The project to buy a second-hand river boat sometimes comes up against reason. One's own, or that of one's family and friends, who may question the wisdom of devoting a significant part of the family budget to such an expensive purchase. However, there are many reasons, more or less objective, that could justify taking the plunge.
Investing money?
A boat has never been a financial investment, it is even said that it is a "hole in the water into which one throws money". This is less true in the context of river navigation, where the equipment does not age much: no set of sails to renew, no life raft or expensive electronics to replace. On the other hand, river boats of a certain age do not devalue much. They keep their use value as long as they are properly maintained, and are often resold at prices close to their purchase price.
Roaming
Most candidates for the acquisition of a river boat weigh this purchase against that of a converted land vehicle. The latter is supposed to offer a wider range of action. This is not quite true, considering that the boat can move from one basin to another, as long as you agree to leave it in different ports at the end of each trip. The next one offers to push further the discovery of the river network.
A floating residence
Whether you sail regularly or not, a riverboat is a pleasant second home for yourself as well as for your friends and family. It's a good place to come and recharge your batteries alone or to welcome your loved ones in a privileged environment. It is a type of vacation to share with children who have grown up. A vacation that also has the advantage of having a relatively limited ecological impact.
Rural office or urban housing
With the infatuation of the urbanites for the countryside, it happens that one needs a pied à terre close to his work, if this one is at a distance of the principal residence. Why not set up your geographical bachelor's studio in a boat? Even if the rates of the city ports are higher than those of the rural halts, they remain otherwise less prohibitive than those of a conventional housing. In the other direction, the boat can be a very acceptable place to telecommute.
A studio under study
Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon or Strasbourg, most student cities are crossed by important waterways. A boat can be a suitable accommodation for your offspring for the time needed to obtain their diplomas. An atypical and relatively inexpensive studio. If you have been able to transmit your passion to your children, there is no doubt that this inspiring place to live will be an additional asset for their success in their exams.
There are many reasons to justify the expense of a second-hand boat. In addition to these five, sellers of river boats systematically put forward an unstoppable argument: the waves are lower here than elsewhere and a river boat does not move!
