Page 7 - LLE 2024 Show Program.indd

Boat Buying Tips

Cඐ඗඗ඛඍ Tඐඍ Rඑඏඐග B඗ඉග the same - but there exists a perfect boat for you and yours.
Narrow your choices to a short list of boat categories and Use your short list of features and brands to quantify your ob-
make a short list of features that you require, features that servations. Make a chart, and use it to rank your top choices.
you would like, and features that you want to stay away from.
Find the boat that will be right just for you and your family. Bඝඡ Wඐඍඖ Y඗ඝ Aකඍ Rඍඉඌඡ
Reminder: There is no correct amount of time that it should
Cඐ඗඗ඛඍ Tඐඍ Rඑඏඐග Dඍඉඔඍක take to shop for a boat. For some, one afternoon is all that
Once you have narrowed your category choices down, then they need. It takes others several years. The right time for you
the real fun begins. It’s time to go shopping. Visit a local boat to buy a boat is when you are ready. Boat shows often off er
show and board as many boats as you can. Consider all “show specials” to entice you to purchase at the show. Ask
available options. See a list of boat shows the dealer if he/she would honor that price
in your area. Remember, you are interview- in a few weeks after doing some more shop-
ing your dealer as well as searching for ping. Chances are the answer will be yes.
the perfect boat. You want to fi nd the right
boat-brand-dealer combination. Ask similar Tඐඍ Tඍඛග Dකඑඞඍ
questions to each dealer to compare ap- Did you realize that you can test drive a boat?
ples to apples. You may not know the exact The way a boat handles, and the way it feels
boat that you want yet, but you know what on the water, is a very important consid-
kind of experience and service that you eration. Bring the family along for your test
want to have, so don’t be afraid to ask the drive, and try to test the boat in the types of
hard questions. conditions where you will be using it.

C඗ඖඛඑඌඍක Wඉකකඉඖගඑඍඛ Tඐඍ C඗ඛග Oඎ Oඟඖඍකඛඐඑ඘
Investigate the warranties for every boat For most, the cost of owning a boat is nothing
you are considering. Warranties are valu- compared to the benefi ts derived from own-
able, and an important factor that should ing and using your own boat. Nonetheless,
infl uence your decision. Some warranties are transferable, be sure you understand that the cost of owning a boat in-
which may become a selling point if you decide to sell your cludes more than just the fi berglass. Find out more about the
boat. Find out what the warranty includes (engine, hull, com- costs of boat ownership.
ponents, accessories, service, etc.) and fi nd out about the
service that you will receive if something fails. A good way to Lඍඉකඖඑඖඏ T඗ Uඛඍ Y඗ඝක Nඍඟ B඗ඉග
do this is to ask for references. If you are considering buying Boating is not diffi cult, but driving a boat, like anything else,
a pre-owned boat, be sure to get a marine survey - hire this is a skill. If you have not already, sign up for boater education
person yourself to ensure that the survey is done with your courses where you can learn the rules of navigation. For on-
interests in mind. the-water training, some dealers provide captains to train you
on how to use your boat. Others leave it up to you to learn.
Kඍඍ඘ A L඗ඏ Most marinas and dealerships have a network of captains or
At the boat show and as you visit local dealerships, document experienced boaters that you can hire to show you the ropes
everything. Take pictures of the dashboard, the galley, and on your own boat. Most likely the only parts that will require
the head. Take notes, or record your reactions on a recording practice will be docking, launching and retrieving your boat.
device. Involve your family with the decision and listen to their The best tip here is just to take it slow and practice.
likes and dislikes about each boat. No two boats are exactly