them. When they find some almost satisfactory mate then they can find their own boat that brings them happiness.

I shall provide it for them as long as I can keep them somewhat single.

 

[Boatymcboatface]

My kids just told me after our last trip they like the desert better during the winter on their quads and motorcycles! But they do that after each season.

I’m sure they’ll boat most of their lives since they like skiing and wakeboarding. So who knows but I’m loving sharing all these great memories with them that will last a lifetime!!

 

[DWC]

All three kids still love coming to the river. They’ve all been driving boats since they were old enough to see over the bow. The first 2 will end up with boats at some point.

Oldest: Think he’s low key hoping i drop and he gets ours. Either way he’ll end up with a boat someday.
Daughter: She’ll have a roll bar boat.. Guessing sooner rather than later.
Youngest: He loves being on the water. Great captain. He’ll be the best boat helper ever.

My favorite early boating pic. Goose Flats/Blythe.

 

[ChrisV]

All three kids still love coming to the river. They’ve all been driving boats since they were old enough to see over the bow. The first 2 will end up with boats at some point.

Oldest: Think he’s low key hoping i drop and he gets ours. Either way he’ll end up with a boat someday.
Daughter: She’ll have a roll bar boat.. Guessing sooner rather than later.
Youngest: He loves being on the water. Great captain. He’ll be the best boat helper ever.

My favorite early boating pic. Goose Flats/Blythe. View attachment 1273781

That’s badass

 

[ka0tyk]

Absolutely. My daughter wants me to keep my dually so she can keep it when she grows up.

 

[riverroyal]

Mine go once a year any more.
They burnt out on it. Not sure they will ever go boating like we do.
They prefer actual vacations, like planes and resorts once or twice a year.

It was more fun when they went. But I get it.

 

[TCHB]

My two daughters thought it was fun but now would rather do other things with their spare time.

 

[Bpracing1127]

One thing for me in my teen and twenties, I never stopped going. Did I do other stuff? Yep but on non boating weekends. I went more in my life in my twenties than I ever did.

I once did 55 days straight boating everyday in my 20’s, I also did Hawaii, stagecoach concerts, bars, vegas a ton, plus snow skiing and offroading in the winter.

Sounds like 1 in 20 will actually buy a boat and continue on themselves.

 

[ChrisV]

One thing for me in my teen and twenties, I never stopped going. Did I do other stuff? Yep but on non boating weekends. I went more in my life in my twenties than I ever did.

I once did 55 days straight boating everyday in my 20’s, I also did Hawaii, stagecoach concerts, bars, vegas a ton, plus snow skiing and offroading in the winter.

Sounds like 1 in 20 will actually buy a boat and continue on themselves.

Goddamn I’m just trying to go 5days

 

[Bpracing1127]

Goddamn I’m just trying to go 5days

No way in hell I could do 55 now. So live it up.

 

[Shlbyntro]

I'm happy just to make it out of the marina!

 

[707dog]

my kids love boating and being in evolved in the aspects of it. they are my boating pirates. my son really misses the hallett and has taking a liking to older boats will he ever own one not sure yet he is just along for the ride right now. daughter will probably not own a boat but will probably not be against me having one to go out on

 

[Singleton]

My daughter has already claimed the boat.
She says it is ‘her boat’ when I am dust

 

[TCHB]

I son in law came out to Havasu and did not understand what people put all the time and effort into a truck, boat, to sit in the channel on a rocky beach. He said I will take the kids to the Wynn and enjoy the pools, restaurants and go home with no work. I spent way too much time going back and forth from HB to Parker and Havasu.

 

[TCHB]

I son in law came out to Havasu and did not understand what people put all the time and effort into a truck, boat, to sit in the channel on a rocky beach. He said I will take the kids to the Wynn and enjoy the pools, restaurants and go home with no work. I spent way too much time going back and forth from HB to Parker and Havasu.

 

[Angler]

All 3 of my Kids Loved the River & Lakes. They see how much work and money boating costs,
they all have zero interest owning a boat.

My Son will always be a Glamis guy.

 

[was thatguy]

my kids have no zero interest in the boating life

Same.
I had a shop with 3 killer hot Rod boats in it, engines everywhere with tunnel rams and headers and all kinds of cool racy shit, and teenage step son never even wanted to step foot in it.
Val only wanted to be on a yacht, and my own kids only wanted to occasionally knee board on the rare occurrence that they visited dad when I had my little Glastron open bow.
I grew up with 16-18’ Jon boats running Alaska rivers.
If you didn’t have some sort of boat you were basically a tourist.

 

[MagicMan]

Son stopped coming out since 12 yrs old ; he is now 18. We got caught in a bunch of storms during his boating days. My 28 yr old daughter rode the storms and absolutely loves boating. She said she would never buy her own though because its too much work.

 

[SJP]

My sons are still living with me. They love the water and sail almost everyday. We boat together often. Not sure when they get older but the younger one wants a green MTI with a matching Lamborghini. LOL he told me I would be able to drive them. So I have that going for me.

 

[ChrisV]

I think kids will say it’s a lot of work until they have kids of their own. Then boat comes into play. Imo

 

[Bpracing1127]

Also sounds like we have a ton of lazy ass kids lol

 

[ChrisV]

Also sounds like we have a ton of lazy ass kids lol

People are lazy in general. Some are efficient crackheads.

 

[25Elmn8r]

Son is planning on buying our current boat when we upgrade. Daughter and SIL enjoy our boat and have no plans to buy one. As long as they keep the boating tradition going for my grandkids, I'm happy.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

My son likes to go fast and for long durations. All he talks about is getting another STV. He didn't much care for the blown jet boat as it was just short licks of speed, but he was all about hammering down and the light seat of the pants feel of a tunnel packing air. He didn't much care for the 25 Daytona either, but he would be ok with another. There is a good chance I'll buy an HTM for next year. I kinda think he may enjoy that.

 

[Cole Trickle]

Boating has become unrealistic for many due to the cost. I see most sub 30 year old's just not having extra $$$ lying around with the cost of housing or like mentioned they like to mix it up.

If you have family that has owned a lake house for a long time its one thing but imagine doing everything needed to play the game.

What's a realistic weekend cost for a family of 4 not counting the monthly boat/truck/storage?

Hotel/house $600-1000++
Gas $300+
Launch fees $40
Food/drinks/ice $400
Entertainment $200

You could go on several really nice vacations a year for what a couple river trips and a boat payment cost.

 

[crzy2bealive]

Makes me sad to think one day my kids won’t be able / won’t want to go to the river with me anymore.

Same with the desert.

I hope that I’m doing a good enough job influencing them to keep this lifestyle going with the newer generation. You just never know.

 

[Shlbyntro]

My family gave up on the river/boating when I was still in HS. I was the only one who used the place up until they sold it. I had several really tough years trying to wrangle friends and get a new group together for going regularly and couldn't find a good group of friends who had the time or money (or interest) to do it on the regular.

It was that time that I realized the only thing keeping me on the west coast was fading away and I started getting ready to pull up roots. searching for work and housing in PHX is what landed me in Austin 9 years ago (almost to the day now).

I'm fortunate to have found good friends out here (and some back out there) who enjoy boating like its an addiction.

In a 180 though, my mom still has the old family boat that sat unused for years and is working on getting it going again with some help from RDP sorting out the last of the Gremlins. My dad just bought another runabout with his stepson up in Minnesota. A childhood friend that also used to come out to the river a bunch with my family as a young kid also somehow wrangled his parents and brother into going in with him on a place down on the Parker Strip. His dad blamed me for that at my friends wedding a couple of years ago!

For some people, boating is something that's fun to do for a couple years. For others like me and many on RDP, it is a lifestyle. no amount of struggle through life can keep us from it (not even if it means pushing a stroller down the dock packed with an 8mo old, towels, clothes, diapers while wearing 2 backpacks and a packed soft cooler with drinks, food, bottles, baby food, and also pulling a wagon with 25 gallons of ethanol free for the boat; just to spend an afternoon and one night on the water.) The types of boating I enjoy change somewhat as the years go on and flip flop some, but boating in general has always been one of the few constants in my life. I will never give it up, and am doing my damnedest to pass that love on.

 

[rivrrts429]

My daughter will likely exchange my passion for boating for a plane instead. She loves both boating and flying but my guess is if she has to choose between the two it will be aviation. Both cost a shit ton though.

 

[C-Ya]

Just slightly off subject, but some different perspective……..

I know a lot of boat owners that are NOT into boating. They only own a boat because they are addicted to fishing! Lol

The fishing crowd will always make sure that the boating industry stays afloat…….