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