How can I buy a boat?

How to buy: the basic steps

Decide which type of boat is right for you.
Do your research - find out which models fit your needs.
Decide on your budget, find the right boat, check ownership.
Take a look, a test sail, check the details.
Make an offer.
Undertake a survey.
Arrange insurance and storage.

Correspondingly, is it a good idea to buy a boat?

Having a boat can be a great investment for you. However, if you don't live as close to the water, you may not be able to use the boat as often. If you don't have enough free time to properly enjoy your boat, you should definitely think about renting a boat instead of buying one if that's the case.

Also Know, what is a good first boat to buy? Five Starter Boats that are Perfect for the Beginner Boater

Bowrider – Four Winns Horizon F190. WE LIKE the fact that while Four Winns keeps cost down in this entry level model, it maintains the construction quality level of their other model lines.
Center Console – Bayliner Element F18.
Jet Boat – Yamaha SX210.
Pontoon Boat – Escape RT 220.

Secondly, where is the best place to buy a boat?

2. Craigslist, Kijiji and magazine classifieds. Without a doubt, the best place to buy used boats online is in the wilds of Kijiji, Craigslist, and the classifieds. We have found many boats for sale on Craigslist that never appeared anywhere else online, but there are a few secrets to scoping out the very best deals.

Should I buy new or used boat?

With used boats, you essentially have to take what's available. You will, in most cases, pay more for your new boat than if you were to buy a comparable used boat. You'll also have to assume most of the value depreciation, although if you buy a high-quality boat like a Scout your depreciation could be less.

39 Related Question Answers Found

Are boats a waste of money?

Boats are a great way to throw money down the toilet because they cost so much to maintain. There are repairs, docking fees, gas and insurance. You could rent a much nicer boat on the days you want to spend at sea for much less than buying one.

Is a boat a bad investment?

Boats are a good investment if you don't overshoot your budget. If you research your options and go for a vessel that you can afford, nothing trumps the joy of spending time on the water. However, a boat can definitely also be a bad investment. A rule of thumb is to only buy a boat you can afford to pay for in cash.

How much should I pay for a boat?

Depending on the size of your boat and the rates at the local marina, you can expect to pay between a few hundred dollars a month to more than a thousand dollars monthly just for a place to leave your vessel. The annual mooring range is vast, then, from around $3,000 a year to well over $15,000 or more.

How much should I spend on a boat?

The boating industry does have one general rule of thumb that covers the annual costs of owning a boat. Generally, your annual payment for your boat loan, the insurance bill, fuel and other maintenence should be about 25 percent of the boat's total cost.

Why are boat motors so expensive?

Well the biggest reason is the supply and demand. Car motors are mass produced in their thousands and every one of them will be sold. Outboard motors are less common and so fewer of these will be sold. For this reason they will always be more expensive.

When should you buy a boat?

In seasonal boating areas where boats come out of the water as the snow flies, spring and early summer are typically high season for boat sales, but that's not necessarily the best time to buy. A good case can be made for buying a new boat in the fall.

Is sailing an expensive hobby?

teacher_in_tx wrote: How expensive is sailing as a hobby? Sailing can be inexpensive if you have a small boat like an El Toro which you can store at home, don't need a trailer or boat slip, etc. However, sailing can also be quite expensive for boats 20-25 feet and up.

What is the best brand of used boat to buy?

The Bertram 35 is one of the reasons why Bertram is one of the most-loved boat brands around.

Chaparral.
Grady-White.
Lund.
MasterCraft.
Sea Ray.
Tracker.
Yamaha.
Viking Yachts. Although the cost of Viking Yachts will price out the average boat buyer, this brand is still one of the most recognized—and admired—on the ocean.

What do I need to know when buying a boat?

12 Things to Consider When You Are Buying A Boat

New or Pre-Owned. The first decision you'll need to make is whether to buy a new or used boat.
Size. There are many different factors to consider when you're thinking about what size boat you will need.
Sail or Motor. This choice will usually just come down to personal preference.
Uses.
Time.
Financing.
Insurance.
Legal.

How do used boat loans work?

How boat loans work. Boat loans are installment loans with fixed monthly payments typically over two to 15 years. Interest rates and loan terms vary based on the lender, the size of the loan, your credit score and income, and whether the loan is secured by the boat or unsecured.

What is the best state to buy a boat?

Top Ten Boating States

Florida ($1.5 billion)
Texas ($982 million)
Michigan ($454 million)
New York ($448 million)
Minnesota ($412 million)>
North Carolina ($403 million)
Delaware ($385 million)
Wisconsin ($378 million)

Where can I find cheap boats?

THE BEST PLACES TO SEARCH FOR CHEAP OR FREE BOATS

Good Old Boat magazine has a page listing project boats selling for under $5,000. Boat Angel sells donated boats for cheap with all proceeds going to charity. Free-boat.com scours the web weekly for free and cheap boats and post them on their site and facebook page.

What are the cheapest boats?

Most Affordable Runabouts

Bayliner 160 Bowrider.
Four Winns Freedom 190.
Chaparral 19 H2O Sport.
Larson LX 160 OB.
Scout 175 Sport Dorado.
Rinker 17QX OB.
Glastron GT 180.
Regal 1900 ES.

What is the best used boat website?

One of the best places to start is YachtWorld. This site typically lists over 120,000 boats, with tons of information and photos about each.

You can search listings by one or more of these criteria:

Boat type.
Manufacturer and model.
Length.
Year.
New or used.
Price.
Location (country, region, or state)

Which state has the most boat owners?

Here's a quick look at the top 20 states and the total number of boats registered in each:

California 1,051,606.
Michigan 1,000,337.
Florida 922,597.
Minnesota 834,974.
Wisconsin 650,280.
Texas 624,390.
New York 529,732.
Ohio 413,276.

What is the best website to buy used boats?

These Top Boat websites make purchasing it fun and easy too.

boattrader.com. BoatTrader.com holds its positionas the largest American marketplace selling or buying boats,engins and personal watercraft.
boatexportusa.com.
yachtworld.com.
boats.com.
boatcrazy.com.

Can I register my boat online?

Register Your Boat Online

Requirements vary from state to state, and depending on the size and type of your boat, registration numbers and validation stickers may need to be displayed. Click on your state to find out how to register your boat, requirements, regulations and to get more information.