InterMarine: Ten Reasons To Own A Boat

“Somethin' 'bout a boat
Sittin' on the sea
Out there in the wind
Floatin' on the free
Take you 'round the world
Bring you back home
Gives a man hope
Somethin' 'bout a boat”
- Jimmy Buffet

Whether it’s a kayak to carry on top of your car, a center console, runabout, or cruiser you can tow, or a yacht that sits gleaming in a fancy marina or bobs quietly in a secluded anchorage, there most definitely is “something about a boat.” 

Here are ten good reasons you should buy that boat:

1. Boating reduces stress.

Daily life is stressful. There’s the commute. The traffic. The constant bombardment of emails, texts, phone calls, and electronic devices that beep, trill, and squawk, competing for our attention. Our brains need a break. According to Wallace J. Nichols, marine biologist, “our brains are hardwired to react positively to water and…being near it can calm and connect us, increase innovation and insight, and even heal what's broken.” Owning a boat helps you slow down, get connected, and break the hold of life’s daily stressors.

2. Boating provides great exercise.

Using your own boat as a platform for recreation offers endless possibilities –water skiing, wakeboarding, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and swimming provide great exercise. And let’s not forget the joys of fishing –trolling for the elusive “big one” or just fooling around with a cheap casting rod can calm your mind, focus your attention, and maybe even reward you with a fine meal.

3. Owning a boat requires mastering new skills.

Safely operating a boat requires mastering new skills – and mastering new skills keeps your mind sharp. From knots to navigation, from anchoring to tying up at a marina, from knowing your port from your starboard and your bow from your stern, the more you learn the more you’ll enjoy your experience. Learn the vocabulary, the rules of the road, the peculiarities of your electronics, and the fine points of operating in all combinations of current, tide and winds.

4. Owning a boat can deepen family relationships.

Owning a boat provides an opportunity for every family member to participate. As you learn new skills, challenge your kids to learn them with you. Take classes at the Coast Guard Auxiliary or Power Squadron together – or comb YouTube for tutorials about knots, weather forecasting, or navigation. Give your kids (or guests) routine tasks to help them feel part of the boating experience. You’ll learn surprising things about each other you can’t learn any other way and develop trust in each other’s abilities. 

5. Owning a boat makes you part of a unique community.

The boating community is diverse – and being part of it is a great privilege. Whether you’re a brain surgeon, an auto mechanic, an attorney, or a teacher, when you’re out on the water you’re sharing a common experience. Boaters help each other. They trade tips, tools, and techniques. They share recipes, books, and secret anchorages. And they have some of the best potlucks on the planet.

6. Owning a boat gives you control over your vacation.

When you’re out on the water, you go where you want, when you want, at your own pace and in your own time. Whether it’s a Saturday at a sandbar on the Intracoastal, a weekend in Bimini, or ten days in the Keys, you set the pace. You determine your budget. You decide what to eat and when. You decide where to spend the night. A vacation on your own boat can be as luxurious or as simple as you like. Or you can join fellow boaters on an Escapade if you are an InterMarine customer. Taking an Escapade boating vacation is an excellent way to just relax and have all the details of your boat trip already worked out for you. Just check out our Escapades photo galleries if you need some convincing (p.s. the Escapades calendar of events is here).

7. Owning a boat lets you experience your world in a more intimate way.

You’ll have experiences on the water that are inaccessible on land. There’s nothing like being escorted into an anchorage by an armada of dolphins, watching pelicans dive-bomb for their breakfast nearby, or listening to the sharp snaps of pistol shrimp in the mangroves behind you. Sunrises and sunsets are much more romantic from the water than from the condo balcony. The air smells better. The stars shine brighter. The beer tastes colder.

8. Owning a boat can enhance your business image.

If you’re looking for a unique alternative to routine client lunches or company golf outings, why not invite selected clients or colleagues to spend time on your boat? Talking business or sealing a deal over ceviche and chilled white wine on the back deck or during a spectacular sunset cruise along the Miami skyline adds prestige to any transaction. Just ask Eric Clapton, Tiger Woods, or Steven Spielberg, happy boat owners all.

9. Owning a boat offers some great tax advantages.

The 2018 changes in U.S. tax law allow business entities (LLCs, corporations, or partnerships), to write off up to 100% of the purchase price on new or pre-owned boats used for business purposes – with NO dollar limit. You can also write off the expenses of upgrading or improving, your boat within the year of purchase. (Chat with your attorney or accountant for details.)

10. Owning a boat is surprisingly affordable.

There is a boat for any budget, whether you’re looking for a 75-foot Prestige luxury yacht to cruise the Bahamas or a 16-foot Bayliner to fish the Intracoastal. InterMarine is proud to offer one of the best new boat selections in the industry featuring boats from 16ft up to 100-ft yachts. We also offer a fleet of previously-owned boats certain to meet your needs and budget. Search our new boat inventory or peruse the pre-owned and brokerage yachts section to find the perfect boat for your lifestyle.  

There is, indeed, “something about a boat.” InterMarine Boat Sales would be delighted to help get you into the right boat for the right reason. Please contact our sales department today to start the conversation or visit us at your nearest location. See you soon!