Buying the Ideal Boat
Finding the Right Watercraft to Fit Your Needs
There’s an old saying about boats that defines them as “a hole in the water that you throw money into.” Once you get into boating, you’ll find that there’s some truth to this joke. The trick is in keeping nickels and dimes from turning into $20 or even $100 bills. That largely depends on the model you select along with your talent for avoiding nautical lemons.
What’s Your Pleasure?
Like buying an RV, there are no hard and fast rules to buying the ideal boat. It isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition and you would be wise to do a thorough needs assessment before deciding anything as preliminary as choosing a new or used vessel. Fact is, most boats are built for very specific purposes. Using them in ways they weren’t designed can cost you in terms of both money and safety. For instance, you can’t very well water ski from a sailboat. Likewise, you can’t depend on a sea breeze to power your motorboat if it runs out of fuel. Here are a few talking points to take up with your crew.
- Pay for how you plan play. The first step is to decide what it is that you like most about being on the water. Is it a Jet Ski you’re after or a fishing boat? Are you more interested in sailing or snorkeling?
- All hands on deck. Next determine how many crew members you’ll be taking aboard your boat. You and a fishing buddy or an entire family with friends? Knowing your passenger list will make it easier to figure out the space you’ll need for deck chairs, meals and sleeping.
- Below deck accommodations. If you’ll be sleeping on your boat, cabin size and sleeping accommodations are important factors. Also, how easily will these sleeping arrangements convert into usable day time space?
- Charting a course. Where you plan to boat is another key consideration. Smaller crafts are inappropriate for large bodies of water and large yachts are likely to run aground in shallow waterways. Go to where you’ll be boating – whether it’s the Great Lakes, an ocean or a river – and take a look at what other people are using.
- Master mechanic or major disaster. We all know people who are mechanically inclined and enjoy tinkering with motors, carpentry and electronics. A high-maintenance vessel may be okay for them, but if that isn’t your style such a boat could cost you a bundle in repair costs as well as frustration.
- Getting from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’. Here’s another thought: Can the car or truck you’re driving right now tow your dream boat to the body of water where it’ll be launched? If not, buying a new vehicle can take a big bite out of your boat budget.
- Dry dock costs. When you figure what it’ll cost to own a boat, you have to think beyond fuel costs, maintenance and insurance. For many, there are end of season costs that can include winter storage as well as engine, water system, holding tank and head maintenance.
- How much do you want it? Is the dream of boat ownership just a way to occupy your children for a few summers or is it the realization of a life-long passion for the sea? Knowing how much you plan to use your boat will be a major factor in how much you’ll end up spending.