Boat Access Cottages – The Pros and Cons

For many people owning a cottage property is a dream come true. Prior to ownership, you’ll be faced with many important decisions and few as important as the location you ultimately choose. How far from your main home will your cottage or cabin be? How close to other neighbors is close enough? What resources are located near by? How will you access your cottage or cabin, by road or by boat? As an owner of a water access only cottage I can personally speak to the pros and cons of the boat access cottage lifestyle.

Logistics can be challenging with a boat access cottage. In our case, we drive a great distance (9 hours plus) to reach our destination. The car part of the trip culminates with an 18 mile jaunt down a dirt road that leads to a small marina where we store our boat. From that point we unload all of our gear from the car into our boat. We have learned from experience that arriving during daylight makes this process significantly easier. Still, I remember a few arrivals that have taken place in the evenings and even though we end up tripping over ourselves as we dodge mosquitoes; few moment are as romantic as the moment we pull out of the marina and experience the cool night air and wonderful stillness as the boat moves across the glassy water in the light of an almost full moon.

After about 10-15 minutes in the boat we can catch a glimpse of the red metal roof of our cottage in the distance. Excitement starts to build as we approach the dock. What lays ahead is at least an hour of what feels like endless schlepping of items from the dock to the cabin door, which happens to be located up a hill. This rugged terrain will either be a blessing as we age, as it will keep us in shape, or a curse, because it will cripple us. It is too early to tell.

So, why do we go to such lengths and endure such complications? Shouldn’t a getaway be an easy place to relax and unwind? Well, I suppose that depends on your definition of relax. The fact that we are remote, that we have to exert so much effort to reach our cottage, to me, makes it that much more special when we arrive. Here are some of the advantages that I see:

• The cost of a water access only cottage property is less than a road access property and could be a good choice for those that can yet afford the latter. For us, it enabled the purchase of an incredible piece of land that has 180 degrees of water frontage
• You’ll have more privacy with a boat access cottage or cabin, neighbors are generally much further away from each
• Peace and quiet is plentiful – no road noise, no radios, only the occasional boat motor and laughter of children tubing and swimming
• Beautiful night skies – fewer cottages means less light pollution and more stars, something we get very little of in our every day lives
• Amazing water views and sunsets – while it’s possible to have this and road access, it will probably cost you a whole lot more money
• The romance of a lifestyle on the water – driving from place to place by boat and not a car is a welcome change and some what of a rarity today
• The constant sound of nature, going to sleep with the sound of the water lapping against the rocks, or the loons calling out to one another is quite frankly, priceless and worth all of the effort of getting there

But, this lifestyle is not for everyone. There are elements of a boat access cottage that are daunting, here are some things to consider:

• A water access cottage will have a lower resale value and will appeal to a smaller audience should you decide to give it up one day
• You may not have access to some services – in our case, we are off-the-grid and have to use solar power
• Medical services might be further away
• Friends and family might be less apt to visit (this could also be a pro)
• Everything you bring to the cottage or cabin will need to be transported by boat or by barge for large items, which will be an added expense
• You will need a location to store your boat or an accessible place to launch your boat
• Your cottage may not be accessible 12 months out of the year, ours is no longer accessible by boat once the river freezes

While there are many logical reasons to choose road access over boat access or the reverse, it ultimately comes down to personal choice and knowing your passion. Logic can easily be replaced by romantic images or childhood memories that sometime supersede reality. Hopefully, I’ve given you some practical things to consider as you make your choice. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject – please feel free to comment and share your own experiences.