Budget Planner Helpful pontooning hints from the staff of the Pontoon Boat Guide.

For most families, the first — and often biggest — concern with purchasing any type of boat is the potential expense. How much will this new recreational activity cost and, especially in these challenging economic times, how could this possibly fit into a monthly household budget? Many dismiss the prospect without ever looking at the numbers, but the numbers are on their side. Consider the yearly costs of popular family activities. One vacation to a theme park will run roughly $3,100; three camping trips, $420; two baseball games, $350; and 20 trips to the movies, an impressive $1,100. That adds up to $4,970 per year, or approximately $414 per month.

What you may not realize is that boating, as a family recreational activity, is extremely accessible when you compare costs. If you choose to take the plunge and embrace the pontoon boat lifestyle, for example, you will have an affordable monthly payment… and more importantly, access to good times that never end. With a two-week vacation, you save for months to invest in something that disappears as soon as the clock runs out. With a new or used pontoon boat, however, the vacations are “To Be Continued.” For as long as you have your boat, you have dock parties, sunset cruises, afternoon raft-ups, early morning fishing trips, weekend getaways, harbor-hopping adventures and so much more at your fingertips.

Some families seeking more quality time together might consider an RV or a second home. But a vacation cottage can’t carry you to new destinations whenever the water calls. An RV can’t give you unlimited access to secluded coves where waves purl against deserted beaches, where an entire harbor or inland lake becomes a child’s unforgettable swimming pool. Just think: fishing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, swimming, snorkeling, hiking, picnicking, camping, beachcombing and inventing your own games… all with one affordable, family-friendly platform. The options are endless, as are the memories.

With this Budget Planner, provided courtesy of Discover Boating, you can compare the costs of various family activities and investments with the costs of boating. When you personalize the expense of boat ownership, you can see exactly how to fit a monthly payment into a household budget with minimum fuss — perhaps one less meal in a restaurant per week or one skipped summertime trip to a theme park. And the rewards are priceless.

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