How To Buy Your First Boat
By Capt. Chris Kelly, BoatTEST Publisher
So you’ve
decided to buy your first boat. Congratulations!
Because 2/3 of the earth’s surface is covered
by water, your new boat will let you visit a lot
more of the planet, much more than you can visit
by car.
 Unlike
cars, however, recreational boats are not about
simple transportation. Some people buy boats because
they’ve made the decision to get away with
family and friends and go to places where landlubbers
can’t go. Lakes, bays, rivers, sounds, harbors,
islands, and even oceans are suddenly available
for your exploration when you own a boat.
Other people buy
for the camaraderie-- they want to join cruising
clubs, yacht clubs, or fishing tournaments. Still
others like to try their hands at recreational
racing and high-performance boating. Whatever
your reason for buying a boat, you are making
a lifestyle choice, and this guide will help
you get the most out of the experience while avoiding
some pitfalls in the process.
Step 1 - What’s
Your Type?
Your first step
is to determine the type of boat that will suit
your needs, and that is based on how you plan
to use the boat. There are three main boating
activities: cruising, fishing, and watersports.
While many boats can be used for two or even all
three activities, the chart below shows the type
of boat and its primary use.
Cruising boats
are designed for entertaining guests while
delivering good performance. Some are day-only
boats, such as bowriders, while others offer cabins
and overnighting capabilities, such as express
cruisers and motoryachts. Decide if you will use
your boat for day-boating or overnighting.
Fishing boats
are designed with open cockpits in the back of
the boat to maximize the deck space needed for
fishing. As a result, there is less seating and
smaller accommodations on a fishing boat than
there are on a cruising boat. Like cruising boats,
larger fishing boats also provide cabins for overnighting
and extended fishing trips.
Watersports boats are designed for those who want
to waterski, wakeboard, and tow toys at speed. Some of these boats are very
sophisticated and recommended only for experienced watersports enthusiasts,
so for that reason we recommend the bowrider/sportboat, jet boat,
or basic waterski boat as your entry point into the watersports area.
Step
2 - Size Matters
The size of the
boat is an important consideration. The
bigger the boat the more features it usually has,
including cabins, galleys (kitchens), heads (toilet
areas), and so on. The downside to bigger boats
is they have more systems to understand and operate,
and they may not be trailerable, and of course,
they also cost more, both to buy and to operate.
When you’re first getting started in boating
you want the experience to be as fun and easy
as possible. For that reason, we recommend your
first boat be no larger than 22-24 feet, but
make sure any boat you buy is certified to carry
all the passengers and gear you plan to bring
aboard. Even if you're itching to buy that 35-foot
cream puff --- start small, if only for 6 months.
Step
3 - New vs. Used
The next step is
to decide if you want to buy a new or a used boat.
Each has its pros and cons. New boats are
unblemished and should provide you with trouble-free
operation right from the start. They are sold
by dealers who order them direct from the factory,
and with the right dealer-prep these boats are
in first-class condition.
When buying a new
boat, make sure the dealer will support you not
just at buying time, but throughout your years
of ownership. Ask around at boat shows and at
the dealer’s location to make sure you’re
buying from a reputable dealer with a strong commitment
to customer service.
The downside to
new boats is they cost more than a similar used
boat, but when you buy new you are entitled to
all the warrantee coverage and manufacturer’s
support that comes along with a new boat.
Used boats, on the other hand, may or
may not still be covered under manufacturer’s
warrantees, and they are sold by a) dealers (who’ve
taken the used boat in on trade), b) brokers (who
don’t own any boats, they just represent
them for sale), or c) private individuals. You
take a greater risk on the overall quality of
a used boat than you do on a new boat since you
don’t know the history of the boat, its
maintenance, or whether it’s been involved
in any type of accident or suffered damage.
For this reason
you will need to hire a marine surveyor to
go over the boat carefully prior to purchase.
The survey will reveal any anomalies with the
boat, and let you know whether you’re getting
a good boat at a good price or simply buying somebody
else’s headache. You will find good surveyors
in your area at the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS)
and the National
Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) websites.
Your own personality
also comes into play. If you are the kind of person
who must have everything perfect, then you MUST
buy new, or a very little used late-model boat.
If you are good
mechanically, have extra time on your hands, and
enjoy projects, you'll love having a used boat.
If you simply can't afford a new boat, but don't
have the time or skill to take on projects from
time-to-time, then we recommend you buy a used
boat that is simple as possible. The fewer systems
a boat has. the fewer things there are to go wrong.
For these reasons,
we recommend you buy a new boat or a used
boat less than three years old from a reputable
dealer.
Step
4 - Choose The Make and Model Once you’ve
decided on the type of boat and whether to buy
new or used, the next step is to narrow your search
down to a few boats you want to actually see in
person and take for a test drive.
This is where BoatTEST.com
can save you countless hours as you do your research.
If you are interested in bowriders, for example,
simply choose "Bowriders" from our "Quick
Search" engine located in the UPPER LEFT
CORNER OF OUR HOME PAGE. You will get a search
results page with all the bowriders we’ve
tested, each with test results, specifications,
and a video test! Once you’ve looked the
boats over and narrowed the choices, use our COMPARE
THIS BOAT feature for a side-by-side comparison
of your boats in terms of performance and specifications.
Here are some of
the things you should compare --
a. Beam -
8' 6'' and under can be trailered without a special
permit.
b. Weight
- A heavier boat may ride better, and be stronger,
but it will need a larger engine to go the same
speed as a lighter boat.
c. Draft
- With the outboard or sterndrive unit "down"
what is the draft? Is this draft going to work
in the water you'll be using?
d. Ideal Cruising
Speed - This is where you will operate your
boat most of the time. Check fuel consumption
and range.
e. Noise Levels
- This is important and not all boats with the
same engines are the same. Many factors contribute
to noise on a boat such as vibration, harmonics,
and structural thickness among others.
f. ABYC Report
- BoatTEST.com checks 21 important building criteria
recommended by the American Boat and Yacht Council.
The results speak for themselves.
g. Brand CSI
Ratings - BoatTEST.com's Customer Satisfaction
Index Ratings are based on a 25 or more questionnaire
filled out by owners of this brand of boat --
NOT these particular models. The CSI Ratings will
give you a relative idea of how owners judge these
brands. If no CSI Rating is published, it means
that BTC has not obtained enough questionnaires
to be statistically meaningful.
h. Equipment
- By comparing standard and optional equipment
you can compare extra value built into the boat.
Next, you’ll want to climb aboard each of your finalists
at a boat show or dealer’s showroom. Get in the boat and sit at the helm.
Check out the legroom, the reach to the controls, the visibility from the
seated and standing position. Open up the engine hatch (if applicable) and
look around. Ask the dealer which items you’ll have to check on a regular
basis (like oil dipsticks, power steering fluid levels, coolant levels, etc)
and see how easy it is to reach these items. If the boat has features like
seat cushions that drop down to form a sunpad, try it out yourself. Check
out storage compartments and their size, since you can never have enough storage
on a boat.
If you’re happy with what you’ve seen so far, then its
time to schedule an on-water test ride to see how the boat performs
underway. Look for easy-shifting engine controls, good low-speed maneuverability,
enough power to get the boat up on plane quickly, and a boat that tracks straight
and true at speed. Take notice if small waves cause the boat to pound, and
listen for any strange sounds. Boats should not make any creaking, cracking,
or rattling sounds, and notice if the engine is quiet enough for you to have
a conversation with your guests while underway.
At this point you
may be getting excited and mentally moving yourself
and your family into your new boat. But wait!
There’s one more thing to check before you
buy--overall quality and fit & finish.
You will find that there are some entry-level
boats that sell new for $15,000 and others same
size and type that sell for $30,000 or more. Why
is that? The answer is quality construction, materials
and factory support -- and in boats you definitely
get what you pay for.
Look for high-quality stainless steel fittings and hardware,
rugged handrails, strong windshields, struts to keep hatch lids open, quality
door locks and hinges, good joinery on woodwork, and good nonskid surfaces
on deck. The bottom line here is the cheapest boat may not be the best boat
for you, since cheap components may fail quickly and have to be replaced a
headache you don’t need when you’re trying to relax out on the water. Our
advice? Buy the highest-quality boat you can afford.
Step
5 - Buy It Right, Insure It Right
When it comes to making the actual purchase, you can
either write a check for the whole thing or finance it. Depending on the type
of boat and its accommodations, your boat may qualify as a “second home” so
you can take a tax deduction. Check with your tax advisor. If you’re buying
a used boat, be sure the asking price is in line with market prices. For this,
use the NADA
Pricing Guide on BoatTEST.com.
For financing, your best bet is to go through a knowledgeable
marine lender who specializes in boat loans. You’ll find several of them at
this link to our Financial Services
Tent at the Worldsgreatestboatshow.com.
You will also need
to insure your new boat, especially if you are
financing it. You will find marine insurers at
the Financial Services
Tent as well. Finally, you’ll need to
register the boat with your State, or document
the boat as a U.S. Flag vessel (generally reserved
for boats 30-feet and up). Your dealer or finance
company can usually assist you with both procedures
at little or no cost.
Step
6 - Back To School
Operating a powerboat
is NOT like driving a car. Knowing how to handle
wind, waves, tides, currents, weather, and other
boat traffic are all factors that come into play
for a safe day out on the water. Knowing the Rules
of The Road is also critical, so before you head
out for your first boat ride, take a course from
the U.S.
Power Squadron or the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Most
states now require you to have at minimum of a
safe boating certificate which shows you have
passed an approved boating course. There is also
an online course available at the BoatUS
Online Boating Course. The more you know,
the safer you’ll be.
In sum, while buying
a boat is less complicated than buying a home,
it is still the 2nd largest investment
most people make so you should consider your options
carefully. Talk to dealers. Visit boat shows.
Do your research on BoatTEST.com, and take the
finalists for a test drive. If you do, you are
much more likely to buy the right boat at the
right price and enjoy your new lifestyle for years
to come.
|
