Imagine yourself driving down to the quay early on a weekend morning. You see a good number and variety of boats gently bobbing by the dock, each one sporting some distinctive feature that sets it apart from the rest. You have some money saved in the bank, and you’ve always wanted to ride the waves aboard your own vessel. So you decide to purchase one, as soon as you can find yourself a dealer.

What is next after sourcing for a dealer?

You can find lots of boat buying guides online, but sometimes these can be so complicated that you only end up feeling more confused than when you first started canvassing for options. The first and only thing that you have to remember before buying a boat is to ask yourself what you want to use it for. Other considerations like cost, size, color, maintenance, and others are only secondary concerns.

A lot of people buy boats because they see themselves skiing, cruising or fishing with it, or throwing a lavish party on board every week with friends and family. Most of the time, however, you don’t use the boat for the things you thought it will be perfect for. Having a realistic picture of what you’re going to do with a boat once you actually own one will go a long way towards maximizing its functionality. Plus, you will know exactly what type and size boat you have to buy if you’re honest about your purposes.

Do your homework

If you want to get the most bang for your buck when buying a boat, you have to do careful and thorough research locally as well as on the Internet. Much like buying a car or booking a holiday trip, you have to know exactly what it is you’re getting yourself into before investing your hard-earned money.

Below is a list of things you need to ask yourself as a guide for buying a boat. Depending on your personal circumstances and your purpose, there might be other factors that you need to consider as you continue your research. For the average boat owner-to-be, however, these questions will be most helpful in the decision-making process:

• Should I buy a brand new boat or a used one? This factor will be most crucial in determining the cost of the boat. Whether you eventually choose to buy brand new or pre-owned, make sure that you inspect the boat from top to bottom to find out if there are hidden defects or issues that will impact on its seaworthiness.
• Do I know how to operate the boat I want to buy? It’s okay if you don’t know how to operate the boat, especially if this is the first one you will own. However, you should think about whether you need to hire someone else to run the boat every time you take it out for a ride, or if you should take boating courses so you can do the job yourself.
• How much am I willing to pay for this vessel? Know how much you’re actually putting into the boat, in terms of purchase price, insurance, licensing, maintenance costs, etc. This is not a one-time deal because you will have to pay for repairs and replacements in the long run.