Ask The Experts | 6 Tips on Buying a New Boat

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toneeees

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art2_new.jpg [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]I'm in the boating business... so you'd think I'd know how to buy a boat. Right? Well, after not owning a boat for several years, but wishing I again did, I decided to follow my own dream and buy a new boat. But how should I decide on which boat to buy? There are hundreds of good boat manufacturers, many thousands of boat brands, and more than a dozen terrific engines from which to choose.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Thinking back now on the whole process of buying a new boat, I realized that I had followed six specific steps in choosing the boat, a Pursuit OS 345 with two Yamaha 350 hp outboards and Raymarine electronics. I'd like to share these 6 steps or tips with you to hopefully help you with your next boat purchase. These steps really did make a world of difference in which boat I finally chose and how happy I am now with the new iboats.com boat. Yes, that's what I named her, iboats.com, after our company. Naming a boat well that's a whole different hotly debated story that I'll share with you sometime![/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]I took delivery of the Pursuit OS 345 from Bosun's Marine at their newly acquired Falmouth marina location along Route 28 on the Cape. It's one of three Bosun's locations in Massachusetts. The other two locations of Bosun's Marine are in the towns of Mashpee and Peabody.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Looking back over the last month, having now been aboard the iboats.com a number of times for a total of about 50 hours of cruising and fishing, a few times by myself but mostly with my wife and friends, I can say with confidence that I'm just thrilled with this boat and with my decision to buy her.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]art2_1.jpgThe six steps I'm discussing in this article worked wonderfully well in helping me to make this terrific choice that fits my needs and desires in a boat. So, if you're thinking of buying a new boat, I hope that these tips, along with this rather personal and recent experience that I had in buying a lovely new boat, will also help you with your decision.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Please note, I believe that these six steps or tips though not revolutionary but rather obvious, have and will work for any size and kind of boat that you're thinking of buying a very big, a medium sized or a rather small boat and regardless of what kind of activities you want to use your boat for whether fishing, cruising, water sports, diving a combination of these fun activities or some other boating experience that fits your fancy.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The first step is to decide on the maximum amount of money that you can spend on the boat. Like buying a new car or a home, when buying a boat you have an almost unlimited number of choices to choose from. On the low end of the price range there are quality canoes, small aluminum and fiberglass boats, inflatable rafts, rowboats and small one-person sailboats that can provide wonderful fun doing all kinds of water-related activities, with each of these starting for under $1,000. At the top end of the scale there are of course yachts that can cost tens or even many hundreds of millions of dollars. And in between is the wonderful world of every conceivable kind and style price of boat. With such a wide range in the cost of a boat, you must decide what you can afford. That will then guide you as you begin looking at the specific boat styles, makes and models that can accomplish your boating dreams while staying within your price range.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The second step is to make a list of what you want to do on your boat. This is extremely important since it will, once made, immediately help you to rapidly narrow down your search for the ideal boat for you.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]One example of what people want to do on their boat is fishing fishing of all kinds some focusing on freshwater, others on saltwater and some fishing on both. Others want a boat in order to wakeboard or waterski while still others are looking for a boat that provides the ability to cruise comfortably on rivers, lakes and/or the ocean. The reality is that today's well designed and quality-built boats, and the amazing number of engines and horsepower ranges available, both inboards (including stern drives) and outboards, are capable of offering multiple use possibilities so you can do several different activities all from one boat. That makes boating today better than ever.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]You need to make this list of what you will do on your boat, but then you must also decide how much time, realistically, will you be spending doing each of the several activities that you probably said you'd like to do on your boat. For example, if your first choice is to go bass fishing, but you also want to take the family and friends out for a fun day of tubing or wakeboarding from time to time, then that will help you decide on a boat that is not just a flat-decked, minimal seats high performance bass boat, but rather you'll look for a style and make of boat that can more comfortably handle both the activities of serious bass fishing plus one that has the ability to provide great family watersports fun.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The third step is to then make a must have check list of what requirements your desired boat MUST have for space, speed/power and equipment in order to accomplish your wishes of what you want to do with your boat. A boat used mostly for fishing with several family members and/or friends such as a center console will have very different space, engine power and electronics requirements then a similar length boat used for cruising lakes or rivers, such as a pontoon boat or deck boat, although some of the requirements may be similar for both these types of boats.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]art2_2.jpgOther examples could be the requirement of an air conditioned cabin, going at least 30 miles an hour, using less than 10 gallons of fuel per hour, having a live bait well, having space to entertain a group of people, or the ability to troll several lines. If one of these was a really important requirement for you, then you'd write that down on your must have items for your boat. This list will help you to later decide which boats to seriously look at and which ones to not consider, based on your specific requirements.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The fourth step is to go onto the Internet and begin to research different boats in order to find those specific boats that most closely match most or all of the must have requirements that you listed in step #3. Use the area on iboats.com called "New Boat Showroom" found at www.iboats.com/New-Boats to identify specific boats to put on your short list of dream boat candidates from among the several hundred different boat manufactures and tens of thousands of different boat makes and models that are listed on iboats the largest detailed new boats listing found anywhere.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]As an example of what I am talking about, here is what my list of MUST have items looked like and how I then used it to zero in on a handful of quality boat brands to then add to my finalist group. From that finalist group of specific boats I then made my final boat selection. These are NOT in any order of preference.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Very well built. Excellent quality throughout. Able to handle heavy seas. A safe boat.[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]A head and shower[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]A lower deck cabin area for my wife, family and friends (total 5-7+ people at one time)[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]A helm area large enough for me, my wife, family and friends[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Space to sleep 2 minimum requirement preferably 4+ adults[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]A large enough stern open deck area behind the helm area for fishing, both trolling and bottom-fishing, and for visiting/seating for 4-6+ adults[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Quality outboards with 30-40+ mph on regular gas. (2 vs. 3 engines = a plus)[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Enough fuel capacity for 350 to 500+ mile range for offshore fishing and cruising[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Excellent electronics packages offered. Able to customize electronics[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Easy to get from Captain�s chair to stern deck area to fight fish and help others[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Fish boxes, live bait well(s), tackle prep area(s)[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Holds resale value better than most[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Kitchen w/fridge., stove, microwave, storage areas[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Other nice-to-have stuff: windless anchor, hardtop, washdown deck hose(s), easy on/off stern w/ladder and stern door, rod holders, outriggers, generator, fresh water tank, AC and heat, deck cooking and sink with fresh water[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Reasonable price for what you get versus the very most expensive boat[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Excellent reputation as a boat manufacturer company. Excellent reputation of their dealers selling/servicing the boat. Local dealers available somewhat nearby.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The fifth step is, where possible, go to a boat show and spend serious time looking at and comparing the several boats that made your finalist list in step #4. I realize that this may be difficult for those of you who don't have a boat show nearby with the specific boats that you want to look at. I also realize that some boat dealers would rather that you go right to their dealership to look at the boats they have on hand and not compare their boats with the competition.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]There are, however, several significant benefits to your going to a boat show where several brands and models of the type of boat that you have decided to seriously consider buying will be shown. First, having the specific boats right there permits you to go back and forth from one boat to another, and then back again, looking and comparing everything. Take notes of what you see and like and also what you don't like on each boat. Then review your notes. By doing this you will begin to see both subtle and rather obvious differences that had not popped out at you before.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]art2_3.jpgIt's amazing how you can look at a boat for a half hour and then think you have seen all there is to see on that boat. Then you go to the next boat to get to know it better and to compare it to the first boat and you will find yourself saying; I really like this feature on this boat. Did the other boat have this or not? I don't remember. Going back and forth helps you to really begin to see which boat is the very best one for you.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]I did this exact process by going to the Miami Boat Show in February, 2012. I knew that at least 7 to 10 different manufacturers of boats and a number of different engine manufacturers would be represented there, each showing one or more boats and engines that could fit my must have list of the boat I wanted. For me, spending almost two full days going back and forth between those boats and engine manufacturers booths made it much easier to see the differences between the boats and engines. Both large and more subtle but important differences began to really pop out.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]One boat that I was very interested in was designed to only have two people, versus the 5-6 that I wanted, sit at a table in the cabin to eat. I had never realized that before by looking at that boat online. I just had missed it. Another boat had a well-designed helm area for fishing but it became crowned for more than three adults to be there visiting at the helm at the same time. I wanted more space at the helm. What one manufacturer promoted as a wonderful benefit on his boat became a real negative to me as I saw how another manufacturer had handled that same layout issues very differently.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]By talking to several different engine manufacturers more than once, I found that not all of the outboard engines would run on regular gas. In at least one case a popular brand of 350 hp engine could only be run on premium gas. Both the added cost of premium gas and also the lack of availability of premium gas in some of the places where my wife and I wanted to cruise further helped me to make my final decision of selecting different engines.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Without seeing several boats and engines, and without going back and forth between them over and over again both looking at the boats and talking to their representatives, I am sure I would not have seen all of these differences and my final choice may have been one that I would later regret. Step #5 of going to a boat show is extremely important whenever possible.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The sixth and final step is to involve other family and friends in your decision process on the boat. In my case, what my wife wanted on the boat was as important to me as what I wanted on the boat. Sure, that required some compromises by both of us but it also insured that we would both be very happy with the boat we selected and would use over the next many years. (You notice I said the boat "we" selected.)[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Having other people with you whose opinions you respect as you look at the possible boats to purchase can also be very helpful as they will see things that you just don't see. For me, having one of my sons and three business associates at the Miami Boat Show with me, all of whose opinions I respect a lot, also helped me to see a number of things more clearly. For example, we had a discussion about the pros and cons of having three outboards versus two. Some of the boats I was looking at were powered by three engines and others by two large outboards. I had not focused on some of the cost issues of three engines versus two such as winterizing, spring boat and engine preparation and engine maintenance. Also, some of the design differences between the boats also became more pronounced for my associates, and that helped me to better see those same issues more clearly.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Following these six steps in purchasing your boat will help you to make a better decision and that will make you a much happier boater.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]In future issues of the iboats.com Review e-magazine, I will focus on various aspects of having and using a boat, including fishing off the New England coast, tips and ideas when taking day trips, and adventures with overnight boating.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]I invite you to participate with us in these upcoming articles. Please send your comments and boating thoughts, experiences, pictures and videos to us at bshipley@iboats.com. As much as possible we will include your comments and pictures in our very popular and free iboats.com Forums found atwww.iboats.com/forums, on our "I Love Boating" Facebook pages found atfacebook.com/iloveboating or as part of future specific articles like this one in the iboats.com Review e-magazine.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Good luck as you prepare to buy your next boat, or your first boat, and come enjoy the wonderful world of boating with us! Boating truly is the most terrifically fun sport on earth!
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