Boating: An Investment in the Soul.
Let’s face it. From a certain perspective, purchasing a boat does not make a lot of sense. They can be expensive, costly to store if you don’t have space, and lead you to potentially need a larger tow vehicle to get your beautiful new investment to a ramp. If you are lucky enough to live on the water and have a dock, you have probably already experienced “sticker shock” at what fuel cost per gallon from marinas on the water. But hear me out.
I started boating at a young age. Our first boat, if my memory serves me correctly, was an old green Javelin bass boat powered by an 85hp Johnson. It was the boat from which I caught my first fish, learned to swim in big water, and a way of life for my father who lived and breathed boating and fishing. It seemed that no matter what problems we had, or what the family may have been going through at the time, owning a boat and having access to the water was always a priority. It was simply an investment in family time.
There are very few things that can bring a family together and melt away the burdens of everyday life like loading up the boat for a day with the family, leaving the dock, and blasting across the water to your secret hiding spot or favorite party cove. Meeting up with friends and family who boat and making new friends on the water is way of building new family traditions. A love of the water and boating was such a big part of our life, that I feel like it is ingrained and a part of who I am.
I have since owned everything from pontoons and bay boats, to deck boats, bow riders, and aluminum fishing boats. And I have enjoyed them all. I cannot imagine not having access to a boating way of life, teaching my son about boating and the outdoors, and instilling in him the same love of the water that my dad did for me. It turns out all the money spent on boats and boating accessories my dad and I have spent over the years was not an investment in a physical asset, but an investment in our souls. An investment in a love and passion for something I can continue to teach and pass on to the future generations in our family.
It was my investment with years of knowledge that would eventually lead me to do what I do today - connecting with people who share my same passion and who grew up the same way as me. I am fortunate to be able to meet and guide our friends and family, whether making an investment into their 5th boat, or helping the family who is exploring boating for the first time and assisting them in making the right decision for a boat they can grow into.
Come on down and visit us at Muddy Bay® Marine. I look forward to helping you make that next investment!
Trim Tight, Throttle Down and LETS TAKE IT OUTSIDE.®