For the first-time boater, nothing can top the excitement of purchasing their first vessel. However, it can also be a bit intimidating, especially if you have no idea what you’re looking for in the first place. Most boating enthusiasts can appreciate and understand your dilemma since every boater was a rookie at one time. They learnt with practice and over the years. The following is a list of some helpful tips that should be of help when you start shopping for that first boat.
Create a budget and stick to it – before making your decision, ask this one question: “Am I financially prepared to make this large of an investment?” Remember, buying a boat is not just about making the monthly payments. It’s all about the real costs of operating that vessel and maintaining it. You’ll need to consider everything ranging from what’s needed onboard for comfort and safety to docking, fuel, and storage fees.
Do some brainstorming – you’ve probably been thinking about purchasing a boat for some time and have a lot of ideas running through your head. Write down what you’ve been thinking about such as the type of boat, features you want, etc.
Go to a boat show – one of the best ways to learn what options that are available is to attend a boat show. It’s a great opportunity to talk with other boat enthusiasts and collect information from different vendors. Most importantly, this will provide you with an opportunity to learn about boats, boat insurance, boat safety, and so on.
If you think you’re done shopping, shop some more – most individuals did not find a boat when they went out shopping the very first time. It takes weeks, if not months, of planning before you ever attend a boat show or set foot in a dealership. Once you have made your decision, this is also the time to start shopping around for boat insurance. Be sure you do plenty of comparison shopping as insurance policies are just like boats in that no two are ever alike.
Investigate and research – examine several options for new and used vessels so you can get an idea about fair market value. It will help you understand the difference between what is reasonably priced versus what’s overpriced. Don’t just rely on what you find online. Rather than dealing with a private seller, you should talk to a licensed boat dealer instead.
When buying a previously-owned vessel, be sure you check everything over – check out the vessel inside and out and top to bottom. Check out all equipment such as the engine, fixtures, hull, and so on. If the boat is docked in a marina, ask if you can take it for a test ride. Remember, there’s no such thing as being too nit-picky. Thus, take someone that understands boats well with you so that there is no chance of making a mistake.