5 Tips to Help You Buy Your First Boat
Boating is one of the most interesting outdoor activities for entertainment or as a favorite past time. Getting away on your boat, feeling the warmth of the sun and splashes of water can rejuvenate you by relieving the stress of everyday life. No wonder many US citizens throng various auctions or place bids on auction portals that offer repossessed boats for sale. Purchasing your first boat; however, requires some smart thinking and decision making as you may feel overwhelmed to find so many options. In this post, we have shared five tips to make your buying process seamless. Let's begin.
1. Research on all the options available
When buying your first boat, you don't have to grab any deal that comes your way. Do a thorough research as it will help you learn more about boats and the options available in the market. Scan through the newspapers for ads, visit salvage boat auctions sites or visit auction websites that list automobiles and boats for live bidding.
2. Start with an old boat
Ideally, it is better to begin with an old boat for two reasons. First, it will cost less, and second, a used boat in a reasonably good condition can help you enhance your boating skill. However, you better be cautious when purchasing a pre-owned boat, as it may or may not be covered under the manufacturer's warranty. When looking for options to purchase a used boat, contact dealers, brokers or individual sellers. Also, consult your friends and family members before making the purchase; their suggestions may prove to be handy.
3. Avoid looking for too many utilities
Begin with a boat that has a simple engine and two or three seats. Remember, it is your learning phase and purchasing a boat with too many utilities or fancy features won’t be of much use unless you want to be a professional boater. At first, get the hang of boating in various conditions. After spending some time boating and understand the basics, you can upgrade the engine, and install all those modern electronic gadgets such as fish finder and others for fishing and having fun in the water.
4. Check the engine
If you are purchasing a used boat, make sure to test its engine. A motor on a used boat that may have been idle for long may take more than a few pulls to start, but should fire up soon. Depending on the condition, it will require oiling, greasing and, perhaps, new spark plugs as well. If you decide to purchase a new engine, don’t go for a fancy one. Rather, starting with a 25 to 50 horsepower is enough to take your boat to the water. You can consult a professional to learn which type of boat engine is ideal for a beginner.
5. Test drive
Ask for a boat demo or test ride before buying it. Unlike test driving a car, however, boat sellers often don’t allow potential customers to test drive their boats. It is ideal that you look for an auctioneer that specifies test drive in their sales offer. When you ride a boat, look for the answers to these questions: (1) Does the boat maneuvers the way it should? (2) How efficient is it in different types of water? In addition, check for any leaks or other damages before finalizing your decision.
The Bottom Line
Be it fishing, bass, cuddy cabin, or a fish/ski boat, it is advisable that you consider all these aspects when purchasing your first boat. To get the most out of your investment, analyze the available options such as conventional auctions offering repossessed boats for sale, dealers, or salvage boat auction websites. Choose and bid keeping your mind your basic requirements at first including affordability.
1. Research on all the options available
When buying your first boat, you don't have to grab any deal that comes your way. Do a thorough research as it will help you learn more about boats and the options available in the market. Scan through the newspapers for ads, visit salvage boat auctions sites or visit auction websites that list automobiles and boats for live bidding.
2. Start with an old boat
Ideally, it is better to begin with an old boat for two reasons. First, it will cost less, and second, a used boat in a reasonably good condition can help you enhance your boating skill. However, you better be cautious when purchasing a pre-owned boat, as it may or may not be covered under the manufacturer's warranty. When looking for options to purchase a used boat, contact dealers, brokers or individual sellers. Also, consult your friends and family members before making the purchase; their suggestions may prove to be handy.
3. Avoid looking for too many utilities
Begin with a boat that has a simple engine and two or three seats. Remember, it is your learning phase and purchasing a boat with too many utilities or fancy features won’t be of much use unless you want to be a professional boater. At first, get the hang of boating in various conditions. After spending some time boating and understand the basics, you can upgrade the engine, and install all those modern electronic gadgets such as fish finder and others for fishing and having fun in the water.
4. Check the engine
If you are purchasing a used boat, make sure to test its engine. A motor on a used boat that may have been idle for long may take more than a few pulls to start, but should fire up soon. Depending on the condition, it will require oiling, greasing and, perhaps, new spark plugs as well. If you decide to purchase a new engine, don’t go for a fancy one. Rather, starting with a 25 to 50 horsepower is enough to take your boat to the water. You can consult a professional to learn which type of boat engine is ideal for a beginner.
5. Test drive
Ask for a boat demo or test ride before buying it. Unlike test driving a car, however, boat sellers often don’t allow potential customers to test drive their boats. It is ideal that you look for an auctioneer that specifies test drive in their sales offer. When you ride a boat, look for the answers to these questions: (1) Does the boat maneuvers the way it should? (2) How efficient is it in different types of water? In addition, check for any leaks or other damages before finalizing your decision.
The Bottom Line
Be it fishing, bass, cuddy cabin, or a fish/ski boat, it is advisable that you consider all these aspects when purchasing your first boat. To get the most out of your investment, analyze the available options such as conventional auctions offering repossessed boats for sale, dealers, or salvage boat auction websites. Choose and bid keeping your mind your basic requirements at first including affordability.
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