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Buying a Boat - Your Beginner's Guide
There are
some real advantages to owning your own boat. Generally boats hold
their value well and can be a good investment with great rewards -
whether a small trailerable boat, a traditional narrowboat, a river
cruiser or an ocean going yacht.
But before you buy your boat you need to ask yourself a few key
questions to make sure that the boat you are considering buying
will serve your purposes.
Boat Buying Questions
- What type of boat suits your personality?
Do you imagine getting from place to
place at speed or leisurely sailing or cruising to your
destination?
Willl it be the family or will you invite
friends? This may affect the size of the boat you choose.
- What are your and your family and friend’s
interests?
Do you want to water-ski, to fish, or simply
go cruising for a day, weekend or longer?
- Where will you be boating?
Some boats are designed for ocean use, while
others are more suitable for quiet canals, rivers and lakes.
- When, and how often, will you use the
boat?
Will you boat year-round or seasonally?
- Will you be happy with a larger boat kept in one
place?
Or, do you want the freedom to explore
different boating areas with a small trailerable boat?
- Where will your boat be stored?
A large boat will need to be kept
at a berth in a marina or a mooring. Will you be able to
park your trailered boat at home?
- Does your previous boating experience match the skills
needed to operate the boat you want to
buy?
- How much can you afford to spend?
Do your research and set yourself a budget -
Remember to factor in maintenance, insurance, registration
fees, and instruction and safety course fees.
- Do you want to purchase new boat with the reassuarance
guarantee?
Finally, don’t rush the buying process,
especially if you’re a novice boater. Boating entails much more
than simply turning on the key and pulling away from the dock. It’s
a different environment and the more time and effort you put into
the proper selection of a boat, the more you will get out of
it.
More Boat Buying Advice...
If you are seeking more boat
buying advice and information,
1. visit the New Boat
Buying Guide or Second Hand Boat Buying
Guide
2. search via boat type wind powered, motor
powered, inland cruising or paddle powered
3. or search by budget using the buttons
below
Click the buttons below to see what
kind of boat you can get for your money
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