Our First Boat - 2003 Sea Ray Sundancer 280 - FIREby40

Like & Subscribe to follow our journey as we work to be FIREby40

In this episode of Boating Newbies, we become brand new boat owners for the first time - and realize that we've got a lot to learn.

Boating Newbies - Season 1 Episode 1 - This series is all about us becoming brand new boat owners and everything that comes along with that from how to use the boat, care for the boat, and any and all challenges that come along with operating and enjoying it.

Backstory: I’ve always been fascinated by boats and boating. In my childhood, I had the chance to go fishing a few times, but that wasn’t very much inspiration to be infatuated. What really got me into wanting to get into boating was the freedom that came with it. One day during a dark period of time, I knew I had to cheer up my now wife but at the time fiancee. She was going through something rough. So I booked us a trip to Miami at a resort to relax and getaway. While we were there I felt like I had not lifted her mood enough - so I looked into hiring a charter for a day to see if that would make her happy. Turns out - that trip out on that boat that day turned into a lot of things: a life-long friendship with the captain, our love for travel being more solidified, our love for boating and being out on the water, and a celebration of our success as a couple. Years later, this developed into a love for boating in general which distilled in me a fire to buy a boat for myself and learn how to be a captain. So with the “Boating Newbies” episodes - you’re getting a first hand look into what it’s like to buy, own, and operate a boat for the first time. We’re real, we’re raw, we’re candid. You might have opinions, suggestions, even critiques - and that’s ok. But just know, our real intention is to share the journey with you and to enhance our own memories of what we’ve been through. We’re here to entertain - we know we’re not the experts here and that’s part of the show. So sit back, relax, and enjoy. Keep cruisin’ - Joey and Kristen.

Our Boat: 2003 Sea Ray Sundancer 280
Our Location: Gibraltar, Michigan
Year Purchased: 2019
Total Length: 31’
Beam: 10'

What is FIREby40?
FIREby40 stands for "Financially Independent, Retire Early by 40" - and that's our goal. We were born in 1985 and we plan to retire at the age of 40 years old.

Isn't a boat a liability and not an asset?
Yes. That doesn't mean you can't buy one ;).

How did you find the boat?
Facebook marketplace - I wanted to buy a boat and didn’t really know how. So I went on Facebook Marketplace and saw some boats for sale. I entered in some desirable criteria for what I was trying to find and weeks later, Facebook pinged me with a notification that it had found a vessel matching my specifications. Turns out the owner was only an hour away, so I called and got a viewing setup. That turned into a sea trial which turned into a marine survey which turned into me purchasing the boat. It all happened so fast, and I was thrilled.

How did you buy this boat?
I created a social media management company that earned enough money over 3 years of time to purchase this boat in cash. The profit I earn from this company continues to fund the boat’s repairs and operating costs over time. I learned how to operate a social media management company from Tai Lopez.

How much does the boat cost to operate?
This is a really hard number to determine - a boat comes with a lot of expenses. Gas, storage fees, winterization, repairs, supplies, gas, water, pump-out - there’s just a lot to unpack. Unfortunately, there’s really no easy way to give you a definitive answer. The reality of the matter is, you just pay whatever it costs because you love the boat. And that’s really the bottom line.

Filmed on an iPhone
Edited on iMovie

Tags: searay,sundancer,FIREby40,FIRE by 40,Financially Independent,Retire Early,Financially Independent Retire Early,Financially Free,boat,boating,travel,traveling,vlog,vlogging,yacht,yachting