A Simple Guide To Buying Your First Boat

Lately, I've been thinking about the boats. It's hard not to -- Because 2/3 of the earth’s surface is covered by water, a new boat will let you visit a lot more of the places much more than you can visit by car. Unlike cars, however, recreational boats are not about simple transportation. Some people buy boats because they’ve made the decision to get away with family and friends and go to places where landlubbers can’t go. Lakes, bays, rivers, sounds, harbors, islands, and even oceans are suddenly available for your exploration when you own a boat.

Other people buy for the camaraderie-- they want to join cruising clubs, yacht clubs, or fishing tournaments. Still others like to try their hands at recreational racing and high-performance boating. Whatever your reason for buying a boat, you are making a lifestyle choice, and this guide will help you get the most out of the experience.

Depending on your preference boats are designed to such purpose. Cruising boat are made for entertaining, which you can have customized for day boating or overnighting. Fishing boat, are designed with open cockpits in the back of the boat to maximize the deck space needed for fishing. Like cruising boat, larger fishing boats also provide cabins for overnighting and extended fishing trips. While Watersports boat are designed for those who want to waterski, wakeboard, and tow toys at speed. Some of these boats are very sophisticated and recommended only for experienced watersports enthusiasts.

The bigger the boat the more features it usually has which is why size of the boat is an important consideration. The downside to bigger boats is they have more systems to understand and operate, and they may not be trailerable. They also cost more, both to buy and to operate. When you’re first getting started in boating you want the experience to be as fun and easy as possible. For that reason, your first boat should be no larger than 22-24 feet, but make sure any boat you buy is certified to carry all the passengers and gear you plan to bring aboard.

The choice to buy new or used boat depends on your personality. If you are the kind of person who must have everything perfect, then you must buy new, or a very little used late-model boat. If you are good mechanically, have extra time on your hands, and enjoy projects, you'll love having a used boat. If you simply can't afford a new boat, but don't have the time or skill to take on projects from time-to-time, then we recommend you buy a used boat that is simple as possible. For these reasons, you should buy a new boat or a used boat less than three years old from a reputable dealer.

When you made the decision to buy the boat new or used, now you have to decide on the make and model. Look for high-quality stainless steel fittings and hardware, rugged handrails, strong windshields, struts to keep hatch lids open, quality door locks and hinges, good joinery on woodwork, and good nonskid surfaces on deck.

For the actual purchase, you can either write a check for the whole thing or finance it through boat loans. If you’re buying a used boat, be sure the asking price is in line with market prices. You will also need to insure your new boat, especially if you are financing it. Finally, you’ll need to register the boat, your dealer or finance company can usually assist you with both procedures at little or no cost.

When I look at any given boat and think that I can read through all the stats and reviews, but what does all that really mean, how does the boat really sail. I have been thinking about getting Endeavor 32. One admirable characteristic of this boat’s performance is that the hull almost never pounds in a seaway and the boat can be easily handled by a small crew. It was originally called as the Irwin 32 back in 1970. Ted Irwin designed her as a dual-purpose cruiser-racer before the development of IOR. All Endeavour 32s came with diesel engines, but many different engines were used. The interior is made of molded fiberglass unit with bulkheads and cabinetry fastened to it with screws, bolts, and adhesives. Virtually all wiring is located high and accessible by removing panels from under the side decks. The hull-to-deck joint is a 'flange' type, which during assembly, is liberally coated with a combination adhesive/sealant. I mentioned the specs of this boat merely to share why I had taken interest in it. 

Buy the highest-quality boat you can afford. The bottom line here is the cheapest boat may not be the best boat for you, since cheap components may fail quickly and have to be replaced, a headache you don’t need when you’re trying to relax out on the water.