keep it if at all possible, just do the preventive maintenance on it before you store it, and run the engine every so often for sure, congrats on the kids, know what your going thru, had three in my younger hayday of fishing, family first for sure

This. I was going to get a boat in my early twenties, but decided to get one "someday" instead. It took 20 years before someday arrived. You're not going to make a ton of money off the boat when you sell it and I bet that money will evaporate faster than you can possibly imagine. Keep the boat. Heck, many of us have lives consumed by jobs and kids and we can go months without putting our boats in the water. But it's still pretty damn nice to have one and incredibly hard to get one as you spend more and more money on your family. My advice is keep the boat as long as you can keep it out of the weather.

Bottom line, whatever decision you make will be the right one. The only wrong decision would be to not make one.

A well cared for 94 Ranger has already depreciated as much as it's going to ........ KEEP YOUR BOAT..... keep it clean, wiped down with BBS, covered, gas stabilized or emptied .....and keep it covered inside ....last forever!

Out of all my possessions I own. My dog and boat would be the last to go. Keep the boat.

Two things. The price of boats is only going to rise as time goes by. It will only get more expensive to get into another boat you will like. Secondly, you mentioned waiting 5-6 years before your boy goes out with you, don't wait that long! I started taking my boy out just about the time he turned 3 and he absolutely loved it and still does! Take a drop shot out with you, put a zoom tiny fluke on it and keep the action/fish coming in the boat and he will have more fun than you can imagine. All else fails, live bait! I don't after big fish when he is out, anything that bites is trophy for him. My little boy is WILD 90% of the time, but on the boat he is good as gold.

What if you rented it out to someone? That way you don't have to sell it, you could use it a few times a year, and the other person would be using it, keeping the motor in good shape and not sitting for too long.

There are probably plenty of fisherman on the forumn who would like access to a boat but don't have the money to buy a boat and can't store one on their property. You could come up with some kind of arrangement, money wise, liability wise and put them on the insurance. They pick it up, tow it, put gas in it and bring it back when they're done. It'll put a little money in your pocket to help with family expenses.

I'm in the exact same situation! I've gone over this in my head many times and after much thought have decided to keep my boat! Fishing is a passion of mine and it took the right circumstances to finally be able to get a boat. I know if I sell I won't be able to get another one for quite some time. Just payed it off and it's going nowhere! Wether its being used all the time or not!

Renting out your boat to anyone including strangers is equivalent to renting out your wife...

I've always had a boat. When I came to Texas, I had to make money ! So I stored my boat and bought a business. For 15 years I slaved away at that business and never fished. The boat sat all that time. No maintenance no nothing. Finally two years ago I sold the business. Brought the boat home, put new plugs, batteries, and gas. Packed the trailer bearings. Cranked her up and have been fishing a lot the past 2 years. I'd like a new boat, but can't justify the expense. Always someone in the family who needs something more than I do. Grandkids or someone else.

The best time my son and I spend together is in the boat. I've taken him out since he could walk, not sure why you're not using it more. Mama should appreciate the alone time too, just strap a little life jacket on him and get him out there.

What I am thinking....the boat only gets out of the garage on average since having a baby maybe three times a year, it's taking up space in my garage therefore cramping my wife's doors on her vehicle and I always have to crawl over it to get things (hassle). I am pretty certain that I won't ever be able to get another boat because having another child will stomp that out. The money from selling this boat will go into a college fund for child one. I'm thinking maybe I can hitch a ride from time to time with some guys on TFF. I started out bank fishing so maybe my son can as well. It has been very enlightening reading all the opinions on here and well worth posting this thread. Thanks

An idle boat in storage will cost you up to $2000 a year in depreciation. Older boats are lower, newer boats 2000. Really old boats that are no longer depreciating, well could be minimal. You will still see a price decrease in your 1994 from now to one year from now if you look at full market price at both points in time.

Electronics also get outdated fast. A sitting boat will rot old fuel lines faster. If you have aluminum fuel tanks, ethanol will work on that for a year.

In my opinion, selling is the best option. On this old of a boat, never use NADA unless you want to lose money. Use all other forms out there to determine a FMV for your boat.

Good luck.

Sounds like life to me. MUST HAVE A BOAT!

I have had two children myself, 8 and 5 now. Your life is not over. Yes taking care of kids is work, but there is also time to get away and hunt/fish. Keep the boat!