I have a brother-in-law (who I’ve mentioned on this blog before) who loves boating.  He’s missed a number of family occasions for his boat (he goes missing for entire Summer weekends at a time).  He babies his boat.  He cherishes his boat.  In short… he loves his boat.  The problem that we’ve had this year is that maybe, just maybe, he’s not entirely happy with his boat.  Truth be told, he might have chosen the wrong boat.  What he’s driving right now, while lovely and appealing, might not meet all of his boating needs.

Currently he’s driving a nicely equipped bow-rider.  Wonderful for cruising some of the incredible freshwater lakes that Upstate New York has to offer.  If you’re in the mood for water-skiing or maybe even tossing a lure into the lake then this is without a doubt the best boat possible.  But recently he’s taken to entertaining the family, and the bow-rider simply isn’t doing it.

Not to say the he made the wrong choice when purchasing his first boat, but maybe he didn’t think the decision entirely through.   The lesson here is that choosing a boat, or namely the right boat for you , should be a laborious decision.  One that any good boat owner enters with a fair bit of thought and heft evaluation.

Here’s a little bit of ‘food for thought’ if you’re in the process (or are even thinking about the future) of buying a boat.

WHAT ARE YOU AFTER?
It’s a good question to ask yourself before making the ultimate boat purchase.  Often times it’s placed away.  Everyone thinks that they want a fast bow-rider, capable of wooing the in-laws with blazing speed and wonderful turns.  But you need to really assess what’s meaning full to you and your boating experience.  If you’re more of a laid back person, and you enjoy entertaining then it might behoove you to think about a pontoon boat.  Or if you’re giving serious thought to not only docking your boat, but to also purchasing a local campsite then you might want to think about the luxury of having your own galley and sleeping quarters that come with owning a cabin cruiser.  Thinking about what’s important to you beforehand can save you a world of heartache and headache down the road.

WHAT CAN YOU AFFORD
I call it the “Vegas” trap.  You go into a beautiful boat showroom knowing exactly how much you can afford to spend and within 2 hours you’ve walked out with a contract that is way over your head.  It’s the oldest trick in the book, a salesman convinces you that if you make a small change here and there to your current budget you really can afford that shiny new boat that’s about $10K more than you had anticipated spending.  Take a good look at what you really can afford and make a unpassable bottom line that is your total spending limit.  But truthful with yourself in your assessment.  Of course everyone would like to own a wonderful new showroom model, but if you can’t afford it than be honest about the fact that it’s nothing more than a dream.  If you’re not in the market for a new model, then try your local classified publication, newspaper ad, or online classified website.  Take a look at our “50 Useful Websites for Boat Owners” article to find the best places to buy and sell boats.  Maybe you might find the perfect boat for you.

ARE YOU A FISHER?
Again, similar to the last example, if you’re a bass (or freshwater) fisher, then you can easily be talked into much more boat than you actually need.  If you are truly a weekend caster or someone who only goes out for a day trip then get what’s right for you.  Center-console boats offer the best value for investment for the typical fisher.  It gives you the right platform, range and cost for the typical fishing vessel.  It also offers you the chance to save enough to purchase a high end fish model.  And who doesn’t need that?

DEMO/DRIVE YOUR BOAT
You wouldn’t buy a car without having the chance to take it out for a spin, would youi?  Likewise, how could you possibly make an equitable cash purchase without having the chance to take her out for a spin.  How does it handle?  What kind of room does it offer (and not just the room that appears to be on the showroom floor).  Are there engine and handling issues with a used boat?  You can probably get the answer to all these questions if you have the chance to take your boat out for a ride.  It won’t give you every answer you need to make an educated purchase, but it will give you that all-important ‘feel’ you need for your boat.

In the end, the important thing to remember is that it’s an important decision.  It’s one that no potential boat owner should go into lightly.  Take the time to think about all the pros and cons and take your time to make the best decision for you.  In the end, you’ll thank yourself.