Purchasing a boat is exciting for anyone, but you need to put the time and effort in to finding the perfect vessel that will give you many years’ worth of pleasure and happiness.
Boats are an expensive investment, so many buyers choose to purchase a used vessel, particularly if they’ve never owned one before. This is a good way to save yourself some money, but it’s also fraught with challenges, and you could potentially get a boat that’s wrong for you or isn’t worth the money you paid for it.
For those who are looking to purchase their first second-hand boat, here’s everything you need to think about and the decisions you need to make to ensure that you make the right choice.
Consider If Buying A Boat Is Right For You
Buying a boat is a big commitment, with boat owners needing to invest a lot of time and money into their vessel in order to keep it functioning safely. If you like going out on a boat, but don’t have the time or funds to run one all year-round, then consider renting one for a short period of time. This will give you the same enjoyment as owning a boat, but without the hassle and upkeep that comes with actually purchasing one.
Select The Type Of Vessel You Need
Should you deicide that you’re ready for the commitment that is boat ownership, then you need to find a style of boat that suits your needs. Work out where you want to take it, how far you want to go and what activities you want to do in it, then review the types of boat on offer to find the one that suits you.
Review All The Boats On Offer
Having made the decision about what kind of vessel you want, it’s time to explore the options you have available to you. Platforms like Boats For Sale can show you the boats available at any given time, of any specific type, meaning you can accurately assess what you can get and for what price. If you don’t see anything that you like then consider waiting until the market picks up and more people start offering their boats for sale, so that you can have more choice and find the perfect option to suit your needs.
Think About What You Want From Your Boat
Even after you’ve thought about what kind of boat you want, you need to take other considerations, such as capacity, engine power and size into account if you want to find the boat that will give you exactly what you want. You also need to think about how your needs might change in the future; for example, if your family is growing then you might need a larger boat to accommodate this.
Visit Each Boat
Never buy a boat without viewing it in person first. Take the time to visit the boat and ask to take it out on the open water to review how it handles. If the boat is old, or needs a lot of renovations, then consider putting it into a dry dock so that you can get a full overview of the condition of your boat and the work that needs doing to it.
Negotiate The Price
Once you’ve decided on the boat you want to buy, you need to communicate with the owner and negotiate the price, as well as the additions that they’re willing to throw in such as insurance cover and mooring costs for a set amount of time, furniture and other equipment. Be respectful and supportive throughout this process so that you and the seller can reach an agreement that you’re both comfortable with.
Sort Out The Documentation
During the process of buying a boat, you need to get various documents and do a lot of admin, including verifying the seller’s ownership of their vessel, transferring this to yourself, registering the boat with the appropriate authorities and getting all the insurance and other documentation you need. Be organised and make sure that you get everything together so that you can make the process of buying your boat as smooth as possible.
Find A Place To Moor Your Boat
Having purchased your boat, you need to work out where you’re going to keep it. Smaller vessels can be taken ashore and kept in an outhouse or garage as needed, but larger boats need to have a mooring. This could be permanent or temporary, depending on your circumstances. Make sure that you find a secure place to moor your vessel so that you can enjoy it for many years to come.
Buying a second-hand boat takes time, commitment and knowledge, so use this article to learn what you need to look out for and then go out and have fun choosing your perfect vessel.
