When buying your first boat, should you search for a specific brand? or do you.......

[iamthunderman]

just get what is in your price range? I have narrowed my search for a Chap, Rinker, Regal, or Maxum. I am looking within 500 miles of where I live (little rock, ar) and my search spectrum is narrow. Should I just try and get what I can get for 16k and get on the water or wait for what I think is the boat of my choice?

I am wanting a 22-24 foot bowrider with good seat layout, good storage, and a potty. Problem is that there are not a lot of boats that fit that category from what I am finding. After 3 years of waiting to be able to do this I am totally ready, but am curious to see what the experienced boaters say.

Thoughts?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: When buying your first boat, should you search for a specific brand? or do you...

22-24 ft would be a deck boat, more than a bowrider.
Buying a boat

1st you need to decide what you want to use it for, fishing, cruising, or water sports.

2nd how many people adults, children you want on board of the average outing.

3rd outboard, inboard-outboard, or inboard power plant.

4th Budget, what you want to pay, and what you are willing to pay, when you find
Exactly what you want.

You can hire a marine surveyor, to inspect the boat, or you can do it yourself.

You are mainly looking for soft spots in the deck, transom, cracks, all signs of a rotten, under frame. You walk all over the deck, that a mallot, or hammer with wooden handle, using handle, tap all over the transom, a shape rap is good solid base, a thud, is questionable base.

The motor should be clean, no spots where the paint is discolored, or pealing from heat, having run hot. (This part for outboard motors Compression should be atleast 100psi, and within 10% of each other,)
Spark on all cylinders, good pee stream, check lower unit for water in oil.

The overall condition of the boat will tell you a lot, as to how it has been maintained.
boat motor combo, A 30 year old may be in better condition, than a 3 year old.

read this: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=300510

 

[ezmobee]

Re: When buying your first boat, should you search for a specific brand? or do you...

On a used boat the brand is fairly insignificant. It's all about current condition. I'd rather have a mint Bayliner than a beat Cobalt. Especially since the motors/drives are pretty much all either mercruiser or volvo anyway (on recent boats). I wouldn't limit your search by brand at all.

 

[dingbat]

Re: When buying your first boat, should you search for a specific brand? or do you...

It's hard when the money is burning a hole in your pocket, but the last thing you want to do is to rush out and buy a boat becouse it fits your budget only to find out that it doesn't suit your needs.

Take your time, spend as much time as you can on the boats your interested in. You would be surprised at the things you'll learn about a boat from just one excursion.

Be prepared to extend the budget a little bit. I blew my electronics budget on the price of the boat. Had to live you outdated electroncs for the first season I owned it.

On a used boat the brand is fairly insignificant. It's all about current condition
I would have to disagree with this statement. Condition is important but some brands are just better boats. No matter how you slice it a pristine Taurus will never be the equal of a Mercedes that needs a new convertible top.