Buying a boat can be tricky business, and it’s not always
easy to know where to start. Having a plan and following through with it will
help make the purchase of your next boat as effortless as possible.
Purpose
When choosing the boat that you want, don’t have the mindset
of singling out boat types or brand names. Think instead of the reasons you’re
buying a boat, and what you will be using the boat for. If you plan on
primarily doing fishing on your boat, look only at boat models that are
designed specifically for that. Likewise, if you just want to have a
comfortable boat for taking people out on, searching for a boat with
comfortable seating and great features should be a high priority. Once you determine that, you can then learn about models and styles that are aligned with your needs.
Finding What you Want
If you're looking for a new boat, you can visit manufacturer websites, and then see what marinas in your area sell their boats. In a time not so long ago, the best way to find available used boats was to find ads in the local paper or magazine, or to drive around trying to find boats with a for sale sign on them. While that still works, it's much easier to use sites like boatdealers.ca to find boats in your area. You can compare boats, view photos, and connect with owners all from the comfort of your home. Also, listings are updated regularly, so you won't have to waste time on a boat that isn't for sale anymore.
New or Used
With buying a new boat, you get more of the latest
technologies in the boating industry, and you have the security of knowing that
things are likely to not go wrong with the boat. If something does, most boats
are covered by warranties for a period of time. With buying used, you always
run into the risk of buying into someone else’s problem. If the used boat is a
large purchase, it’s a good idea to have the boat surveyed by a professional.
If they find problems that the owner didn't bring up early on, you may want to
consider looking elsewhere.
Price
Put together a list of a few boats that you’re seriously
interested in buying. Contact the owners and arrange to discuss their boat.
When discussing price, it is always good to discuss why the boat is listed at
the price. If you feel the listing price is over-valued, discuss why you feel
that way, and bring up examples of similar boats on the market that you feel
are appropriately priced. If the boat is used, bring up necessary repairs that
may have to be made immediately or in the future, and factor those into the
cost of the boat. Like we mentioned before, it is always a good idea to have
the boat surveyed so you don’t buy into problems, and so they can estimate the
cost of making necessary repairs and fixes.
