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Anyone got a boat?
I'm thinking of getting one. After all, we have the weather for it in Cyprus, and don't have the roads for fancy cars!
Was going to go and get my RYA Powerboat Level2 and the ICC ticket done. As I would need to anyway. At the moment we can rent boats under 10m on a car license for day use, and have done that a few times.
Been looking at a few options, as need to find one that comes with a berth at the local(ish) marina. Berths are hard to get otherwise.
When you start digging into things, it's amazing what you learn. All these new terms, things to look for, costs, maintenance, licenses etc etc.
Just need to stop spending on astrophotography gear!
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Originally applied to racing yachts, but true for boats in general:
Boat, n. 1. A hole in the water the owner pours money into.
2. ....
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012
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Yes, I have seen that mentioned in videos. Although, that goes for pretty much any serious hobby or sport. 
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Here's a story.
Father-in-law bought a spanking new pontoon boat.
But, if you buy a boat you need a trailer. So add that on.
If you have the boat on a trailer you have to have a truck / vehicle to pull it.
Add it on.
Ok, so he was set.
By the time the weather was right and everything he only used the boat about 2 o 3 times that first summer.
He put it away.
He thought he'd used the fuel stabilizer properly and all that.
Next season he pulled boat out and tried to start it. No go.
He talked to dealer. "Well, this that the other thing."
Dealer took it and supposedly got it running.
He got it back and it was running rough.
It was back and forth and he lost the season due to running rough.
End of season he dismantled the engine and cleaned the carbs by hand.
Oy!!
Third season he used it about twice.
After that he got busy and now he's older and can't lug the boat about.
Boats!!!
I say rent one when you want to use one.
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Had one many years ago. Enjoyed it, enjoyed working on it (frequently, it was wood, not plastic). Got married, wife became with child, sold it.
2nd happiest day of a boat owner: buying a boat
Happiest day of a boat owner: selling the boat.
>64
If you can keep your head while those about you are losing theirs, perhaps you don't understand the situation.
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I have also heard this said in the videos as well. 
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I recommend that you rent a boat (boats) for a year. If you are still interested, then consider buying.
Boats are a money pit, even if they are new. I speak from experience.
Boat(s) will cost significantly more over time than your Astro-photography hobby. So, make sure you have the passion for boats, for the long term.
Cheers.
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May I add:
If you consider a boat that you will trailer to a ramp and launch.
Go to the local ramp on a Sunday and observe.
You will see people launching boats, cars, trucks and people. Occasionally launching only their boat. They will be receiving copious amounts of advice, directions, etc from loudly speaking people who have never launched (or unlaunched) a boat. These people only come to the ramp for entertainment. Your S.O. will likely get back in the car, crying.
When you get your boat, practice on an off day.
(voice of experience) 
>64
If you can keep your head while those about you are losing theirs, perhaps you don't understand the situation.
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And quite frequently submerging their mobile phones as well.
Not my experience - the boat was Charlie's, and so was the mobile he dunked in the briny ... 
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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There seems to be a trend in the replies you are getting.
In my experience boats are like swimming pools. People that get them, use them for the first 6 weeks, then never think of them again.
The only person I know that actually used their boat over a long period of time was my younger brother, whose hobby was hunting and fishing. The boat was just a means to an end. It was a small flat bottomed "John" boat with a 25HP motor that would take him into the swamps.
If you do get a boat, start out buying the smallest brand new boat you can afford. If you really like it, you can always buy a larger more expensive boat. In your shoes I'd start with a Jet-Ski, to see if you like being on the water. Never buy a used boat, as they really will cost you more than you have paid for it. My partner bought a used sail boat because his wife wanted one and at latest count has spent 40 hours working on it to every actual hour spent sailng it.
As someone who spent 4 years in the Navy, half of that at sea, the water gets boring pretty quickly. The best times my freinds and I had was when we pulled into port and got Liberty.
Water is good for drinking.
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We have rented boats and jetskis several times and would have done it a lot more last year and this if it wasn't for covid and my stupid long rotations offshore.
Last time was at the start of June. Weather was perfect.
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Water is good for drinking washing. FTFY
"I'm not dirty, I am thirsty"
>64
If you can keep your head while those about you are losing theirs, perhaps you don't understand the situation.
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My house came with a large above ground swimming pool. I didn't want it, but I wasn't paying extra for it, so whatever. My wife and daughter never had a pool and like the water, so I maintained it for 3 years. The fourth year I told them it wasn't worth my time. Either they maintain it or it's becoming a pond. Today, five years later, it's a pond with 2 lily plants, 100 goldfish, and zero maintenance except for putting a deicer in in the water for about a week each winter. Everyone is much happier now, and I save several hundred a year in costs.
Bond
Keep all things as simple as possible, but no simpler. -said someone, somewhere
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I have had a boat in Larnaca Marina for over thirty years - first a 10 metre, and then a 15 metre, but they were both sailboats and both British flagged. Unfortunately, due to the aging process - me, not the boats - I sold her a couple of years ago.
I mention this because having a boat in Cyprus opens up a new dimension in life here. I really miss not getting on the water. It is a long season here - I would launch in April and haul out in October. Weekends on the boat are just magic
Just do it.
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Chris C-B wrote: Just do it
2 of the guys on the platform have both said the same thing, as you say, Cyprus is made for boats!
We rented a few times from Latchi, and spent those days around the west coast from Akamas tip along to Latchi. Lovely to just chill out, snorkeling, swimming, and socialising on the water with friends.
Was going to go for something with 2 or 3 cabins so we could at least travel along the south coast etc. Stopping of at the various marinas along the way etc.
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Boats are a thing best shared.  I can see being where you are located how it would get more use especially since you'll have it in a marina and ready to go.
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DaveAuld wrote: Just need to stop spending on astrophotography gear!
I don't know what sort of gear you have, but if expenditures on astrophotography gear are a concern, then taking up a boating hobby is not for you.
I'm not saying this as a boat owner myself, but I think everyone will tell you owning/operating a boat is ridiculously expensive. I think most owners agree that "boat" is actually an acronym for Break Out Another Thousand...because nothing you do on a boat, no matter how small, will cost you less than that.
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Your best bet is to have a friend who owns a boat that you go sailing with.
I started with a (friend with a) 30ft catamaran which was an exciting sail on the Irish Sea, especially in winter!
Later, I upgraded to a (friend with a) 44ft yacht on a lake/reservoir (deep brown muddy puddle) in Oklahoma. Due to being used to the Irish Sea (and thus being a lot braver than the owners) I got the fastest speed they had ever recorded and scared the heck out them! I got invited to go sailing again every time they wanted to scare their friends!
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
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Yes! Best boat is an "OPB" ... Other Person's Boat.
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I've had sailboats and now I have a small fleet of canoes and kayaks. I got into long distance paddling/racing with canoes over 10 years ago and never looked back. One of the cool things about the canoes and kayaks, is that they hold their value. People that purchase a used canoe/kayak can often resell it for close to what they paid for it even a few years later. There are tons of places you can paddle that powered boats can't reach and its good for you!
Hogan
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You might look for a “boat club”.
They have some in our area that work out really nicely. For a price much less than a monthly loan note, you get x hours per month of time. Fill it up with fuel when you are done with it.
The club deals with all of the licenses, maintenance, berths, insurance, etc
You just schedule and go.
If you do want to purchase, consider a partnership as it is hard to use a boat every weekend.
Run the calcs on renting versus buying. Renting a boat seems expensive until you own!
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So, now we should call you captain, captain?
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
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No.....not until it actually happens!
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Had a seven meter Norwegian "offshore" boat in my youth.
With a 200hp engine.
In my experience, the money sink was the tank.
You just simply couldn't run it cheaply, nor for very long btw. (But quite far actually)
Anyway, in my experierience you really need to have a "parking space" (whatever it's called in english) for your boat, otherwise there simply will be to much fuzz to get it in and out of the water and therefore won't be used very often.
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The ones we have rented in the past was about 54 euros for fuel used during the day, with a few fast blasts and then steady cruising, in and out of lagoons and bays, covering maybe around 30 to 40km. That's was 250hp, Marinello 26.
And yes, I would be looking for one with a berth (parking space) already.
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