After a long, cold winter, we finally have a break. Boaters are excited about storing their snow shovels and snow blowers and are shifting their thoughts to spring launch and summer boating.
Many are buying their first boat or trading up; but, a good percentage will buy the WRONG boat.
How do we know? Boaters have been telling us their horrors for decades at boat shows, in harbours and phone calls for help.
Here are a few examples of boaters’ stories:
Milkshake Anyone?
Omar wanted to be a boater, so decided to buy a boat he found in someone’s driveway with a “For Sale” sign on it. After launching his newly purchased Cuddy Cabin, all loaded with food and supplies for a day on the water with his family, Omar was like a kid with a new toy. On the launch ramp, he carefully checked everything and started the motor. While it was warming up, Omar noticed a chocolate milkshake frothing out of the dipstick tube. His heart sank.
One new boating family whose excitement and enthusiasm had already drained away into disappointment, hauled the boat and drove to a nearby marina. The mechanic looked at Omar and said “You have BIG troubles. This will be a VERY expensive repair”.
Omar then realized that his “Good Deal” wasn’t so good after all.
Information Missing
Tony (not his real name) called for a brochure for a late 1970’s department store boat. He had just purchased it and was now looking for information because nothing came with it.
Ralph, (not his real name either) had a similar story. He had just purchased a mid 1970’s 17’ boat and wanted a brochure because he needed specs for licensing and trailering. He wanted any information he could find because he has nothing about the boat.
Boat Doesn’t Fit
After boating for years, Nat and John decided to move up to a mid-cabin cruiser to have a stand-up head and galley and a place for their two boys to sleep.
They found the perfect boat, had a surveyor check it out for them, did a sea trial, paid and took delivery. Careful planning, packing and loading the boat followed and they were ready for a boat holiday with their boys.
Nat excitedly unpacked the galley boxes and soon discovered that her plates were too big for the cupboard, there was no drawer for the cutlery and the glasses were too tall. Nothing fit.
While Nat was becoming more and more frustrated in the galley, John spread out the bedding in the mid-cabin. It only took minutes for him to realize that the bed was too short for him. Without saying anything, he quietly migrated to the Vee Berth thinking the boys could have the mid-cabin. Same problem—nowhere for his feet and lower legs. He didn’t fit!
Before John could get words of disappointment from his lips, he heard Nat scream “Crap!” She had just tried the toilet and hit her head on the low ceiling when she stood up. The air was blue for a while as they vented and realized that their new boat just “Didn’t Fit!”
Bob’s story is a common one. After taking delivery of his new used boat from a private seller, he was snugging up the seat bases with some slightly larger screws and discovered that the cockpit sole was rotten. His boat buying buddy came over and together, they discovered that the whole cockpit and all the stringers were mushy under the recently installed cockpit carpet.
The repair would have cost many times more than he paid for the boat. Instead, he trashed the boat and said good bye to his investment.
Avoid Boat Buying Mistakes
We talk to so many people just like Tony, Ralph, Bob, Nat and John who buy first and research later. In some cases, it turns out okay; but, for many they discover that the boat isn’t built to industry standards, or was equipped with an oversized motor, or it was a non-factory boat with inferior fiberglass work or there is no information available, they paid too much money or the boat is great but it just doesn’t fit and on and on it goes.
If Tony, Ralph, Bob, Nat and John had done their research first, before buying, their stories would have been quite different.
Research BEFORE You Buy a Boat
If you are thinking of buying your first boat, trading up or down to something else,
- Do you homework first.
- You’ll save time, effort, frustration and money.
Use the internet to research boats, dealers and service. Talk to industry professionals and deal with a reputable business.
Buy a Boat with Confidence is written for new and repeat boat buyers to help them avoid all the boat buying mistakes of others and save money in the process. It also helps you identify which type of boat is best for you, how to inspect it yourself and so much more.
If Nat and John had read this book and followed Doug’s advice, they would have laid on the beds, stood in the head, made and served imaginary meals in the galley, sat in the helm and companion seats, etc. They would have discovered the boat didn’t fit when they first looked at it and taken it off their short list.
Buy a Boat with Confidence has over 300 pages of boat buying information to help you buy the right boat and save money. One boater who came to us too late would have saved $1 Million on his $300,000 boat purchase! Read about his mistakes in Buy a Boat With Confidence.
You may not save $1 Million, but you will certainly save some money, eliminate frustration, shop knowledgeably and buy the right boat.
Research all the pieces and put them together correctly to achieve success in finding and purchasing the right boat for you!
