Ever noticed how many used boats there are for sale? Ever wondered how many of them are for sale because the owners bought them, then found out they didn’t really like them? Plenty. The problem is that with so many attractive choices it is easy to go wrong. That’s why you need to use your head, not your heart to zero-in on the right ones for you. Answer BoatTEST.com’s 10 questions and you’ll find that the list of prospects narrows quickly.

There are over one hundred sportboat models to choose from 18’ to over 30’ so finding one should be easy, right? Wrong.

We are constantly amazed at how many people select a boat without doing adequate research. When we ask people why they bought a particular boat the answers come from all over the place, particularly in small boats. Small boats are often first time purchases, so it is natural that mistakes are made. Also, moving from one type of boat, say an outboard fishing boat, to a sportboat, is not as easy as it sounds.

For example, many people say that they want a boat that is a certain size, then buy it only to discover that is too big or too small, too fast or too slow. People often fall in love at a boat show with a boat and buy it, only to discover two months later than their new friend has a boat that they like even more and it cost the same amount or less. Buyer’s remorse can kick in quickly unless the buyer has carefully thought through what he is doing.

Like so many things in life finding the right match-up of sportboat is a matter of being analytical. In talking to people over the years we have found that it is important to ask some basic questions before buying. Once those answers are known, the right boat or short list of boats becomes readily apparent.

So here are the 10 questions we would ask a person who wanted to buy a sportboat--

1. What do you want to do with the boat?

1. Ski
2. Wakeboard
3. Two tubes
4. Go fast
5. Entertain
6. Swim and snorkel
7. Several or all of the above

2. Where do you want to do this activity?

1. In the ocean
2. On a small lake or river
3. On a big lake, estuary, or sound
4. Two or more of the above

3. How many people will usually be on the boat?

1. Two
2. Three to five
3. Six to eight
4. More?

4. How much weight is your vehicle rated to tow?

1. X thousand pounds

5. How much money can you comfortably afford to put down on the boat?

1. X amount

6. How much money would you comfortably budget annually for your boating activity, including your monthly payment, boat insurance and boat property tax (if any)?

1. X amount, then divide by 12.

7. How many years do you plan to keep the boat?

1. X years

8. Are you the kind of person who wants everything in a boat to be near perfect, do you become befuddled when things go wrong, and are you fastidious about details?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Sometimes, such as when it come to your BoatTESTs

9. How important is brand image to you?

1. Very important
2. Somewhat important
3. Not important

10. Have you discussed this purchase and all of the questions above with your spouse?

1. Yes
2. No
3. A little bit
4. Afraid to

What To Do with the Answers?

Q#1:

Most of the answers will point you in a direction. For example, the answer to Q #1 will point you toward certain type boats and away from others. If you want to tow tubers and swim, you don’t need a specialized inboard ski/wakeboard boat, which are usually more expensive than more general-purpose sport boats.

Q#2:

If you want to go boating in the ocean or big water, you will want to look at the boat’s dead rise angle at the transom, the shape of the hull at the bow and at the stagnation line, and the height of the freeboard. Low-freeboard boats with flatish bottoms are more suited for small lakes and rivers, and deeper-V hulls with higher freeboards will be more comfortable and dryer where you are apt to find bigger waves.

Q#3:

Once you have determined how many people on average you will have aboard, you should count the number of seating positions for your friends on the boats you are looking at. Do not use the “capacity” as a guide as this number is almost always higher than comfortable reality.

An important corollary to this question is will you have females aboard and do you need a head/changing room? Some heads are tight, so check them out yourself, because they are definitely not all the same.

Q#4:

If you don’t know the towing capacity of your vehicle check with your car dealer or go to Edmonds.com and look it up. (This guide will give you an idea of what your vehicle can pull – click here.http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/102426/article.html) You may find that the boat you want is too heavy for your vehicle, in which case you might want to find a smaller boat or a bigger vehicle. If you are leaving the boat at a marina or behind your house on a dock, then this is not a concern because you can easily get it moved from showroom to the water.

Q#5:

Obviously a key question, and if you have a trade, you will want to find out what a dealer will give you for it. You are probably better off selling it on your own. Remember to add in the cost of new equipment.

Q#6:

If you finance your boat, here is where you put in your monthly charge. You will find that your annual fuel bill is not as large compared to other things as you may think. If you are buying a used boat, add in a figure for replacement of gear and extra maintenance.

Q#7:

This is an important question and probably one of the hardest to answer. If you have young children, you probably will want the boat to grow with them. If your kids are graduating from college in a couple of years and you and Mom want to do some cruising, you may want to start thinking about that now. The best way to save money in boating is by getting a boat that will serve your needs both now and later – and buy one boat instead of two. Usually, boats are depreciating assets and the worst depreciation is in the first three years or so.

Q#8:

If you or your spouse answers “yes” to the question, you will need to buy a new boat, or a late model boat in excellent condition which has been well maintained. There are some people who will only buy new, and some will only buy used – know what kind of buyer you are.

Q#9:

If you are status conscious, or if you only feel comfortable owning the most prestigious brands, take solace in knowing that you are not alone. If you care about owning a prestigious brand, then make sure you buy one that is actually perceived as such by people beyond yourself and a small group of friends. Some people have a mis-read on the brands that actually fit into this very rarified category. If you don’t care about prestige, you will be able to save a lot of money.

Q#10:

If you have not discussed the boat with your spouse, we strongly urge that you do so early and often. You need to get “buy-in” to your dream, because chances are your spouse’s dream is different than yours. By taking your spouse through the points above you will demonstrate that you have given the purchase careful consideration and that this is something that the two of you will be able to build on for your mutual enjoyment.