Fire (i.e., Buy), Ready, Aim, Research
Each week we correspond with dozens of BoatTEST.com members who are planning to buy their next boat, or first boat, and we are constantly struck by how wide of the mark many new boat buyers are. By that we mean when pressed many buyers really have one mission in their subconscious minds, but are consciously considering a boat that won't come remotely close to fulfilling the assignment. As it turns out, this is not an unusual phenomenon: Real estate brokers tell us that home buyers do the same thing -- which is to say, fall in love with houses that are not really practical for their family or bank account. Since boats are usually the second most expensive thing that most people buy, after their house, buying the wrong boat can be just as expensive as buying the wrong house. We know from experience that the picture above will have most boatmen drooling over it -- but what would one do with it, and how, where and why would anyone use it? This week we offer you six tips on how to make sure your next boat does what you want it to do -- even though you might not be aware of it now.
Is this 26' (8 m) boat the ultimate in cool or what? It's called "El Camero" and her sealed cockpit has gull-wing doors and she is powered by a 550-hp engine. She's a mash-up between a high-performance boat and a '63 Corvette Stingray. No, she does not have A/C and occupants need to have suction cups on their feet to keep from falling off the bow and aft deck. (Sorry guys, she's only a concept drawing by designer Bo Zolland.)
1. What's Your Mission?
Take a pencil and yellow pad and write down exactly how you plan to use your new boat, where you plan to use it, and with whom. You'd be surprised about how many emails we get from people who bought a bass boat and are now switching to a pontoon boat because they want to entertain. (Believe us, we are not clever enough to make this stuff up.)
A good example of a person who has thought through his boat's mission is a letter we received this week from a 63-year-old man with a 60-year-old wife. He wanted our advice about a boat for fishing the west coast of Florida, but he also said he wanted to take his grandchildren out in the boat, and make trips to the Florida Keys and an occasional visit to the Bahamas, as well.
In the process of thinking through what would be appropriate for his grandchildren (deep cockpit, a place to sleep or lie down if sick, an onboard toilet, etc.), and needed to make the 54-mile crossing from Florida to Bimini in the Bahamas (semi-deep-V, high freeboard, galley, good fuel capacity, twin engines, seaworthiness, etc.), he had zeroed in on a couple of appropriate boat models. Neither boat would have been a mistake, but to our mind, one was obviously a superior choice to the other even though both boats were top-of-the-line from gold-plated builders. To us, one detail made all of the difference in making the decision.
2. Drill Down To The Details
Most boats are things of beauty when seen at a boat show or in a dealer's showroom. They are all bright, clean, shiny and, most important -- new. It is easy to fall in love and head to the altar while in the full throes of lust. We suggest that you resist the temptress until you have had the chance to drill down into the details of the vessel.
All boats are not the same. In fact, we can tell you from first-hand experience that the difference between boat brands and models in the same size and price range is far greater than between automobiles, which most people are used to taking great care in selecting. Yes, boats in class may all have the same engines, hardware, appliances, equipment, fiberglass, resin and shiny wax job, but there the similarities stop. The question one must ask is, "How will that equipment function under stress in year two or three?" And, are the ergonomics of the boat right for you, your companions and guests? The ergonomic aspects of boats in the same type and size vary greatly -- there is no standard ergnomics as there are in automobiles.
The engines will not perform at their best, be reliable or as long-lasting, if the design of the boat, the installation and accompanying materials are not above a certain benchmark. Hardware is of dubious value if it is in the wrong place or not properly backed. And is the fiberglass chopped strand shot into a mold out of a gun spewing resin, or is it E-glass or bi-axial fiberglass cloth that is resin impregnated with a vacuum bag for a high glass-to-resin ratio? Is the resin relatively low-cost polyester or the high-cost vinylester resin (which stops water osmosis and blistering)? Are the electrical runs up to snuff and abrasion free, and are all terminals treated with anti-moisture material?
Buyers should match the quality of the boat with their own intended use and abuse, plus be realistic about their expectations for the performance of such an expensive product.
3. Calibrate Your Expectations
While virtually all boats sold in the U.S. and in Europe these days meet basic ABYC and/or CE design standards, that does not mean that they have the quality, durability and reliability that you might expect. Because boats are generally so expensive, buyers' expectations are usually commensurately high. Spend $150,000 on a car and you expect a Bentley. Spend $150,000 on a boat and you can easily get the marine equivalent of a Tata Nano.
The fact that you paid what in other categories of product would be a lot of money means nothing in the boating world. When you buy the least expensive model in a category, you must ratchet down your expectations, no matter what you pay, because you will be getting less by definition. Some things, or a lot of things, will be left out in most cases. The business is simply too competitive for it to be any other way.
Most boaters we know expect everything on a new boat to work and hang together for a few years. But the marine environment is tough on equipment and materials. Generally, the more expensive boats are built with the best materials available, the most reliable systems, and the most time-consuming, expert installations. No builder wants to add cost needlessly, so when a company does put more money into a boat, it is for a reason.
Generally conscientious builders have learned over the years that Mother Nature takes a dim view of cutting corners. Builders of high price-point boats realize that their owners have high expectations -- as they should! As a result, good builders try to build in as much reliability as possible right from the beginning. It is far cheaper than fixing up a mess later or earning a bad reputation.
Having said that, going with the low-priced boat may be exactly right for you. After all, there are very few cases of hull failures no matter what the price-point of the boat. This sort of catastrophic disaster is the least of your worries if you operate your boat in a reasonable manner and stay off the bricks. If you will not be using your boat much, or only plan to keep her a couple of years, then the question begs -- why spend 15% to 40% more than you have to (unless you want the pride of ownership and prestige that comes from owning the best, most expensive vessel)? Some people certainly do buy more boat than they need and some brands of low-priced boats have good to excellent customer satisfaction scores. But if you go this route, simply expect less.
4. What Boat Will You Want in 3 Years?
Again, a yellow pad is called for. How old are you now and when will you be retiring? When will your children be of water skiing or wakeboarding age? Or, when will they be leaving the nest for good? And how about your grandchildren? Boating is a social activity. Only a few old grumpy curmudgeons enjoy fishing or cruising alone. Most boaters plan on boating with their mate, family or friends. How many will there be aboard and how will their boating desires change in the next few years? How are your boating desires likely to change?
The best way to save money in boat buying is to skip buying a couple of "intermediate" boats, i.e., those boats that get you from your first boat to your last. Think ahead three to five years and consider buying today the boat that will be perfect for your needs in the future. While it might not be the best boating solution now, chances are it will serve adequately and you will save the depreciation and sales cost of buying two boats in a five-year time span.
5. Do Your Boat Buying Research First.
A full 25% of BoatTEST.com members join AFTER they have just bought their new boat. And while that might seem a bit odd (at least we'll be able to help them with their NEXT boat), on the other hand, 75% of our members join BEFORE buying their next boat.
It is to those 25% that we address this point, because it reminds us of the old joke of "fire, ready, aim" instead of the more prudent and useful "ready, aim, fire" sequence. Clearly, all too many boat buyers buy on whim, impulse, or just plain thoughtlessness. Too many buy the brand they have always bought before, or the model that looks pretty at the show, or has a biggest discount -- without researching the matter first.
By knowing what your boat's mission is, how the boat is built, what boat you will be wanting in five years, and what your performance expectations are, you can then proceed to make a "short list" of boat models. If you have completed your research when you go to a boat show and see a "deal" you'll know immediately whether or not you should jump on it.
We'd say the successful buying process is more like "Ready, Research, Aim, Fire."
6. Use BoatTEST.com's Tools
BoatTEST.com is dedicated to helping you with that research. Use our comparison tools, view the videos, watch the accompanying videos and articles which are intended to give you added understanding, and read our Captain's Reports. Some boats we have reviewed and tested several times - read all of the reports to get different perspectives. Check our engine data sources to help zero-in on the right horsepower for your application. Read our "Owners' Reports" (the red button on all boat test pages) to see what our members have to say about the boat and the boat builder. Toggle back and forth from our site to the builders' websites (we have links on all test pages), compare and put the pieces together.
Over ten years of effort, millions of dollars, and thousands of man hours have gone into compiling BoatTEST.com's comprehensive data base and video archive (over 4,000 videos). We urge you to use all of this information. And after studying all of this info, if you still have questions, please don't hesitate to take advantage of our "Member Services" program which is designed to aid your quest for the right boat for your needs.