There’s lessons learned when Buying A Boat

­Remember, in almost everything in life, education and research can help you tremendously in making good decisions.

You have found yourself looking to make a purchase. You say to yourself, you have extensive knowledge of the buying process, after all you read all the magazines and talk to everyone who will listen to you on the dock.

Know What You Want

Make sure you know what you want. Your boat-buying criteria:  your must haves: type, age, amenities, and budget.

Make a realistic offer.

After locating a suitable boat, don’t cheap out. If it seems super-clean and perfect. Make a good offer. Don’t assume a low-ball offer will be countered. All too often, another offer may already on the boat. Even if you raise your offer you may still lose your perfect boat for seemingly chump change.

Search outside your comfort zone

Check out several local marina websites. You may find what your looking for.

Ongoing Education.

Research the vessel you are considering. Read every blog, forum, owner’s manual, and service manual you can get your hands on. Watch videos.  

Don’t be Afraid to Negotiate.

Learn about current offers on the boat, and make what you consider a reasonable offer based on the facts. If the owners counter, make sure the offer is contingent on a satisfactory survey and sea trial.

Focus on the big picture.

One of the most important lessons learned is that all boats (and many new ones) will have some problems.  You can’t expect everything to be perfect. “If a sea trial and survey don’t reveal anything serious or alarming, ( just the normal small items found on all surveys) it usually a good idea not to nitpick the sellers. The engine and other major systems on the boat should be the primary focus.  

Get it in writing.

If your offer includes repairs, get everything in writing. Make a list of what needs to be performed.