Just have to bit@h a little. Please excuse me, but i'm getting tired of repair bills this year on my '96 boat. New fuel line and filter, and a water impellor was installed for "preventitive service", and try to find out why my outboard only wants to start on occasion- $385. Then back in for a coil pack (which cured my starting problems)- $285. That's not too bad - that's the only motor repairs for 13 seasons.But my real beef is with my trailer. It came with those stupid bias-ply tires, and last year switched to radials. Well, they are a little bigger in width and diameter, and would rub on the fender mounting tabs when i hit a big bump. Coming home from fishing 3 weeks ago, 1 of the tires lost it's tread,ripped the fender off, and cracked the trailer. 2 new radials - $190. Now the crack in the trailer is so bad i either have to repair it, or just get a new trailer. I'm not sure it's worth dumping$250 to repair that pc. o'crap, or just buy a new one. Oh, and by the way, my depthfinder's (1yr. old) screen got corrupted and i have to send it in for repairs also. SHEESH!  > :-/ :-? :'(

My wife says a boat is nothing more than a black hole in the water you throw money into...

However, she doesnt fish.. so what does she know!!! ;D ;D ;D

Do some maintenance work!

Learn a lot about your motor and do the upkeep yourself and it'll save you a lot of money in the long run.

My friend told me that boat is an acronym for Bring On Another Thousand

So the thing is 12 years old and you had never replaced the fuel filter or impeller?

Definition of boat: hole in the water where you dump in your money.

I feel your pain, every 4-5 years....

Boats cost a lot of money, but usually in waves (sorry) No one ever posts being happy about the 3-5 year stretches that you only pay for gas, oil and registration...

As for the trailer, sounds like you were sold the wrong size tires... that sucks but you can hardly blame the boat or trailer for those costs.

I shared in your frustration and used to get upset about these kind of years, until I realized that you can easily plan for them. If you put $??? a month into a coffee can, you would have these "unforeseen" events covered every couple years.

You prompted a new thread on the cost of boat ownership...

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1215099163/0#0

I constantly work on mine. It sits in driveway and I do 90% of the upkeep. I consider it time with god as far as working on mine. Only place I would rather be is on the water.

the two best days of a mans life are the day when he buys a boat and the day he sells a boat ;D

Try a lower unit for 4200.oo, then months later, #6 piston detonates costing you another 5 grand.

    Take your nickles and dimes and be thankful.   You haven't had any major repairs at all.

Well, if you guys were trying to make it seem not so bad, it worked. I figured someone else might want to bitc$ a little about their boat/motor problems also. I'm just a little bummed about how little i've been able to go fishing this year. Normally by the 4th of July, i have gone out about 20 times -so far this year only 11. Anyways, trailer to be fixed this week. Thanks for sharing a little of your greif...mark