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Tips For First Time Boat Buyers

So, the idea of boating appeals to you and you want to venture into new waters…literally. But, you’re not sure how to go about it. This article tells you what you should consider when buying your first boat. Read on…the hints will come handy when you go boat scouting.

Try out boating: Before you invest in a boat, ask yourself why you are doing so? Is it because you like boating or because ‘Fred has it and he says it’s nice’. Go on a couple of boating trips with ‘Fred’ or whoever owns a boat and make sure you enjoy it. Also, don’t forget your family. Would they enjoy boating as much as you do? Or, if they don’t are you fine with the idea of hitting the water without them? These are some questions that you should answer before purchasing a boat.

Boating costs time & money: Owning a boat doesn’t come cheap. You have to invest considerable money and time into it. Ask yourself, if you are ready for that kind of commitment. Even after you have purchased the boat, you’ll have to spend some amount towards boat maintenance, gas and enhancements. Boating activities also take up quite some time. So, decide if it’s the thing you would want to do on holidays and weekends. There’s no point in buying a boat and leaving it rusting in your garage because you don’t have the resources to use it more often.

Your boating requirements: Give a lot of thought to your boating requirements. Ask questions like:

* What are you buying the boat for? * Do you plan to have overnight boating expeditions or would you be just fishing for few hours a day? * How many people are expected to be in the boat; is it your family of 5 or just you and your spouse? * How much storage space would you require? * Where will you be boating mostly? In choppy ocean waters or in smaller, calmer water bodies around your home?

Answering these questions will narrow down your choice of boats, making it easy for you to select the boat that’s right for you.

Research: Do a lot of research before you zero in on a type of boat. Look around the area where you live, which is most probably where you’d be boating. What kinds of boats are mostly used? This will give you an idea of the kind of boat you should be looking to buy. There are a lot websites out there that provide information on boating and boats. They’ll tell you the kind of experiences you are most likely to have as a boater. Whether it’s maintenance or safety, you’ll know what to expect. It pays to read up a bit on these topics before you venture into boating.

Consider buying a used boat: As someone out to discover boating, it is tempting to buy a brand new boat. But it may be wise to dodge that temptation and go in for a used/pre-owned boat. As someone new to boating, you may be subjecting your boat to a couple of dents or scratches. So, it makes more sense to buy a new boat later on, as you become more comfortable with your new role as a boater and go in for a pre-owned boat as a first timer.

Look for a broker: While it may be tempting to respond to advertisements for boats, it is advisable to buy your first boat from a broker. Make sure your broker is credible and reputed. Getting in touch with a broker is not difficult. Many brokers list their boat and yacht inventories online.