Generator or No Generator

Con: Other boaters anchored around you might be easily provoked after a few cocktails and do something stupid to make a point about how much it is annoying them.
 
Thanks everyone for your input regarding the original question. Now continue with your hijack. :)
 
On my last boat I had a generator, really really needed it one time at PIB where I was stuck on the hook for two days it was hot and raining.
My current boat has no generator, I’ve been thinking about adding one but I know the cost would be approximately $12,000. At that point I think boat upgrade might be in order. Although I am very happy with this boat, I have done just about all the upgrades possible. LEDNAV lights LED cabin lights, LED cotpit lights, avionics package with Garmin 1042 XSV, Phantom radar, New refrigerator,
Garmin VHF, Fusion stereo, JL Speakers/subwoofer. Plus all The normal maintenance items, and more.
I think I would spend more time on a hook locally if I had a generator!
The question is do I spend $12,000 on something I will not get back much or I put it towards a 41 foot Sundancer 2003 “ My dream Boat“ ?
 
310sundancer said:
On my last boat I had a generator, really really needed it one time at PIB where I was stuck on the hook for two days it was hot and raining.
My current boat has no generator, I’ve been thinking about adding one but I know the cost would be approximately $12,000. At that point I think boat upgrade might be in order. Although I am very happy with this boat, I have done just about all the upgrades possible. LEDNAV lights LED cabin lights, LED cotpit lights, avionics package with Garmin 1042 XSV, Phantom radar, New refrigerator,
Garmin VHF, Fusion stereo, JL Speakers/subwoofer. Plus all The normal maintenance items, and more.
I think I would spend more time on a hook locally if I had a generator!
The question is do I spend $12,000 on something I will not get back much or I put it towards a 41 foot Sundancer 2003 “ My dream Boat“ ?
Click to expand...
Get the 41' DA
 
firecadet613 said:
I concur. Never sink that much into an upgrade. Better off selling it and moving up.
Click to expand...

I mostly agree with this philosophy, but I'd like to see how the math works out once you factor in brokerage fees and other administrative costs. Sure, you may be fixing the lack of a generator *and* getting a better boat in the bargain, but you might wind up spending *way* more if moving up to a bigger boat. If you were always planning to, fine, you're just doing it early. I'd like new kitchen cabinets at home, but buying a whole new house for one pricey upgrade seems overkill unless I always planned to move.

I've got about $8k I'd like to put into my boat for marginal value items but I think my time horizon with this boat is maybe another 5 years, because in 10 I will be living somewhere else where I want more boat than my present one is really suited for, and a few years of not boating means I can plow 5 years of marina and maintenance into the new boat fund. (Plus my equity, I mean, we get equity back on these things when we sell them, right!?)
 
mobocracy said:
I mostly agree with this philosophy, but I'd like to see how the math works out once you factor in brokerage fees and other administrative costs. Sure, you may be fixing the lack of a generator *and* getting a better boat in the bargain, but you might wind up spending *way* more if moving up to a bigger boat. If you were always planning to, fine, you're just doing it early. I'd like new kitchen cabinets at home, but buying a whole new house for one pricey upgrade seems overkill unless I always planned to move.

I've got about $8k I'd like to put into my boat for marginal value items but I think my time horizon with this boat is maybe another 5 years, because in 10 I will be living somewhere else where I want more boat than my present one is really suited for, and a few years of not boating means I can plow 5 years of marina and maintenance into the new boat fund. (Plus my equity, I mean, we get equity back on these things when we sell them, right!?)
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with putting 12k into this boat for a Genny, but know, you will probably get about half back, which isn't bad. But, if you want a 41' anyway....

i was in a similar position a year ago. loved my 268 four winns, but no genny, thought about spending the money to add one, but instead spent that cash, and more for a 380 DA, which is 14' longer and 4.5' wider....

the money isn't a total loss and will make selling your 310 easier, but the bigger boat (with Genny) is always the way to go, IMO
 
Chris-380 said:
Nothing wrong with putting 12k into this boat for a Genny, but know, you will probably get about half back, which isn't bad. But, if you want a 41' anyway....

i was in a similar position a year ago. loved my 268 four winns, but no genny, thought about spending the money to add one, but instead spent that cash, and more for a 380 DA, which is 14' longer and 4.5' wider....

the money isn't a total loss and will make selling your 310 easier, but the bigger boat (with Genny) is always the way to go, IMO
Click to expand...

I guess I'm thinking the cost of a like-for-like boat trade to get a generator would be way more than installing a generator, especially if you've put a lot into the existing boat in terms of upgrades. But if you were always going to buy a bigger boat, then it's probably just reasonable motivation to accelerate that purchase and get a generator and more.

I'm stuck with a Northstar 6000i plotter whose only value is obtaining water temp and depth sounding (I can't get maps for my lake due to the age of the plotter), but replacing the plotter setup is just more money than value for me on an inland lake I can navigate from memory, yet it's not quite enough to convince the Admiral we should trade up...
 
mobocracy said:
I mostly agree with this philosophy, but I'd like to see how the math works out once you factor in brokerage fees and other administrative costs. Sure, you may be fixing the lack of a generator *and* getting a better boat in the bargain, but you might wind up spending *way* more if moving up to a bigger boat. If you were always planning to, fine, you're just doing it early. I'd like new kitchen cabinets at home, but buying a whole new house for one pricey upgrade seems overkill unless I always planned to move.

I've got about $8k I'd like to put into my boat for marginal value items but I think my time horizon with this boat is maybe another 5 years, because in 10 I will be living somewhere else where I want more boat than my present one is really suited for, and a few years of not boating means I can plow 5 years of marina and maintenance into the new boat fund. (Plus my equity, I mean, we get equity back on these things when we sell them, right!?)
Click to expand...

Now we're really going off subject with the math.

It's all based on how you buy and sell. I've yet to use a broker to sell. My boating over the past 13 years, mostly upgrades with only losing tax money.

'99 18' bowrider, kept it a year and sold for what I paid for it. 04 24' Cuddy Cabin, kept it a year, sold it for what I paid for it. Moved to a '04 26' cruiser (w/ genny), kept 1.5 years and you guessed it, sold it for what I paid for it!

Moved up to a '08 33', wanted something bigger to keep in the water with radar. Kept that one five years and sold it for $10,000 less than I paid for it, however it still sold for much more than the remaining balance on my 15yr note.

Moved to a '08 24' bowrider, kept a year and a half, sold for what I had in it.

Bought a '07 37' over this past summer. Previous owner had recently put on new canvas, new Raymarine touch screen GPS and radar. Great condition. Could easily sell in the spring for more than I paid.

Quite a few upgrades and I've done well on each. Sold each one private party via Craigslist, eBay, Boat Trader or Facebook.

All that said, I don't keep trucks long either and I do well with them. '14 and '16 F150s, both bought new and kept 2 years over 60,000 miles. Now in a '19 Ram, driving less now and will most likely keep this one longer than my trend.

Life's short, enjoy it.
 
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One thing I've learned over the years is to not base future needs on current (or expected) patterns. If there is the slightest possibility that you will want to anchor out, or run HVAC, microwave, etc. when away from the dock, you'll be happy you have a gennie.
 
mobocracy said:
I guess I'm thinking the cost of a like-for-like boat trade to get a generator would be way more than installing a generator, especially if you've put a lot into the existing boat in terms of upgrades. But if you were always going to buy a bigger boat, then it's probably just reasonable motivation to accelerate that purchase and get a generator and more.

I'm stuck with a Northstar 6000i plotter whose only value is obtaining water temp and depth sounding (I can't get maps for my lake due to the age of the plotter), but replacing the plotter setup is just more money than value for me on an inland lake I can navigate from memory, yet it's not quite enough to convince the Admiral we should trade up...
Click to expand...

HI, still have your Northstar 6000i plotter?
 
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