Imagine cutting through the open ocean on a yacht. The white foam of the sea bounces off the bow and the stern as you revel in the moment, raising your glass in celebration of time shared with family and friends. Want to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? It’s within reach through boat timeshares.
Boat timeshares provide the opportunity to explore the seven seas. Instead of investing your life savings into a yacht, you only put forth a portion of the pie, while others make up the rest. Yachting on a budget results in the chance to go on the excursions of your dreams.
Boats are expensive to maintain, and there is a famous saying that goes something like this: There are two happy days associated with owning a boat: when you buy it and when you sell it. With boat timeshares you can defeat this sentiment by sharing the financial risks with others. A broken rudder? Boat yard storage costs? These may all be reduced when you split the expenses with fellow owners.
Boat timeshares also can be a great way for you to earn extra income. If you’re a boat owner you can lease your boat out to others for times when you won’t be using it. It’s the same idea as renting out your vacation house to cover maintenance costs. Visit www.timeshareyourboat.com for more information.
If you already own a boat, and you don’t want to rent it out, you have the exciting option of boat swapping, which allows you the opportunity to trade you boat for a short period of time. For instance, if you want to plan a trip to Florida, consider boat swapping with someone from there so they can travel here to explore the New England coastline and you, in turn, can discover what the Everglades has to offer.
If the thought of a stranger taking control evokes extreme anxiety have no fear. There are many safe avenues people go through to make this process as painless as possible. A popular site for boat swapping is www.boatswap.info. There, people post their boats and where they would like to travel. Once they meet a match they can get to know the person before agreeing to a swap. Many people get contracts drawn up to avoid liability, but the gentleman handshake still rules.
If you have neither a boat to swap nor the means to buy a timeshare, you still have options to get sailing. Consider signing up to act as a crew member on a boat. In exchange for crewing, you’ll get the chance to sail the open sea.
You may never own a 100-foot yacht, but there are benefits to not owning one. By participating in a sail share, you possess it only for the time you actually use it. And, by teaming up with others for a boat timeshare you control your boating price and time.
If you’re considering purchasing a boat, ask: How many days out of the year can I actually use it? Once you factor in your general workweek, family obligations and the weather you may be left with just a handful of weekends and a week or two during the summer months. By participating in a timeshare you can use a boat that might otherwise be out of your financial reach.
By Chris O’Day
