As we all know by now, the weather is finally warm again in the Northeast, breaking big time this past Saturday. A buddy of mine texted me in the morning with an 81-degree and sunny weather report along with an invite to come up to his boat, nestled in West Haverstraw on the Hudson River, an approximate 45-minute shot up the Palisades Parkway from the George Washington Bridge. Now I’m not “that guy” who grew up around boats, nor am I watching the ESPN bass fishing championships in my spare time, but I get the appeal of being able to kick back, knock down a few beers while eating my favorite sub (turkey, Swiss cheese, mayo, light on the lettuce, onion and sweet peppers) and talk sports with the guys and reality shows with the ladies while taking in the beauty of the mountainous terrain lining the Hudson. Conversation inevitably turned to boating; while knowledgeable, I’m admittedly oblivious beyond generic boating language (bow, stern, port and starboard). Upon asking, I found out boating is far more cost-effective than most think. The trick, of course, being you’ve got to utilize the boat in order to gain the benefit, much like going to the gym. Let me put it this way: my buddy turned in his costly summer rental in Spring Lake, N.J., where he used to go every summer weekend over two months visiting the same beach, restaurants and bars, all while enduring insidious Jersey Shore traffic via the Garden State Parkway (two hours each way), for a 33-foot Chaparral boat. He owns the boat and enjoys it for no less than five months a year. The boat can sleep four if necessary and is quite mobile, having traveled last summer for a week-long stay in the Hamptons as well as multiple day trips to places like Chelsea Piers, Red Bank and Cold Springs. This summer he is planning several overnight adventures, including a weekend to watch the Mets at Citi Field, located within walking distance of a marina. Now, while I do not agree with buying a new boat unless you have the means, these floating pieces of heaven do not hold their value very well, and you’d be amazed what you can buy that’s in impeccable condition with just a few hours of time on the engines. You see, a lot of people buy boats with good intentions, but many do not utilize them beyond sitting at the marina. Inevitably, they sell or get the itch for something bigger; either way, they sell and you can get great value for a boat 3–5 years of age or more. Upon asking, my buddy kicks himself for waiting so long. Aside from learning a whole new skill set he enjoys, he’s already met some amazing people from all age groups and walks of life: doctors, lawyers, firemen, pilots, contractors and more. Moreover, boating has proven to be a wonderful way to draw family in closer, as I’ve witnessed with him and his 16-year-old daughter. With a year or so now under his belt, I asked him if it has been worth it; he looked at me, stowed his one and only beer, laughed and throttled up his twin 330 HP engines! — David Katz, director of sales & marketing