azekologi
Well-known member
O.K. TB gents, a handful of recent events and a few curious observations have sparked an idea :idea: that I thought I’d toss out there for discussion:
First off, a good friend/coworker of a long-time friend of mine just got through borrowing (renting actually) my boat for a four-day camping/fishing trip. Essentially, he wanted to rent my boat as our gentleman’s agreement was cheaper for him than renting a boat at the lake ($50/3 hours :shock. Not to mention, he wouldn’t have to limit his fishing time(s) to the hours that the lake store was open for business (8A-5P). IMO, the greatest aspect of the deal was that his rental allowed me to get a much better, safer, problem-free trailer that I probably wouldn’t have been able afford for another season or so =D>. Additionally, he took excellent care of my boat/trailer (I explained the story behind getting my boat and the sentimental value it has), and brought it back safe, sound, and probably in a little cleaner condition than I sent it away in. He hopes to be able to rent it every year for his annual trip, possibly 2-3 times a year, schedule and finances permitting of course. I’m game as I envision a bimini top, new seats, and a few other upgrades being paid for with little to no financial hardship by me (subsidizing the cost of a hobby, any hobby, is always nice). :roll:
Second, the cash I had left after the trailer purchase has got me trolling the boat section of Craigslist (daily now) looking for a canoe with a flat, transom back (been wanting one of those for a while [-o<).
That’s when I stumbled upon something that really caught my interest :!:: there seem to be one or two guys locally who, semi-regularly, offer their personal tins up for rent (not to mention a slew of private or commercial PWC, pontoon, or runabout rentals…but only the few tins). With prices that range from $70/weekend to $50-75/day for an electric-only outfitted 12-14’ tin, ain’t nobody gonna retire tomorrow, but there’s definitely some money out there to be had. :mrgreen:
So I got to thinking, what does my boat cost me annually and what expenses should be considered in a rental? I came up with this: $20 for registration, $5 more if you count my city-run, man-made lake registration and a $75 marine battery every other year or so. You’d also want to factor in deterioration of the TM, trailer tires, bearings, grease, etc., but those costs would be minimal, and most likely spread out over time (blowouts, road hazards, and chewed-up run-aground props aside). I’d guess that it’s probably in the neighborhood of $150-$200/year +/- $50.
Now, I wouldn’t want to rent out my baby of a tin for some yahoos to beat the snot out of [-X, but I do happen to have a few leads on extended family members who are looking for larger crafts and would let their 12-14’ boats go for a steal, especially to such a boat enthusiast as myself :wink:. Not to mention the occasional low-priced Craigslist gem or fixer-upper that we all seem to stumble upon every once-in-a-blue moon (where is my transom-back canoe! :evil.
Anyway, our season here is about 6 months long (April-September) if you consider both local and mountain lakes. Six months is roughly 26 weekends; if you could rent a boat for $70 a weekend, for HALF (13) of those weekends, that’s almost $1k/year. By no means would it be enough to quit my day job, nor lead me to early retirement, but seems like something that might be able to turn a profit, or at least subsidize some of my annual boating/fishing expenses.
So…the questions at hand:
What do you guys think of my crazy tin-rental idea?
Have you ever rented your boat to a “friend-of-a-friend”? How about a stranger?
Ever run across private (not commercial) rentals on Craigslist, the newspaper, wherever? How much do they go for in your
area?
What problems might you foresee that I haven’t mentioned yet?
I have come up with a few other pitfalls/concerns, but I’ll toss them out there as the conversation progresses.
Generally speaking, I’m still in the ‘spitballing’ stages trying to figure out if this is a good idea, worth my time, etc. I figured my “best boat buddies” here on TB could offer some wisdom, advice, or general BS (ahab? #-o).
Thanks in advance gents.
(BTW, I always post questions with the gentleman of the sight in mind, do we have any active lady members? If so, I don't mean to exclude you ladies at all...just didn't know you were lurking 8))
First off, a good friend/coworker of a long-time friend of mine just got through borrowing (renting actually) my boat for a four-day camping/fishing trip. Essentially, he wanted to rent my boat as our gentleman’s agreement was cheaper for him than renting a boat at the lake ($50/3 hours :shock. Not to mention, he wouldn’t have to limit his fishing time(s) to the hours that the lake store was open for business (8A-5P). IMO, the greatest aspect of the deal was that his rental allowed me to get a much better, safer, problem-free trailer that I probably wouldn’t have been able afford for another season or so =D>. Additionally, he took excellent care of my boat/trailer (I explained the story behind getting my boat and the sentimental value it has), and brought it back safe, sound, and probably in a little cleaner condition than I sent it away in. He hopes to be able to rent it every year for his annual trip, possibly 2-3 times a year, schedule and finances permitting of course. I’m game as I envision a bimini top, new seats, and a few other upgrades being paid for with little to no financial hardship by me (subsidizing the cost of a hobby, any hobby, is always nice). :roll:
Second, the cash I had left after the trailer purchase has got me trolling the boat section of Craigslist (daily now) looking for a canoe with a flat, transom back (been wanting one of those for a while [-o<).
That’s when I stumbled upon something that really caught my interest :!:: there seem to be one or two guys locally who, semi-regularly, offer their personal tins up for rent (not to mention a slew of private or commercial PWC, pontoon, or runabout rentals…but only the few tins). With prices that range from $70/weekend to $50-75/day for an electric-only outfitted 12-14’ tin, ain’t nobody gonna retire tomorrow, but there’s definitely some money out there to be had. :mrgreen:
So I got to thinking, what does my boat cost me annually and what expenses should be considered in a rental? I came up with this: $20 for registration, $5 more if you count my city-run, man-made lake registration and a $75 marine battery every other year or so. You’d also want to factor in deterioration of the TM, trailer tires, bearings, grease, etc., but those costs would be minimal, and most likely spread out over time (blowouts, road hazards, and chewed-up run-aground props aside). I’d guess that it’s probably in the neighborhood of $150-$200/year +/- $50.
Now, I wouldn’t want to rent out my baby of a tin for some yahoos to beat the snot out of [-X, but I do happen to have a few leads on extended family members who are looking for larger crafts and would let their 12-14’ boats go for a steal, especially to such a boat enthusiast as myself :wink:. Not to mention the occasional low-priced Craigslist gem or fixer-upper that we all seem to stumble upon every once-in-a-blue moon (where is my transom-back canoe! :evil.
Anyway, our season here is about 6 months long (April-September) if you consider both local and mountain lakes. Six months is roughly 26 weekends; if you could rent a boat for $70 a weekend, for HALF (13) of those weekends, that’s almost $1k/year. By no means would it be enough to quit my day job, nor lead me to early retirement, but seems like something that might be able to turn a profit, or at least subsidize some of my annual boating/fishing expenses.
So…the questions at hand:
What do you guys think of my crazy tin-rental idea?
Have you ever rented your boat to a “friend-of-a-friend”? How about a stranger?
Ever run across private (not commercial) rentals on Craigslist, the newspaper, wherever? How much do they go for in your
area?
What problems might you foresee that I haven’t mentioned yet?
I have come up with a few other pitfalls/concerns, but I’ll toss them out there as the conversation progresses.
Generally speaking, I’m still in the ‘spitballing’ stages trying to figure out if this is a good idea, worth my time, etc. I figured my “best boat buddies” here on TB could offer some wisdom, advice, or general BS (ahab? #-o).
Thanks in advance gents.
(BTW, I always post questions with the gentleman of the sight in mind, do we have any active lady members? If so, I don't mean to exclude you ladies at all...just didn't know you were lurking 8))