The Hafta Half Your Budget Challenge

[bljones]

Many of us are plotting and planning our next boat. We have a budget that we think/hope is realistic. Maybe we're figuring we'll save for another 2 or 5 or 10 years for that next boat.
But what if it's not realistic, or what if there is a radical change in finances which makes that next boat seem unobtainable?
Knwoign what your dream boat is, what would be your choice as a fall-back boat, a boat that is only half as much as your planned next boat?


To simplify: If you planned to spend $50K on your next boat, what would you buy if you only had $25K? Or if your NextBoat budget is $10K, what would your $5K FallbackBoat be?


In your post, please state your current plannedNextBoat, your purchase budget and your FallbackBoat.

It might be interesting to see the responses.
My NextBoat is/was a Catalac 8M in the $35K range. My Fallback boat has become the TardisCat.

[Squidd]

I don't know, I paid $750 for my dream boat...

My fallback was to take whatever they were giving away...

[PaulfromNWOnt]

I'm planning to pay less than 10K for my dream boat.... My fallback boat is to not sell the Catalina 22 that I'm currently sailing. Right now my dream boat is the one that more or less fits the budget. This new "dream boat" ranges from a Hunter 26.5 to an E-Scow, or perhaps a Com-Pac 16. I also like the looks of the 17' O'Day day sailer II.

Slightly over budget is the Islander 28 (thanks Bob Perry, the Admiral can't get this one out of her head), and I've seen the odd Tartan 30 that has some appeal.

Dream boat (hey let's dream BIG here) is the Beneteau on the lottery commercial. Hell... even my house comes in at half of that budget. lol

[Michael K]

My next boat will likely be SMALLER and LESS EXPENSIVE to own and EASIER TO USE! But I will not be pulling the trigger until the current boat sells. Currently I have a one-off 30' x 17' catamaran. It isn't a bad boat. I've simply come to realize less can be more in oh so many ways.

[Lake Superior Sailor]

My dream boat is a Cal 40; The Cal 28 is everything you could want ,it's just not a 40!....Dale

[DRFerron]

My dream boat is on the couch snoring.

But my dream sailboat is one of the following on my Next Boat short list:

Moody
HR 40
Saga
Passport
Sabre 426

The list will be culled once I board them at the next boat show.

I plan on making the budget fit the boat, not the boat fitting the budget.

[sawingknots]

my boat is my fallback boat

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by bljones

Many of us are plotting and planning our next boat. We have a budget that we think/hope is realistic. Maybe we're figuring we'll save for another 2 or 5 or 10 years for that next boat.
But what if it's not realistic, or what if there is a radical change in finances which makes that next boat seem unobtainable?
Knwoign what your dream boat is, what would be your choice as a fall-back boat, a boat that is only half as much as your planned next boat?


To simplify: If you planned to spend $50K on your next boat, what would you buy if you only had $25K? Or if your NextBoat budget is $10K, what would your $5K FallbackBoat be?


In your post, please state your current plannedNextBoat, your purchase budget and your FallbackBoat.

It might be interesting to see the responses.
My NextBoat is/was a Catalac 8M in the $35K range. My Fallback boat has become the TardisCat.

You lost me with all the fractions. I'm an integer kind of guy.

[bljones]

You spelled "ingrate" wrong.

[TropicCat]

Your choice of the Catalac 8M is understandable, yet typically these are the 'fallback' boat as the next step up would double or triple (or more) the boat cost. So, you're not playing fair as you already selected the 'sweet spot', in modest catamarans.

Yet, I'll play .... my dreamboat would be a Catalac 12M, and I already own the fall back boat, a Catalac 8M.