By Mashum Mollah
You’ve decided to make a big step in your life and buy a boat? Congratulations! A boat can bring a lot of joy into your life and help satisfy your lust for adventure. Whether you’re buying a boat to host memorable family getaways, wild parties out in the open sea or just get away from your problems and enjoy the sight far away from the land, buying a boat is a good investment. But also a big one.
Whatever the reason is for buying a boat, you have to make sure you choose the right one. Owning a boat is not all joy. There’s a lot of maintenance and continuous investment involved in owning a boat.
Choosing the type of boat you are going to buy will be determined by various factors like usage, performance, aesthetic appeal, maintenance requirements, equipment and most likely, your budget.
This is why many people choose to buy a used boat. But unless you have a licensed technician like the Propulsion Controls Engineering inspect the inside of the boat, it might turn into a bottomless pit feeding on your money as you try to fix every issue that unexpectedly surfaces.
This is why in this article, we will go through the basic things you need to know before buying a boat.
What Will You Use the Boat For?
There are numerous types of boats to pick, from yachts to trawlers. But choosing the right one depends on what you need the boat for.
Taking the time to learn which boats are best suited for the activities you plan to use them for is essential before making any serious decisions.
If you are planning a leisurely sail on the open seas, you need to make sure that it is equipped with the best boat accessories. You do not want your guests to be complaining about the boat lacking creature comforts.
Modern boats are much more “all-purpose” and made to accommodate different activities. However, the boat you choose needs to meet the right prerequisites for the activities you have in mind.
Where Do You Plan on Sailing:
Do you prefer huge bodies of water or smaller lakes and rivers? Whatever you choose, you need to make sure the boat you pick can fit in. You need to know if there’s a place to dock your boat. Most people know where they will be using the boat based on their location, so this one is fairly easy to answer.
Determine Your Budget:
In order to determine what your budget is, you’ll need to consider a few things first. There are a lot of expenses tied to boat ownership not everyone who’s buying a boat is familiar with.
The Price of the Boat:
No matter how much you’re willing to spend on a boat, chances are there is one for you out there. Boat prices range from a few thousand dollars to millions. You can finance a new boat for as low as $250 a month if you’re lucky. The important thing is to tell the boat seller how much you are willing to spend so they can help you pick the best vessel in that price range.
Boat Storage:
You probably didn’t take into account the storage costs, but unless you want to keep the boat out in the water the whole time, you will need a safe place to keep it. This is especially true if you live in a cold area with harsh winters. Then, storage is a must.
Boat Maintenance:
There is a lot that can go wrong with a boat, and the cost of maintenance varies from state to state. Maintenance will also determine what shape your boat is in and how often you need to fix the issues. Routine maintenance costs including various services, winterizing an oil change are usually charged by the hour.
Fuel Costs:
The good news is that fuel prices are getting lower and modern boats are equipped with efficient motors that spend way less fuel and minimize the costs. However, you will need to take fuel into account depending on how often you plan on using the boat.
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