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I was excited to finally get the process started. Over the years, I’d had countless conversations with colleagues about boats, and one piece of advice came up every single time: no matter how much you think you know, always get an independent marine survey.

That advice stuck with me. One colleague in particular told me he skipped the engine inspection on his purchase — and ended up replacing the entire motor, outboard and all. That story lived rent-free in the back of my mind. Lesson learned: get the experts involved.

Launch Day

So, I asked the broker to launch the boat. I wanted to see it in the water, test drive it, and check for leaks. He agreed, and soon enough the surveyor was on board, clipboard in hand.

The surveyor couldn’t fully verify the hull condition without hauling it, but he confirmed the boat floated properly and no water was coming in. That was enough for me to take a chance. His verdict: the boat was in very good condition overall. Everything worked, and while there was some wear, it was nothing unexpected for a 30-year-old vessel.

The Engine Check

Next came the marine mechanic. He gave the motor a thorough inspection and ran a compression test. The results were excellent across the board — except for cylinder 5, which came in at 135 psi while the others were around 150.

I asked him about it, and later checked with a couple of other mechanics. The consensus was the same: this was normal variation, nothing to worry about. The engine was clean, well-kept, and ready to run.

The Green Light

With both the surveyor and mechanic giving me the thumbs up, it was time to move forward. I turned to my wife and said, “Honey, do you want to take another road trip?”

And just like that, the adventure continued.

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:

1. You don’t need a brand-new boat to have incredible adventures.
2. 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.