re: Boat or pool, bigger money pit?

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I have 4 kids.
Pool gets more use

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A key to the decision might be the age of your kids.

Mine seemed to use the pool more before they got into middle school. After that the pool seemed like a waste of money.

Depends on what you factor in. The peace of mind of having all your children's friends coming over your house instead of your kid disappearing to theirs is worth it for us (pool).

Get a hot tub

In my opinion, if you need to ask this question... You probably don't need either. Save your money. Rent a boat a few times per year.

Get the pool or boat when you no longer care about the ongoing cost. You will enjoy your time with the Bakst/pool much more with less stress.

FTR, I have both... Boat cost more annually. Pool is brand new so nothing has broken on me yet.

If you're going with a fish/ski that you can store at your house that may get 2-3 hours a couple weekends a month during the summer - a boat is the way to go. If you plan to get something for more serious fishing and plan to run further/longer with a larger or multiple engines - may want to think pool.

Ive built pools off and on since 2007. Yeah, these may have looked "trashy" to some. However, I've always advised Above Ground, Salt Water Pools. Cheaper to put up, cheaper on insurance, and cheaper to get your yard back when you are tired of it.

Total out the door start-up costs for a 24',27', or 30' round(decent sized pools) above ground pool, Salt Water system, installation, and start-up chemicals would only be around $7,000, $8,000, or $9,000 before taxes. If you were to do Chlorine, it would only be $3,000, $4000, or $5,000. However, chemicals would more than make up the difference. I've seen families spend over $500 a summer on Chlorine or Baquacil. Then add in the price of chemicals to winterize the pool, which can be another couple hundred dollars.

If you sell it with some life left in it, then someone will pay you a fair amount to come take it away. If not, $100 gets it taken down and hauled away. Either way you are simply left with a flat area in your yard that just needs some sod or grass seed. Instead of you being stuck with a giant hole in the ground that will costs thousands in dirt and labor to fill in.

Advantages of a Salt Water Above Ground Pool:

Price of Pool is under $10,000.

Price of Installation is under $1200(for a round)

The Chemicals needed to maintain water are 1/10 the price and effort of chlorine.

Installation and material cost for replacing a liner costs less than $500 if you have a 27' pool or smaller, compared to several thousand for an inground.

Above ground pump and plumbing system is much easier to maintain, and much cheaper to work on vs an inground. Its not as big of a system, nor are parts of it buried.

When tired of it, post on Craigslist and someone will pay you to take it home and try their luck.

Much easier to reclaim your yard post pool removal.



Disadvantages:

Looks "Trashy" without a deck and fence. Still does to some.

No diving, they are too shallow.

Unless you pay for extra sand and labor to build a small one in the middle, the pool is only one depth. No shallow end for the kiddies.

Only one return jet, and its so high up on the wall that your wife can't use it to relieve her sexual needs. Maybe I should add it too the advantage side that your daughter can't do the same.


If you aren't willing to go with an above ground pool because of the image stigma, go with the boat.