Correct Craft and Motorcycle, Too Much?

Hi Guys,

This is a sort of a philosophical ownership question:
Does anyone have both a boat and a motorcycle? Does anyone not and have a strong opinion that it's too much stuff as far as summer items?

The reason I ask, I've been in the market for a good, used, Correct Craft for a solid two years at least now. I've been doing my best to save, etc., but it's been slow going.

I own, outright, a good condition late model Harley Sportster. I've been of the mind that I should sell this, before I buy my boat, because it's too much summer "stuff." I live in Boston but keep my bike, and would my boat at my folks' summer place in NH. Here, as some of you know, the season for Motorcycles and Boats can be kinda short and you use them both in that same, short, season.

I would definitely use a Ski Nautique *WAY MORE*. But, I'm on the verge of taking a serious beating on the sale of my Harley, just to put a few more k in my boat fund. I guess I could always take out a slightly bigger boat loan. And, it's not like I used the Harley *never*. I put a solid 2 -2.5 thousand miles on it a year. I go out wih my cousins, do Laconia, etc. I'm just not a serious rider.

And oh, I'm single, so no on else is seriously involved in the decision. So please weigh in, does anyone have both and get good use out of both?

Both! I have two bikes, but ride dirt.

'80 Correct Craft and '96 Harley Heritage Softail. Neither one goin' anywhere. F150 tow vehicle. Only costs a little more to drive, ride or ski behind the best.

john

Lots of guys here have more than one summer toy... besides bikes, several of us have "summer use" cars.... me a 70 Chevelle ragtop and 37 Chevy street rod.

So,what are you waiting for? Along with that Sportster, Get the Correct Craft and a classic car! .... BTW, I used to have a '76-KZ900 Kawasaki and a SkiTique at the same time....never thought twice about it.

Thanks everyone! I think thats what I needed to hear. I think I'll just hold on to the bike. And, nice Nighster! I have the 1200 Roadster, which is basically the same bike, just a little taller. It's a great/fun bike and worth keeping.

I guess a lot of the maintenance skills are probably transferable too. If you know how to tune-up, winterize etc., some of that is the same
from bike, to classic car, to boat.
Ok, keep me in mind if any good Nautiques come up for sale in the Northeast or that can be moved to the Northeast.

Too many summer toys? What the heck kind of question is that? I didn't realize there was such a thing. 2 Correct Crafts & a Crownline for me to go with the Harley. My only problem is I don't have enough winter toys.

FYI- This is not a good topic when my wife is around!

It's really up to your personal life and expendable income... As a single person, I would think you'd get use out of them more than any of us husband/dads out here... I have a 03' Road King as well. Does it make sense to own a bike and two boats, located in the Northern half of the country??? Well NO, but we're never happy with just one summer toy... If it's a matter of finances, do what ya gotta do......

:):)

Moj'

I suppose I'd use them both in a different way as well. I'd maybe use the boat every weekend day, but maybe for an hour at a time. But, with the motorcycle, maybe about 3 or 4 times a summer, I take it out all day with my cousin and my brother. Ironically, my family (ie parents, brother, cousins) are saying to keep my bike.

I'm a recent uncle, so that would definitely add to usage time with the boat as my nephew gets old enough to water ski etc. So I could see getting good use out of both.

The only toy not pictured is the boat. '68 F250, and '79 Honda CB750....and early 70's O'Brien Comp. I ended putting the original tank and side covers on the bike as it was a 10th Anniv. Edt. bike. Sold the bike a couple of years ago, but, still have the truck and ski....and the CC Southwind. Really liked that 750. Ran like a scalded pup. I would LOVE to get a '97 HD Softail Heritage Springer (White w/ Red Stripe).

Is it too much? HELL NO!!!

I've got a Honda CBR600RR, and Honda Goldwing, and a recently acquired Correct Craft.

You can't go the lake everyday, but you can ride a bike to work everyday.

You already own your bike outright. Don't sell it.

Davidg, My first street bike was an 80 CB750 Custom (had a little bit of extra chrome on it). Pretty much the same bike. Those really where nice bikes. I've heard they might come out with some sort of retro CB, that would have a 1000cc engine.

davidg,
It's funny, that CB 750 was a bike that you'd be hard pressed to completely kill, even if you for some reason wanted too. Mine actually had the original 4 into 4 exhaust. It had had a good deal of surface rust on one of the downpipes and I was always worried that it would rust through, but it never did, not in the 15 years that it was owned by me or someone in my family.

I bought mine from a guy, who I think was the second owner, for $900. I think it had about 14k miles and he claimed he was selling it to by a refrigerator for his wife(horror of horrors). At some point, when I was in college, I had neglected it, well, neglected to use it but had stored it inside. I sold it to my youngest brother for $300 dollars. He completely restored it mechanically, carbs cleaned, brakes freed up, tuned up, the whole nine yards. He rode it for a summer or so and lost interest. It got stored again and evenutally my middle brother took it over. He didn't really do a whole lot with it but ride it. Then, he sort of stopped using it and my father decided to try his hand at motorcycling and registered it. Then he thought better of it. My middle brother sold it to a buddy of his for about $400 and this guy resurected it mechanically again. He turned around it sold it for $1500! But yeah, it was still going strong last I had heard. So, it was owned and registered by at least 8 different people and taught many other friends of owners how to ride too. Not what you'd call a one owner bike by any means.

Your looks really nice in the red. It's funny, mine had the *exact* same seat.

I really liked thos ZRXs too. They made a blue color scheme one, in very limited numbers, which I thought was a lot cooler than the green. I went back and forth between that in my sporster for quite a while.

Bri92001

I agree with all so far that yours was a silly question, especially for a single guy. I would strongly suggest buying all the toys you can now, as the future significant other may not encourage you to. Luckily my wife doesn't blink an eye anymore when I want another toy. So far it's an '89 Electra glide, 95 Ski Nautique, '74 CC Mustang, 24' pontoon, '24 Sea Ray, and a new project '67 IH Scout, all for summer play.

David
BTW, I was just in Boston for the weekend and had a great time. You have a great City with so much history to see. Good luck with the new boat.

davidg wrote:

David, LOVE the truck! I've got a skiing buddy who has a 79 F250 Ranger I have been trying to buy from him. Sounds like it may happen this summer. Shoot me an email sometime, I'd love to hear more about your truck

cmars@baproductionsinc.com

Thanks for all the great responses guys. I'm gonna keep the bike for now and keep looking for my Correct Craft.

One thing I haven't noticed on this site is a place to post "Want to Buy"s for whole boats. Is basically a situation where if it's for sale, it's already listed?