Category: buying a boat

Inspecting Your New Boat

The viewing, or inspecting your boat is a very
important part of the buying process. Inspecting
will allow you to see what you are buying before
you pay any money.

You may want to use a surveyor to do this, as they
will perform a very detailed inspection of the
boat you are interested in. You can be present
if you like, as this will give you the chance to
ask questions if you like.

Although using a surveyor is the best way to do
an inspection, you can do it yourself if you are
experienced and confident enough. There are many
parts of the boat to inspect, which makes it
nearly impossible for beginners.

If you inspect yourself, make sure you look at
the bottom of the hull, the interior, the control
cables, electrical system, pumps, and be sure
that everything is in working order. If the boat
has been well maintained, you shouldn’t have a
problem looking everything over.

The engine should also be checked, as it is very
important to the boat. If you don’t know a lot
about boat engines or engines in general, you
should get a mechanic to look over it for you. You
may want to do this anyway, as the engine can
be very tough to inspect.

If everything is up to par, it’s time to take a
test drive. Before you fire up the engine, check
to see if it’s already warm. If the engine has
trouble starting or smokes when cold, the seller
could have warmed up the engine prior to you
arriving to disguise any problems.

Check for oil leaks as well, checking the bilges
at the start and end of the test drive. When
moving around, see how the boat performs. You
should experiment with hitting the waves from
different angles, looking for any type of roll
or pitch.

Make sure you also test that all the instruments
are working correctly, then run the engine for a
period of time to see if it overheats.

If you are buying a sail boat, put the sails up
and see how the boat performs under wind pressure
alone. Also, make sure you examine the mast and
how the boat rigs under load.

If the boat you are planning to buy doesn’t pass
any of your tests, don’t rule it out just yet.
If you are willing to put both time and money into
making things work, you can use any problems as
bargaining tools to try and get a lower price on
the boat.

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Finding The Perfect Boat

Finding the perfect boat is an undertaking for an
experienced boater. For the first time boater, it
can be a very difficult task to accomplish. To
help you with your quest for the perfect boat,
there are a few things you should know.

Deciding what’s important
Choosing the right boat is all about knowing what’s
really important to you. You need to decide whether
you’ll be using the boat for your own private use,
fishing, or cruising. You should also consider your
families feelings, as buying a boat for your own
personal needs without consulting your family will
probably lead to disappointing experiences or less
time spent on the water.

Types of boats
Typically, boats will fall into five categories –
fishing boats, power boats, sailboats, personal
watercraft, and self powered boats. To help you
find the perfect boat, we’ll take a look at what
each one offers.

Fishing boats
The designs for fishing boats will vary quite a
bit, as are the places you can use them. The boats
that are meant for shallow waters of inland lakes
and rivers aren’t the same boats meant for deep
seas and great lakes. There are many different
designs, even boats that serve no other purpose
besides fishing.

These types of boats normally have stowage and
holders for bait, fishing poles, tackle, and
even special tanks to hold live fish. Other types
of fishing only boats feature an open platform
where anglers can fight fish from all sides of
the boat.

Power boats
Power boats are the most popular boats sold. The
designs with power boats are as varied as their
uses. Boats with seating in the front are
called bowriders, which are mainly used for towing
skiers or rafts. Most boats can also be used for
fishing as well. If you want to do both,
there are ski and fish combinations available.

Sailboats
When you first learn to pilot a sailboat, it can
be very challenging, although very rewarding as
well. A sailboat requires more skill and
knowledge to operate than boats, although they
are considered more rewarding once mastered.

With all available sailboats, the single masted
sloop is the most popular design. For those who
only boat on occasion, catboats, daysailers, and
dinghys are small and easily trailerable.

When you finally decide on the perfect boat for
you, look at what each one offers and how you
plan to use it. The perfect boat for you is
out there, all you have do is find the one that
best matches your needs.

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Cash Or Finance For Your Boat

Before you go out and purchase your boat, remember
that boating is a hobby and you shouldn’t go
overboard with it. Unlike your house, boating
isn’t really worth going into debt for. First
time buyers who aren’t sure about boating should
always make sure they spend well within their
budget.

To get the most out of your boat, it’s always a
better idea to scrape up your recreational dollars,
sell a few of your belongings, and simply save up
for a while. In the meantime, you should carefully
study the boating market. When you manage to
save up 3,500 – 25,000 dollars, go ahead and buy
the boat you want.

Whatever you do, make sure you don’t spend all of
your money on the just the boat itself. When you
purchase the boat, you’ll need to have enough
money for taxes, registration, storage, towing
insurance, gas, equipment, and even minor repairs
if your boat requires them.

When buying a boat, used or new, cash is always
better than financing. You can save money with
cash, as there are no finance charges. Financing
charges can get high, very high in fact if you
don’t know a lot about it.

If you simply must finance your purchase, it’s a
smart idea to use a home equity loan instead. This
way, it’ll be tax deductible. Always be on the
lookout for boat show financing, and never, ever
use it. Several boat show financing ploys will
extend the loan out over the course of 10 – 15
years.

A new boater will either advance with boating or
get out of it all together. Most boaters don’t keep
their boat for more than 10 years, which is reason
enough not to get an extended finance loan on your
boat.

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New Or Used Boat

Similiar to cars, there are a few pros and cons to
new and used boats. Even though there are hundreds
of used boats available, you should look at the newer
ones first.

New boats
With new boats, you’ll know each and every piece of
history with the boat and the motor. If something
happens to go wrong, you’ll have a warranty to fall
back on, so you don’t have to focus on restoring or
repairing your new boat. This way, you can get out
in the water immediately.

When you finance a new boat, you can usually get a
much better interest rate as well. By shopping new
you’ll also get a better idea as to which type of
boat is best for you and your family. Just like a
car, the depreciation value is the highest in the
first season of use.

Used boats
Used boats can be a great option, especially for
those who don’t know what they want to do with the
boat, or those with tight budgets. Even though you
may be planning to buy a new boat, it’s always a
good idea to shop new ones first.

Attending boat shows are a great way to see the
boats that are out there, helping you to get an idea
of what you want. You can look at the many used
boats that are there, then narrow your list down as
to what type of used boat you prefer.

Whether you plan to shop for your used boat online,
through the newspaper, or by visiting one of the local
boat dealerships, make sure you get a marine survey
of the boat before you make the purchase. A marine
survey may be a bit expensive, although it’s money
well spent.

Often times, structural defects or mechanical
problems with used boats that weren’t cared for
properly will be quite difficult to detect. A marine
survey is similiar to a home inspection, as the
surveyor will inspect every inch of the boat, from
the engine to the electrical system and the hull to
the steering wheel.

Depending on the results you receive, you can use the
results to get a lower price, or just stop the deal
altogether if the results are that bad. The marine
survey is the smartest way to buy a used boat, as
it can save you a lot of time, headache, and even
money – which makes it well worth it.

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Buying The Right Anchor

The right way to use an anchor is probably one of the
least understood areas of boating. If you are new to
boating, you may be thinking – how hard can it be? You
simply throw the anchor in the water, wait until it
hits the bottom, then tie it off, correct?

Anyone who is experienced with boating has probably
seen the types of problems that type of attitude can
cause. Just like everything else in boating, anchoring
requires the right equipment, careful thought, and a
lot of practice.

The starting point is selecting the right ground
tackle (the proper term for the anchor, line, chain,
shackles and swivels) for your boat and your style
of boating. There is no single anchor that will do
everything perfectly. Each style has its own unique
benefits and drawbacks, and each one performs best
under its given conditions.

The Danforth anchor
The Danforth anchor is one of the most popular,
being easily identified by its two long, sharp
pivoting flukes and long shank. The Danforth is
also a great choice for small to medium sized boats
as well. The anchor is light and easy to store,
digs well into sand and mud, and releases easy when
pulled from different directions.

The flukes on the Danforth pivot so that the shank
can be pulled at a more vertical angle. It’s ideal
for fishing, which requires quick release and moving
around to different locations. If you fish overnight
a lot or travel to different areas of water you may
want to consider a different anchor, which will
hold better in changing conditions.

The plow anchor
The CQR, or plow anchor, features a single shaped
fluke that pivots at the end of the shank. This
design works well on many bottoms. The plow shank
pivots from side to side, while remaining parallel
to the fluke. This design also makes releasing a
snap when the anchor is pulled vertically.

The Bruce anchor
This anchor was originally created for offshore gas
and drilling rigs. The more scaled down version
of this anchor is popular with boaters. The anchor
holds fast, yet it will still come loose when
pulled vertically.

Always make sure to select an anchor system that
matches the length of your boat, displacement, and
the windage. If your looking for strength, elasticity
and durability, you should use only top quality
braided nylon anchor line.

It’s very important that the size and length of
your anchor line is appropriate for your boat and
it’s requirements. Small or medium boats should use
a section of galvanized steel chain between the
line and the anchor.

If you are new to boating, anchoring is something
you should become familiar with. As you use your
boat more, you’ll pick up the proper anchoring
techniques. Or, if you prefer, you can always take
classes and learn everything you need to know about
anchoring from a qualified professional.

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Choosing The Right Boat

The first thing you should know when choosing a boat
is that no single boat will do everything. If your
looking for a boat that inspires confidence, don’t
expect it to shine in light air. Boats that are
exciting to sail on the weekends aren’t the ideal boats
for a passage through the ocean.

You shouldn’t expect to find quick acceleration and
load carrying capacity together with the same boat.
You can buy a boat now to race or fish, then sail
around later – as you can only do one or the other
with a specific type of boat.

The logic to choosing the right boat is determining
how you plan to use the boat. Think about why you
want to own a boat, what you plan to do with it, and
how you plan on using it.

For some, beauty is the first consideration. For
sail boats beauty is very important, as you’ll
spend a majority of time floating and sailing around,
with many people looking at your sail boat. With
people looking at your vessel, you want to make sure
that it looks nothing short of amazing.

If you are planning to race instead of cruise, then
speed is your primary consideration. There are
many cruising sailors out there who simply can’t be
happy unless their boats are moving very fast. The
ideal boat for speed demons are those that can cut
through the water, creating plenty of waves.

Fishermen on the other hand, want to look towards
fishing boats. Trackers and other boats that are
designed for fishing are ideal here. Fishing is one
of the most popular boat activities, meaning that
you’ll have plenty of boats to select from.

When it comes down to it, selecting the right boat
is up to you and what you plan to do with it. Take
your time, weigh your options, and you’ll have the
right boat before you know it.

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Storing Your Boat

One of the keys to owning a boat is the question of
where to keep it when you aren’t using it. Your
budget, convenience, and availability are all keys
that should be talked about.

Trailering
There’s no less expensive way to store a boat than
on a trailer in your driveway or yard. A trailer
offers you the advantages of taking your boat into
different areas of water, taking your boat out
whenver you like, or just saving fees on your winter
storage. Before you look into a trailer, make sure
that your vehicle has the towing capacity for your
boat and the equipment you need.

Rack storage
For smaller boats, a great alternative to storage is
rack storage, or dry stacks. Typical rack storage
facilities will keep your boat in a covered shed
filled with plenty of room. Simply call the facility
before you want to use the boat and they will
retrieve it for you. When you are finished boating,
simply bring it back, tie it up, and they will
return it to the storage area for you.

Marina advantage
If your a boat owner craving convenience, a marina
slip is just what you need. Simply drive your family
to the marina, get in the boat, and go. Rates will
vary from state to state, although most offer you
several other perks as well.

Buying your slip
In some areas, you can actually buy a permanent slip
at a marina. This can be great to have in high
demand areas, as it guarantees you a slip at the
marina whenever you need to store your boat. The
purchased slip is a long term asset, and is good
for as long as you own a boat.

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Custom Built Boats

Almost all boats are constructed on a production
basis, as this is the most efficient means of
production. There’s only one set of molds and many
boats being built from the mold, reducing the cost
of tooling per boat. Normally, there are a limited
number of options to make assembly line production
more efficient in terms of cost.

Leaving the ranks of production boats, there are
several types of custom construction. There are
many boats built with a limited budget, which is
normally by amateurs. If you don’t want to build
the boat yourself, the next level available is
what sailors call “semi custom” boats.

These semi customs are normally built by small or
mid sized shops out of one set of molds so the
hull and decks could end up being identical. The
builders will however, allow the owner to pick
out the interior and other options.

The true custom built boat, or one of a kind boat,
is specifically designed and built from scratch
for a single customer with an unlimited budget. A
true custom boat is a one on one project, and
can get very expensive before you know it.

Before you decide to go out and buy a custom boat,
you should give the used market another look. Those
who have built custom or even semi custom boats
in the past do put them on the market for sale at
some point or another.

This is a much less expensive way to go, simply
because you won’t be paying a professional to design
the boat from scratch. You can find used boats that
offer one of kind features and options, all you have
to do is look around.

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Reasons To Buy A Boat

Many studies have shown, and many people already know
that being with friends and family, relaxing in the
outdoors and being close to nature are the best reasons
to buy a boat and spend time on the water. Your family
doesn’t need to spend a forture or travel to a theme
park to have an experience that everyone will enjoy.

Boating is family
If you’ve ever felt that your family is going in
different directions, a boat can help to bring things
back together. When you spend time with your family
on a boat, it’s all quality time. No matter if you’re
fishing, tubing, swimming, or just cruising, your
doing it together – as a family.

There are no distractions on the water, so you can
focus your attention on each other. You can share
stories, laugh, have conversations, or reconnect and
create all new memories together. To put it in simple
terms, a boat will make life much better.

Boating helps you relax
Being on a boat makes it easy to relax. There are no
faxes, computers, or interruptions on a boat. You
have the open water, fresh air, the warm sun, and
adventure that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

With a boat, a great getwaway is all but a weekend
away. You may be a few miles from home in reality,
although you’ll feel like your a million miles away.

Having fun
On a boat, the fun will never stop. There are always
things to do, places to see, fish to catch, and new
memories to create. Buying a boat is easy to do,
even if you are on a budget. If your ready to start a
new journey in life – a boat is something you and your
family simply must have.

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Towing And Trailering

A trailer can add a new dimension to the sense of
freedom associated with boating. Once you have a
trailer, you’re pretty much free to boat anywhere
you decide, lakes, rivers, or inlets. A trailer
allows you to explore your area, and is also the
most affordable way to store your boat.

Starting out
If you’ve never owned or trailer or trailered a boat
before, there are several things you should know
and consider. The first thing is the towing capacity
of your truck, car, or SUV. If you don’t know, you
can easily find the information in your owner’s
manual.

Normally, small cars or family sedans aren’t suitable
for towing, although small boats may not be a problem,
if you have the proper towing equipment installed on
the car. Most standard trucks or SUV’s can tow
boats up to 25 feet, although you’ll need to check
the owner’s manual to be sure.

Weighing in
In your boat’s owners manual, you’ll find the dry
weight of your boat. The dry weight is the weight
of the boat without fuel or gear. Always make sure
you assess your vehicle’s towing capacity, and add
a few hundred pounds to the dry weight to cover
these types of extras.

Muscle and power
As the weight, length, and beam of a boat increases,
so does the power needed to retrieve and launch it.
Smaller boats may be easier for one person to handle,
although larger boats will require more than one
person. If you need extra help, don’t be afraid to
ask for it – as trailer boaters are always ready to
give you a hand if you need it.

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