How to ride a boat all season at a lower cost?
As an avid towed water sports enthusiast, I wondered how I could do all the water sports I love for less money and how much of an investment it would be.
In these lines, we will mainly talk about accessibility to towed water sports. We are moving more and more towards a democratization of these and this gives rise to many offers that are emerging and that we will list here with their advantages and disadvantages.
The purchase of a boat
Boat buying had its golden age 10 or 15 years ago. In the 2010's, boat builders drastically increased their selling prices (+30% in a few years) and this led to a blocking of the boat sales market for the middle classes.
It is important to know that the brands we are interested in are mostly American brands that are manufactured locally. The cost is then impacted (customs fees, transport, etc.).
Today, the purchase price of a wakeboard boat starts at 45 000 €. However, you also have to take into account the price of the harbour, the wintering and the maintenance. The big advantage here is that we are and remain the owner of our boat.
For someone who wants to keep their boat for years and knows how to maintain it, this can be an advantage. However, boats are becoming more and more technologically advanced and like a car. It is therefore necessary to bring it back to the dealer for verification.
Boat rental or leasing
The offer that has been created for several years and that the nautical bases use the most is the leasing. It allows to mix the useful with the pleasant for people who need their boat 7/7d during the summer season, while including the costs of maintenance in the price of the rent.
However, we are talking about professionals of the sector who are on board for a working season. We are passionate but we have a job on the side and we don't need our boat during the week, because we don't have time, and this is where our loss of income is. A boat that stays at the quay is a boat that is not used, nor profitable and that, moreover, ends up wearing out naturally.
Boat sharing or boat clubbing
This is the offer that has just been launched and we were one of the first to do so. As you have seen in the latest tutorials of the YouTube channel "Dahu Wake Family", a partner has been added through the offer Wiziboat created by Nautic-Force.
Nautic-Force created an offer in 2017 that we liked, called Wiziboat.
Indeed, with this offer you can erase the disadvantages of buying and renting. Why is that? Simply because you share your boat with 4 other people. If you get along well with these people, you can exchange days already booked with them. So you can never find yourself in trouble.
Let me explain: Wiziboat is an offer that allows you to have a new boat every 3 years. You commit yourself to pay a monthly rent of 299€ minimum. This corresponds to a boat of the Heyday range (like the WT-1 model).
What does this investment bring you?
The boat is managed by a professional who has the boat in his home, while on your side you can manage your subscription through a mobile application (the App Wiziboat) on which you can see the availability of your boat. From the beginning of May to the 15th of June, you can use it unlimitedly and reserve it as soon as it is available. Then, from June 15 to September 15, you can use 20 half-days. Finally, from September 15 to November 15, you will be able to use your boat freely, and in an unlimited way, as long as you are the first to make the request.
But that's not all! This offer, in addition to being economical, can earn you money. To generate additional income that will be deducted from your monthly 299€ at the end of the season, you just have to entrust your boat to Wiziboat who will rent it to clients of the nautical base. Wiziboat will then pay you 40% of the profits from this rental.
