How to Buy a Boat? – The Basic Steps

For many folks, a boat purchase is a dream come true and possibly the greatest purchase they will make in their lifetime. It is exciting and extremely gratifying to know that you have purchased a boat worthy of your best intentions. But how to buy a boat? What is the “secret” to buying a boat? What do the “big guys” know that you don’t?

Step one: Find a reputable boat dealer. There are literally thousands of private sellers of boats, and the majority of them operate highly professional and courteous businesses. Do some research and ask around your local marina about reputable sellers in the area. If you don’t have access to someone who can give you information about boat dealerships or other private sellers in your area, the internet is another excellent source of information.

Step two: Make a decision as to how much money you want to spend on your boat ownership. Decide whether or not you are planning to use the boat yourself only occasionally, or whether or not you plan to trade it in when you decide to upgrade or even sell it. Purchasing guidebooks, especially online, can be a tremendous resource in determining how much you should set aside for boat loan financing.

Step three: After determining how much you can realistically afford, find a reputable boat dealership and make an appointment to go to view and test drive several different boats. Having this information in hand will help you tremendously in learning how to buy a boat? You may also want to visit local marinas and inspect the boats in the area in order to see how the sellers have decorated them, as well.

Step four: Use the boat loan guide you purchased online to learn more about selecting a boat and finding out what kind of bargains you can expect. You may be surprised to find that some of the most expensive boats can actually be bought with the best interest rates. It is also a good idea to find out what you need to qualify for a loan, and how much you need to pay monthly. By having all of this information ahead of time, you will not be surprised if you suddenly run into problems that leave you without a boat to use.

Step five: Once you have decided how to buy a boat, you need to choose the boat that fits your criteria. This is often the hardest step, simply because there are so many different kinds on the market. Your best bet is to narrow your search to boats within your price range, but also within your preferred type of boat ownership. If you are interested in purchasing a yacht, then finding one within your price range is very important, but if you are interested in a speedboat, then narrowing down your search to only speedboats will do.

Step six: Finally, you need to decide where you will purchase the boat. There are several different options, which include looking at private sellers, looking at used boats, or looking at new boats from a number of different manufacturers. No matter which option you choose, it is important to take your budget into consideration. Private sellers will offer the best deals but may require that you have all of your personal items, like electronics, installed before you purchase the boat from them. On the other hand, buying from used boats will allow you to get a better price, but may require you to bring in an extended warranty plan or other types of coverage. For new boats, you have the best of both worlds; they can be brand new, but you also have the option to purchase extended coverage from the manufacturer.

Once you know how to buy a boat? You need to be prepared to spend some time researching prices and the best prices on available boats. This research may be done on the Internet, by speaking with local boat brokers, visiting local boat shows, or even looking at advertisements in the phone book. In the end, you will be glad that you took the time to find out how to buy a boat! Boat ownership can be a rewarding experience, but you need to know how to invest wisely and know where to look for bargains to make sure you are getting the best deal possible.