About thirty years ago, I wanted to buy a boat. The dream was there, but the timing wasn’t. My kids were young, family life was busy, and I knew that if I bought a boat then, it would sit unused. So instead, I tucked the dream away and started putting money aside, telling myself that one day I’d buy the boat I really wanted — something I could motor, fish, and explore with.
As the years went by, reality shifted. Inflation crept up, and the “dream boat” slowly became “an affordable boat.” I kept going to boat shows, but the boats seemed to get bigger and more expensive every year. Eventually, I realized I needed to define what really mattered to me.
My Criteria
I wanted a boat that was:
Comfortable enough for overnight trips, with sleeping space, a galley, and a head
Practical for daily fishing trips but also a lounger when friends came aboard
Trailerable, so I wasn’t tied to one marina
Equipped with a full camper top to protect me from the elements
Not flashy, but functional — something I could use, maintain, and enjoy without worrying about every scratch
The Spark
What reignited the search was a YouTube series called Water Ways. I watched The Journey, Pt. 1: Toronto to Montreal and was hooked. I ended up watching the entire series — twice, the second time with my wife. That show made me realize two things:
You don’t need a brand-new boat to have incredible adventures.
An older boat, with its dents and scratches, might actually be the perfect starting point for someone like me.
With my wife’s approval (a critical step in any boating adventure), I set my budget, listed my criteria, and started combing through boating websites.
The Search
The options were overwhelming at first, but eventually I narrowed it down to a few that fit. Then came the road trip: I turned to my wife and said, “Let’s go look at a boat.”
We drove to Lake St. Clair, where the boat was sitting on cinder blocks, wrapped up, looking like it had been forgotten for months. At first glance, it was a disappointment. The hull looked solid, but when the broker opened it up, we climbed inside and saw just how much work it needed.
I told the broker, “She needs a lot of work.” He immediately dropped the price by $10,000 and said the seller was motivated.
The Decision
I looked at my wife and said, “This could be a hobby boat — something I can fix up.” But I wasn’t going to jump in blindly. I asked the broker to arrange a marine survey, a mechanic’s inspection, and a compression test.
And just like that, the journey began.
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