It used to be said often among amateur sailors that a boat was a hole in the water to be filled with money and a weekend on the water could quickly turn into a weekend-long headache. That's no longer true as today's boats are easier to use and more like sea-going family cars or RVs than ever before.

"They're just like cars--put gas in them and go," said Earl Towsley, owner of ETCO Marine. "It's stress-free living."

Once upon a time owning a typical family luxury boat, a 20-foot or larger powerboat for skiing or fishing, was more work (or cost) than fun. They boasted large, complicated engines and required hours of care. But, no longer.

"It's a totally different picture," said Towsley. "The hulls today are designed for the engines. Today, a four-cylinder will take you to 40 mph."

"Just take your lunch out on the water and relax"

Most of his customers, Towsley said, are looking for a boat for fishing, water-skiing and wakeboarding or to "just to take your lunch out on the water and relax."

"They're fun--we love them," said Juanita Liscum, who with her husband Carlos purchased a new 180 Sport Bow Rider by Sea Ray to replace a used boat purchased from a friend. "We go fishing. We take everyone out to have fun."

"Everyone" usually includes the couple's 20-year-old daughter, who surprised Juanita with her enthusiasm for the water. "She just takes her magazines to read and has a great time. It's just nice to get out."

The Liscum family has been boating for several years, but aren't unusual in their long love affair with being on the water.

"It becomes a lifestyle," said Earl Towsley. "If they really enjoy it, it can go on for their whole life."

Boating great for kids too

It can start early for families with small children. Towsley said most powerboat buyers, nearly 75 percent, are looking for sport boats in the 18- to 25-foot range used for water-skiing and the growing sport of wakeboarding. Children as young as 6-years old participate in wakeboarding competitions.

But, they can start even younger. Jeff Plaugher, owner of a 21-foot Bayliner 205 family runabout, said his 4- and 6-year-old sons Ryan and Jacob, were both able to get up on skis last season.

"They have really neat [boating] toys for kids," said Plaugher. "If the kids get tired--it's six to eight hours on the water--they just go lie down under a towel. They sleep for an hour and then go back at it."

Plaugher's boat is a bow rider like the Liscums', meaning there are large, padded seats throughout the boat, including in the bow forward of the helm. Sports boats can include options like satellite radio and CD players, diving platforms, adjustable seats and steering wheels, and many other features seen in cars. Comfort can be especially important for those who get hooked on boating. Jeff's wife, Crecia, said the couple spends nearly three out of every four weekends on the water during the warm months.

"There's no way we could have done anything smaller [than 21 feet]," she said. "We really did need that extra couple of feet."

While she hasn't done it yet, Crecia said she plans some "girl trips" just for her and her daughter Kelsey this summer.

"The kids enjoy going out. We just load the ice chest and go. We haven't had to do anything special, just put it in the water," she said. "It's easy clean-up--Jeff just rinses things off. It's a lot easier than I thought."

No special license, little training required

Boat dealers can make things even easier for new boaters by providing an orientation. The Plaughers were treated to an introduction after buying their boat at a boat show.

"I was given a course by the dealer, and that was it," Jeff said. "There's no special license. Crecia had no experience on the water and she had no problem putting it on the trailer the first time."

"You really have to pay attention," she added.

"You buy the boat, the dealer and the manufacturer"

Attention is also critical when buying a boat. Because they don't devalue as quickly as autos, new boats can be difficult to resell during the first few years after purchase while their value still matches that of a new vessel. Also, since there are no industry standards for boat construction, quality can vary greatly with price. This is something Towsley tries to avoid with his customers.

"A lot of buyers are disappointed because they're not doing enough research or are buying only for price," he said. "You buy the boat, the dealer and the manufacturer. The poor brands are the ones that get people in trouble."

Buyers can also get stuck with extra expense if their boat doesn't come with a trailer included with the purchase price. Freight and preparation charges can also come as a surprise, and buyers need to find out about their dealer's return policy.

"Everybody does it differently," said Towsley. "It pays to investigate."

Living on the water -- does it fit for you?

And, Towsley advises making sure the boat "fits" by getting in and sitting down behind the wheel. This becomes more important with larger boats such as cruisers in the 26- to 34-foot range, yachts in the 35- to 48-foot range or even larger super-yachts. These larger boats come with bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms, and are essentially RVs for the water.

"A lot of people live on them," said Hans Steiner, owner of Hans' Boat Works. "You get to be 65 and want to retire so you live on the yacht and move south if the weather gets nasty."

Steiner, who runs the business with his wife Carol, recently sold a yacht equipped with three bedrooms, each with its own satellite television set. These larger boats are often used for overnight boating trips or longer.

"They've got full canvases that go over them that make them like campers," said Carol Steiner.

Let the wind do the work

For those seeking a more rigorous experience on the water, a sailboat might be the way to go.

"It's intense," said two-time past yacht club commodore Sam DiBenetto. "There's a lot going on. It's not boring! I highly recommend it for families and people who want to get moving."

Sailboat prices are similar to those for powerboats, however, maintenance costs are higher. DiBenetto, who recently sold his MacGregor 25-foot sloop, advises budgeting at least $750-1,000 a year for maintenance on a boat in the 20-foot range and more for bigger vessels. There is, however, an alternative.

"If you know someone who owns a boat and will take you out, it doesn't cost anything," DiBenetto said.