Boating is full of challenges and rewards, and owning one will really impress your friends and neighbors. We are what we own is the message constantly bombarding us by advertisers.

Open any outdoor magazine and the pages are filled with boat advertisements full of pretty girls and rugged-looking men holding big fish. The message is: buy this boat and all this can be yours.

Nothing approaches the feelings of pride and expected envy as pulling a new fishing boat into your driveway. It is not just a boat. That gleaming hunk of fiberglass or aluminum represents status and accomplishment. A new boat sitting in front of your house says to everyone that passes by, “Hey, everybody, look at what I have.”

Boats are a good outlet for getting rid of excess money. A bass fishing boat is nearly useless without a lot of costly accessories. A high dollar, high tech fish finder is a must. One is good, but two is even better.

One of them needs to have Global Positioning Satellite technology. That feature allows you to return to those secret honey holes where the “big ones” live no matter the weather conditions. Rod holders, cup holders, custom padded fishing chairs, marine radio for weather information and communication with other anglers are important add-ons.

And don’t forget the electric trolling motor. They come in a great many styles and sizes. Get the most expensive and powerful one that is recommended for your boat. The small ones require only one extra marine battery, the larger motors need two or three and can be counted on to get you back to the launch ramp if your big motor fails.

Along with all the necessary accessories, there are the legal requirements for owning and operating a boat that demand regular expenditures. Annual boat and trailer registration as well as insurance premiums are all part of the package.

Boats are excellent for encouraging outdoor family recreation. Fishing and water skiing are two excellent reasons to own a boat. Of course fishing requires enough rods, reels, lures etc. for everyone in the family.

Then there is skiing. Skis, ropes and special life vests are mandatory for this activity. Based upon the ages and abilities of the kids, different types of skis will be necessary so they can develop their skills and maximize the experience. Since most water skiing occurs when the weather is hot, a canopy top for shade is a must item to keep the family cool and comfortable.

Keeping your boat clean and in good repair is excellent cardio-vascular exercise. After a day of fish slime, dirty feet, dropped and squashed pieces of candy, potato chips and spilled soft drinks, boat interiors get nasty. It’s hard to impress anyone with a filthy boat no matter how much it cost. We all know that a clean boat is a great source of pride. You just never know when an in-law or friend might stop by to see your boat and discuss the joys of boat ownership. Keeping the boat in top condition is a major priority for possessing one.

Plain car soap and water works fairly well for cleaning your boat, but it takes some serious work with a brush to remove the ground-in mess on the floor. If your boat’s interior is carpeted, you’ll need a carpet cleaning machine to suck up the gunk. Here is where that high-dollar marine stereo system the kids begged for and you added as an accessory comes in handy. You can get an excellent work-out scrubbing or vacuuming the interior of your boat while keeping time with the music coming from the special water proof speakers. Unfortunately, the kids are usually nowhere around to listen with you while cleaning the boat after a fun-filled day at the lake.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea that boat ownership is a mixed blessing. They are a great way to enjoy the outdoors and I wouldn’t trade mine for anything. If you want to get some exercise and talk about the joys of boating, come on over to my house. I am sure we can work something out.

Barry St. Clair is a guest columnist for the Athens Daily Review. His columns appear weekly.