Deflating prices on boats
I've been wondering how many people are in the same boat I'm in. Namely, foaming at the mouth just thinking about owning a big 'ole watercraft so I can crank up the throttle and watch as my wakes knock over others in their girly boats, laughing all the way to the yacht club where we make fun of the little people.
Trouble is, if you're in my shoes, things like bills and a lack of disposable income hit you upside the head like a big ole wave from a passing boat.
Until then, you might want to consider inflatable boats or kayaks for two reasons: portability (we don't own anything big enough to tow a boat anyway) and price. I've been researching getting a good quality inflatable boat (small outboard optional) that you can use to scoot in the water and take with you in the trunk for vacation. Or a decent inflatable kayak. I haven't decided. I've seen prices on 'em from the $500 range to thousands of dollars, depending on size and accessories. (That doesn't include outboards, which can get pretty expensive in their own right.)
One thing to consider: if you mainly do your boating, for example, at one of Greensboro's three watershed parks — Lake Higgins, Lake Townsend, and Lake Brandt — they're pretty strict about what you can use. But for good reason.
"There are a lot of objects in the lakes that could puncture an inflatable raft," Mike Simpson, Greensboro's watershed parks and trails director, told me on the phone today. "We do prohibit them out of concern for the safety of the citizens."
Take Lake Brandt as an example. Before it was cleared, it was nothing but woods. In 1926, prison labor crews cleared the area using those two-man, criss-cross saws, leaving behind stumps that are about waist-high, Simpson says. You just don't see them because they're under water.
Simpson was quick to point out one option is to simply rent a boat at one of Greensboro's three parks. Jon boats, for example, can be rented for $8 for one person or $10 for two, something we've done quite a few times. You can also rent kayaks for $10 and canoes for $15. You can rent sailboats at Lake Townsend.
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