| Why own your boat outright and pay for all the dock | | | | difficult to allocate the time/resources to maintaining |
| mooring/maintenance costs yourself when you only | | | | and using a boat. It can be quite common for the |
| use it for a few weeks a year? The number of | | | | opportunities to use it to be only a few times in a |
| weeks that most boats are used during a year is even | | | | season. In these circumstances does it really make |
| less than for vacation homes. With fractional | | | | sense to own your boat and leave it unused for 80% |
| ownership you can share the cost without reducing | | | | of the year or more? |
| the amount of time that you spend on the water. | | | | What Are the Advantages of Fractional Ownership |
| How Often Does Your Boat Really Get Used? | | | | For a boat the advantages of fractional ownership are |
| When I was young and had no commitments I owned | | | | even more compelling than they are for property/real |
| a boat. I was really keen on my sailboat and tried to | | | | estate. You can afford to have a bigger boat (or |
| get out on it as often as I could. When I look back at | | | | make the one you have cheaper to own). You can |
| this period I can see that I still only used it for a | | | | reduce the maintenance costs. It makes it easier to |
| maximum of 7 times (weeks or weekends) in a | | | | afford to have the boat professionally maintained |
| season. Now this was a massive waste of money. | | | | leaving you free to enjoy using it rather than painting it! |
| Given that the sailing season was nearly 28 weeks I | | | | All the accessories and inventory that help to make |
| was using it for approximately 25% of the available | | | | using a boat more enjoyable or safer can be more |
| time. I was still doing a lot better than some people | | | | easily afforded if sharing the cost with others. |
| though. There was one particular boat that was put in | | | | Types of Fractional Ownership |
| the water at the start of the season and was | | | | You could find some like-minded individuals to buy a |
| probably only used once. By the end of the season it | | | | boat together (making sure that you have an |
| sometimes had grass growing on it! | | | | ownership document detailing rights and responsibilities). |
| Most People Who Own Boats Have Commitments! | | | | There are also many companies that sell fractions of |
| The example I gave above was for me as a young | | | | specific boats or opt for one of the many sailing club |
| man with no family commitments, an undemanding job, | | | | arrangements that are on the market. When entering |
| and few domestic responsibilities. This doesn't fit the | | | | into a "club" type arrangement be sure to understand |
| normal profile of someone owning a boat. They would | | | | how your joining/subscription fees are being spent and |
| typically be of an age where they had children, | | | | whether you have any right to a refund. However you |
| possibly their own business or demanding career etc. | | | | decide to do it I virtually guarantee that you will enjoy |
| etc. In these circumstances it becomes even more | | | | your boating more! |