Posts Tagged ‘buy a boat’

When you make the decision to buy a boat, you have a choice of purchasing a new or used version and, depending on a number of factors, you might just prefer to go with the used boat option. There is no doubt that buying a used boat certainly has its advantages, whether you are trying to save money while purchasing, or you’ve decided on a model that the manufacturer discontinued for whatever reason. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while you are inspecting the boat you are considering purchasing.

If you are not familiar with the architecture of boating engines, then you will want to bring a mechanic with you to ensure that the boat engine is in good working order and if it isn’t that you know about everything that is wrong. Not only will engine problems affect the performance while running on the water, but also depending on the extent of the issue, the price for the boat could be lowered.

Alternatively, some issues are so bad that the problem may not be able to be fixed, and is not worth the purchase. Unfortunately, while it’s rare, there are some unscrupulous people out there who will attempt to take advantage of the buyer, especially if the buyer doesn’t understand all too much about engines.

Bad Boat Buys Do Happen…

Though it mostly happens with automobiles, this is the reason the Lemon Law was created and passed into law.  The Lemon Law offers buyers a bit of protection should something not go right after purchasing a new or used car – or boat. Specifically, if something breaks after purchase, and the seller stated or otherwise proved somehow that the car or boat is in good working order, then the seller could be required to refund all monies paid in full, plus extra for any money that the buyer paid out of pocket in an attempt to fix the problem.

However, if you are comfortable with inspecting the engine yourself, then you’ll want to make sure you look at the following aspects of the boat in addition to the engine:

• The hull bottom and interior
• Electrical system and connecting systems
• Control cables
• Whether the engine is warm before it is started
• Whether it smokes upon a cold start

Almost more important than checking that the engine is in good working order is making sure that the bilges are good, and ensuring that there are no leaks from the body or the engine. Instruments are another must-check. Without working instruments, you could wind up breaking a few of the many boating speed laws.

Buying a boat is a big purchase. You can spend literally your life savings on one if you choose not to finance it. This is why it is so important that you make the right choices.

Even more important is understanding the type of boat you want. alternatively, if you have a purpose other than pleasure for purchasing a boat, you need to understand what type of boat you need. With this in mind, let’s look at some popular choices.

What do you want to do with the boat?

There’s not a single boat in the world that is a one size fits all boat. Everyone has different needs and different tastes, and if you were to purchase a boat that you like, but doesn’t suit your needs, you’ll regret your purchase.

Sailboats: For example, if you want a boat that makes sailing a wonderful weekend pleasure trip, then get it, but remember that if you ever want to take it on the ocean, you likely won’t be able to do so because sailboats don’t have the acceleration and load carrying abilities as boats made for open ocean do.

A Looker: If the boat’s looks is something that is important to you as well, then you’ll need to look in a different direction. For instance, sailboats are beautiful, but again if you get a sailboat for its beauty, you are limiting yourself as to the type of activities you can conduct with it.

A Racer If you are planning to race your boat, then a sail boat definitely will not do. You’ll need a boat that can handle the waves, and can accelerate at the drop of a dime. An extremely fast boat will likely not be as beautiful as a sailboat will, but the looks of racing boats are typically held in the eye of the beholder, if you get the meaning.

A Fisher: If you’re going fishing, and not doing much sailing or racing, then you might want to take a look at the trackers, which are designed for just such an activity. They have the special compartments to keep your rod and reel, and allow you to have a bit of speed as well.

A Boat for Everything: On the other hand, if you go for an all-inclusive boat, one that allows you to sail, fish, race, and do other crazy or cool things, you will likely be getting the best deal for your money – instead of paying the same price for a boat that can do only one or two activities.

In any case, the boat you purchase should indeed be representative of your personality, needs, wants, and, above all else, your budget. Nothing good comes of a purchase that you cannot enjoy fully, especially knowing you cannot afford to make the payments.