Parents and their 5-year-old daughter take brand-new boat for its maiden voyage, it begins to sink: 'My wife has huge buyer's remorse'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jun 10, 2026 5:15 PM EDT

What's giving these boat-owners a sinking feeling? 

It's their brand-new boat! 

There's that jokey line that people like to say that goes: The best two days of your life are the day you buy your boat, and the day you sell it. 

Why is that? Well, these parents can now tell you firsthand. 

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  • 01
    Brand new boat sails across a calm ocean on its maiden voyage, as depicted by models.
    via Alina Kacharho

    Brand new boat sails across a calm ocean on its maiden voyage, as depicted by models.

  • Apparently, boats just require a lot of upkeep. Their owners need to pay to dock them, and insure them, and maintain them, and store them in the winter. There are the fuel costs, and of course wherever you take your boat will have its own restrictions about what you can and can't do. Those are just a few things to think about if all goes well. If your boat needs maintenance, which it probably will at least a few times, you're now going to be out even more money. 

  • 02
    My wife was so excited to buy her first boat. We took our 5-year-old out on the lake to enjoy it for the first time. We started noticing the rear of the boat was sinking - so we
    via Oldfatsad
  • 03
    Woman relaxes during her and her family's first boating adventure, in a representation by a model.
    via CALIN STAN

    Woman relaxes during her and her family's first boating adventure, in a representation by a model. 

  • 04
    raced back. Turns out the pontoon has holes in it, and now we have to wait weeks for its repair. Brand new boat.
    via Oldfatsad
  • 05

    They'll be sailing no more

    Cheezburger Image 10637665792
    via Oldfatsad

    Why in the world would a brand new boat already be full of holes? Everyone knows that's the one thing a boat should never have! 

  • 06

    They explained further:

    Bass Pro (where we bought it) just kind of shrugged and said they'd fix it. The guy at the boat center we're taking it to for repair (because it is closer to the lake - about 1 hr) was furious with the place we bought it from. This week, I have to drive several hours to pick it up and drop it off
    via Oldfatsad
  • 07
    Little girl plays on the beach, in a depiction by a model.
    via Shaylyn

    Little girl plays on the beach, in a depiction by a model.

  • 08

    Being new to boating yet choosing to purchase a whole boat is very interesting

    for repairs. They said it will be about two weeks. We're both new to boating, but we kind of assumed this was something checked before being sold. The holes seem to be in the seam of the welds. They aren't discernible by looking.
    via Oldfatsad

    Maybe this is a sign to rent one for a while and make sure it's the right choice. 

  • 09

    No wonder the wife is worried about her boat being airtight

    Pretty disappointed. My wife has huge buyer's remorse now for even considering buying a boat. This was all her idea, and she was so excited - but she feels a bit foolish now. Not to mention - she is nervous about going out on the lake again.
    via Oldfatsad

    That sounds like a truly frightful first outing. Perhaps their second voyage will be smooth sailing. 

  • 10
    Couple relaxes on the water, enjoying their new boat before discovering it's hidden flaws, in a representative photo by models.
    via Getty Images

    Couple relaxes on the water, enjoying their new boat before discovering it's hidden flaws, in a representative photo by models.

  • 11
    I'm sure it will all be fine once we get it back, but definitely a rough start to trying a new experience, hah. For the time we were on the boat, we loved it!
    via Oldfatsad
  • 12

    People could not believe that this woman and her partner seemed determined to keep the same boat after such a hair-raising experience

    DisastrousClock5992 You don't repair a brand new boat, you replace it. Don't accept anything less.
    via DisastrousClock5992

    At the very least, they should find a more reputable boat dealership! Would they accept a car full of holes? Of course not! And a boat costs just as much, if not more. I can't think of a single excuse for the boat dealership to be selling a boat with defects like this. This couple should be able to get their money back… If their dealership doesn't offer them a refund, this is the kind of thing that would go wildly viral on social media. And imagine what potential buyers would think if they saw this information under a 1-star review of the place! 

  • 13
    youngcuriousafraid Oh boy Id really try to return this/get your money back. Like reaaaally try to. This will likely be a mess of problems and you dont know what else is wrong if this is the quality they have. Even if this is fixed, boats are known for being expensive pains in the a. My family
    via youngcuriousafraid
  • 14

    The relief of finally getting rid of that burdensome boat is so real

    owned a couple and the boats have ALWAYS been expensive pains unless we were extremely diligent with maintenance and upkeep, and even then you never know. Theyve owned two and selling both made them more happier than buying them lol.
    via youngcuriousafraid
  • 15

    Simply no excuse for what happened

    junkuncle888 If the boat I bought started sinking the first time it hit the water, I'd demand my money back.
    via junkuncle888

    There was a child involved! This is just bad news all around. Best wishes to this family. Let's hope they get a new boat, hopefully from another place, and that the rest of their sailing days are filled with happy memories. 

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