The warm sun on your face, the smell of sunscreen, the breeze blowing in your hair, and the sound of the water gradually lapping around you. Sounds nice, right? Yeah, thought so too, since these are some of the things that make owning a boat an exciting goal. Nevertheless, there are various things you need to know before buying a boat in order to avoid mistakes.
So how do you tell if you're making a fair contract on your marine deal if you're a beginner? Here are six tips:
Related Blog: 7 Practical Boating Tips for Beginners
1. Chose The Type of Boat You Want
With various types of boats, you might risk purchasing a boat that doesn't meet your expectations. To move in the right direction, you need to decide which body of water you'll spend most of your time in. Is it a river, lake or ocean? This will majorly affect the type of boat you'll buy.
2. Understand The Purpose of Your Boat
When deciding on the boat to purchase, understand the purpose for which you're going to use it – whether fishing, sailing or motorized water activities. This is due to the fact that most boats are specialized for certain conditions – some might have a deeper hull, whereas others may have a large motor or sails. By understanding the purpose for which you'll be using the boat, you can make a more informed decision about the size of the boat you want to buy.
3. Decide Whether You Want a New or Used Boat
Once you've decided on the type and size of boat you want to buy, you'll want to determine if you're going for the used or new. If purchasing a new boat, it's crucial to understand that depreciation will affect it.
Nevertheless, a new boat also comes with an upside. It comes with a warranty that might give you the peace of mind you've been looking for. On the other hand, getting a used boat is a cheaper option, but it also does pose some risks, and that's why you need to carry out a thorough inspection before settling for it.
4. Break Down Your Budget
The cost of the boat largely depends on the size, model and type, but ensure that you consider other financial factors, including:
- Registration costs
- Maintenance
- Dock and mooring fees
- Gas
- Storage
- Navigation equipment
- Taxes
- Trailer
- Insurance
5. Conduct A Sea Trial as Well as Marine Survey
Conducting a sea trial on the boat you've purchased largely helps you to see if you enjoy being on the boat. Again, the trial allows you to look for any red flags. Ensure that you do the things you intend to do with your boat while on the trial so that you can note if anything is out of order.
A marine survey is a common practice for a used boat, where you're required to hire a certified surveyor to help you inspect the boat. These experts will carefully look at the condition of the boat from top to bottom as well as inside out, so that you know exactly the condition of the boat.
6. Close The Deal
After the trial or survey, it's important to ensure that everything advertised by the seller is included. For instance, while safety equipment such as a life jacket is important, it's mostly among the items not included in the purchase, so it's crucial to check. Once you're content with everything, you can now sign the dotted line, which gains you the boat's ownership.
Ready to Get Going?
Acquiring the right type of boat can enhance your waterfront experience while providing years of great memories and endless fun. At Duncan Seawall, we offer a wide variety of services to help improve your experience in the water, including a boat lift that allows you to spend less time putting your boat in and out of the water. Contact us today to know how else we can be of help.
