Buying A Boat??? Useful Thoughts, Suggestions and Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Shopping and DecidingDec 07 '00 Write an essay on this topic.Buying a boat can be a perplexing challenge and necessitates a number of considerations that aren't always obvious to first time buyers. With over 2000 U.S. boat manufacturers the process can seem daunting even to the experienced... Usually, the first consideration is type of use and almost all first time buyers say they would like to fish and ski. More experienced boaters know that boat manufacturers build with specific applications in mind for the user. This really isn't any different than car manufacturers but most people don't consciously think about this. The problem in the utility question is combination use requires trade-offs to serve multiple masters. I suggest that a first time buyer assign some percentage of use factors to the probable use. If the use will truly be 50 - 50 then combination Fish and Ski boats may be a good choice. A few words of caution are appropriate about this choice. Such combinations tend to be camels. Ski-boat manufacturers make Fish and Ski combinations that lean toward ski use and Fishing boat manufacturers make Fish and Ski combinations that lean toward fishing applications. I also suggest that a buyer be realistic in terms of use. Buy a fishing boat if that's what you really intend to do. The times when the family is skiing or pulling water toys will be acceptable or you will end up trading off with another boat owner that you have met. The other owner will want to go fishing sometimes in your fishing boat and you'll be able to take the family skiing in the other owners ski boat. Incidentally, owning a boat is similar to being a member of a club. Owners tend to be enthusiastic about the hobby and are very friendly to other owners. Many people may pass a stranded motorist but it is extremely rare and generally unheard of for a boater to pass another by that is facing a mechanical problem. The next consideration in buying a boat is where or what type of water will the boat primarily be used on. Together with the primary use consideration this is important because these considerations lead to engine type and power and options that weigh very heavily in the ultimate cost. Additionally, size and range considerations are affected by the body of water. Salt water applications necessitate thoughts of engine wear and tear or corrosion considerations. Inboard versus Outboard? Inboard engines are quieter and can be at least 1/3 more fuel efficient but are almost always open water cooling systems. The open water cooling system means internal engine corrosive exposure. Parts tend to wear out more quickly and raise overall owner costs. Use becomes a significant issue. If fishing is the application, fisherman tend to want to get to a fishing spot and fish. Fuel efficiency is less important than power considerations. The fisherman is less concerned about outboard motor noise as well. After all, in an 8 hour day he is probably motoring less than a few hours back and forth to his fishing area. The skiing enthusiast tends to spend most of the day pulling the water toys and actually operating the engine therefore fuel efficiency and engine noise are important. Increased engine operation also means more maintenance and overall cost. Outboard engines by definition spin at a higher rate of rpm leading to less fuel efficiency and greater parts wear and tear. Fresh water applications tend to mean less power demands because of water body size. That said, power requirements still must be met according to use. An inadequate inboard engine that won't pull up a skier (hole shot) doesn't make for a fun day on the water. A fisherman that can't timely get to the best fishing spots isn't a happy camper so to speak even though he saved money buying a smaller engine. The next important consideration when buying a boat is the size. I suppose it is obvious that ocean liners don't typically cruise small inland waters and crossing the Atlantic ocean in a small inflatable is best left to those that aren't feint of heart. The dilemma of course is there is a wide gap here. Boats tend to appear huge in the dealer showroom and much like a cork bobbing in the water once actually at sea or underway. Additionally, is it really comfortable to make an eight hour trip in a sub-compact? The first thoughts about boat size should be how many people will I most likely be accommodating? Always count on more people than you expect. Ever own a swimming pool? Absolutely amazing at the number of new neighborhood friends you and the kids will have. Exact same principle at work with a boat. The next thought should be where will we most likely be going? Don't forget gear storage requirements! Dealers and sales man emphasize this and often it is dismissed by the consumer as unnecessary sales chatter. Big mistake! Bigger tends to be better. Personal watercraft usually range in size from 16 to 23 feet. Over 23 feet is heaven, but on the other hand, how often are you going to Cuba? Overall life of a boat is both a function of maintenance and construction material and building techniques. These subjects are dissertations in and of themselves. A few words about maintenance... I suppose we live in a disposable society and many of us are lazy. Ask yourself if you would buy a convertible car and put the top down and leave it out in the weather? Same principle here. Do you buy a car and not change the oil or perform routine maintenance? If you take the time to care for your boat, engine and trailer you will be rewarded with years of use. If you don't, you won't. I'm always amused when people say the second happiest day of their life was when they bought a boat and the happiest day was when they sold it. It says a lot about the speaker. I have visited boat manufacturers and observed boats being built. Extremes of any subject are always available. Cheap boats tend to be cheaply built and expensive boats are reflective of the man hours and materials. I don't drive a Yugo and the Rolls hasn't arrived yet! Hand laid fiberglass techniques cost more than sprayed. Aluminum mill thickness adds durability and cost. Foam filled hulls are safer, more durable and costly than partially filled hulls. I laugh when I'm told "you can cut this boat in half and both sides will float". If that happens I think I will have much bigger issues in mind. Most boats tend to fall somewhere in the middle. Warranties aren't just pieces of paper with meaningless legalese. They should be read and considered along with all other factors. Boating safety is always important and first time buyers should know that United States Coast Guard upright flotation ratings and boat manufacturer engine power limitations are two different and distinct animals. It is interesting to me that the U.S. Coast Guard does not require manufacturers to post positive upright flotation ratings on watercraft in excess of 20 feet. The flotation rating is not a legal requirement limiting the number of occupants in the boat. It is instead a measurement that the boat will remain floating and upright when that number of occupants are seated, feet on floor and the interior is filled with water to the sides of the boat. The maximum horsepower rating by manufacturers is a specification dictating that overpowering a boat will void warranties and lead to unsafe use. Incidentally, some dealers will overpower a boat if the customer signs a warranty and liability release and waiver. A final word about safety. Wear a life-jacket! If you have any serious doubts I suggest you take this little test. Dive in to a swimming pool and try to put a life-jacket on while floating or treading water. It isn't easy and in the unfortunate event that you ever find yourself trying to do this along with the other considerable stress your are experiencing you will wish you had followed the advice. Wear a life-jacket! Finally some important information from someone that has actually bought and sold new and used boats. Because I no longer do this I'm happy to share insider knowledge. Like every business in our society selling boats is extremely competitive. Many people make instant car buying decisions but few make instant boat buying ones. Most people shop and price almost endlessly. Dealers know this and also know that they don't get many bites at the apple. A gross margin of 25% is practically unheard of anymore in the market. Years ago such margins were common. Most dealers operate on gross margins of 10% - 20%. If this sounds great stop and consider that they don't have annual sales that equal many new car dealers sales for only one month, yet they face the same customer expectations and service issues as new car dealers. Never forget that you want your boat dealer to be there for you when you are anxious to get back on the water. The dealer must make a profit in order to remain in operation and service you. Don't begrudge him his living. Expect dealers to work with you to some extent. The amount of negotiating will be dependent on the time of year, floor-planning costs, manufacturer to dealer rebate incentives and of course model availability or inventory. Boat shows are excellent times to buy the newest models and end of year/season times offer bargain hunter buyers the chance to locate opportunities. Sound familiar? Other business owners often asked me...Where is the sweet spot in that business?" I always explained that there really weren't any terrific profit centers anymore. You do it because you love it. Owning a boat is great personal and family fun. You do it, because you love it. With a huge number of available models the shopping experience can be a challenge. Knowing a few of the necessary considerations can help speed the process.  |
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