Introduction - How to Buy Your First Boat
What's the best type of boat to buy?
Used boats are fine, but beware of pre-owned boats that look like they are a great deal!
You may find that the majority of used boats on the market today are neglected, and the average boater assumes a coat of paint or polish will restore it. Not true. Most people's first boat is in the $10,000 to $50,000 range. Buying the wrong boat will cost a lot more at the end of the day. I speak from experience. Read on...
The first boat I purchased as an adult cost me $19,000. I didn’t buy the boat from an Internet ad (these were scarce in 1999), or from a pushy used boat dealer. The seller was the husband of a woman that worked with my brother. The seller lived in the town I grew up in. I thought that loose relationship was enough to trust that I would not be ripped off on the purchase. I even overlooked the fact that the boat was dirty... there were empty soda and beer cans in the cabin even though it was spring and the boat hadn’t been used all winter. The boat was only 5 or 6 years old, yet the vinyl seats on the deck, as well as the paint on the hull, were desperately faded. I thought to myself that this was only aesthetic, and that it would actually help me get a better deal on what was a solid boat, as other buyers would be looking for something “prettier”. I was convinced that the lack of attention paid to the outside of the boat was not a sign of structural or engine damage inside the boat. Actually, I was concerned about a hairline crack towards the bow, so I had the boat surveyed (which you should always do anyway, more on surveying later). The surveyor told me the hull was in good shape, but I should have been wary when he asked “me” to climb down into the engine compartment and “have a look”. I am not mechanically inclined at all, as my friends and family will attest to (though they may not put it so politely). The end result was that after one summer’s worth of fun on the boat, I had to put her out to pasture due to a completely rusted out engine that my mechanic told me was the result of years of abuse.