Buying a boat can be daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. Consider several things before settling on your perfect choice. Boats are increasingly becoming popular, with as many as 15 million reportedly being used in the United States.
Buying the best boat for your family can be challenging, especially if you’re unaware of the different types and sizes. Deciding on the size, make or model, and specific features can be very confusing, especially for first-timers.
If you’re wondering how to go about it for the first time, don’t worry. Below are seven tips for buying the perfect boar for your family.
1. Determine the Size
To decide on a befitting boat size for your family, consider your lifestyle and the number of family members you’ll use the boat with. If your family is big, you need a big boat or a small one if your family is small. Most normal size families will fit in a boat around 26 feet long. This is the most common size of the boat that 95% of families in the U.S. buy. They include sailboats, personal watercraft, and powerboats. The advantage of a small boat is that you can comfortably transport it from the point of sale to the waterway you’ll be operating it from by road using a trailer. Resist the temptation to buy a huge boat that will be difficult to transport.
2. Establish Where You’ll Be Buying the Boat
Knowing how to take your boat from the point of purchase to the intended destination is important. Consider the cost and means of transport from the purchase point to the waterways you will use your boat from. Buying it too far from your point of use may be too expensive and hectic when transporting it. Think about the location before buying the perfect family boat.
3. Work With Your Budget
Besides the size of your family and your lifestyle, the type of boat you buy will depend on your budget. Decide how much you want to spend on the boat. According to Boatsafe.com, you can get small used boats under 20 feet from $2,000 and larger ones between $20,000 to $40,000 or more. As you can see, boats are affordable but not cheap.
4. Prioritize Safety
Before buying the perfect family boat, inspect its safety features. Confirm it’s safe to ride and has the necessary safety features in an emergency. Most boats come loaded with safety extras, but you need to confirm this by getting an expert in boat safety to inspect it.
5. Buy From a Trusted Dealer
Ensure the person selling you the boat isn’t a quack. You can’t take chances since waterways accidents can be fatal. If Forbes’ statement is anything to go by, one can easily tell whether a person is telling the truth by listening or observing them. Seven seconds are enough to make an impression on someone or a business. If you think the person selling you the boat is holding back information from you, the best option is not to buy it than regret it later.
6. Consider Maintenance Costs
Buying the perfect family boat shouldn’t be an unnecessarily costly investment. Consider the cost of maintaining your family boat before buying it. The condition of the boat by the time you buy it could be a pointer to the kind of maintenance work it’ll require. The newer it is, the easier and cheaper maintenance will be.
7. Select Your Boat Type
Before buying the perfect boat for your family, decide what type you’re looking for. Are you looking for a sports boat, fishing, or cruise boat? The type of boat you need depends on what you intend to use it for, and it’ll also have a bearing on the cost.
Whether buying a boat for the first time or you’re a regular buyer, get a professional boat agent to inspect it before buying it. Let them help you choose the best boat for your family, and once you find one that aligns with your lifestyle, only pay for it when you’re certain it’s exactly what your family needs.