New Or Used Boat What Is The Right Fit For You?

 

Warmer weather is around the corner. Soon the open water will be calling.   A new boating season is upon us. Many of us have purchased a new boat or are thinking about upgrading to a bigger boat.  Or change in style, type of boat.  Some may be looking at more horsepower adding additional features such as joystick controls, radar, live scope etc.

Buy new a boat, or buy a used boat? That’s a tough call for a boat buyer, especially a first timer. There’s no right or wrong answer. It all depends on you: your tastes, your budget, and your mechanical aptitude. but you decide. Here's some factors to consider...

Benefits Buying a Pre-Owned Boat

• With a used boat, you get more boat for fewer dollars, lower cost per year of ownership, and less on the line if you decide a different style or size boat would better serve you.
• It sounds funny, but there’s peace of mind in knowing you’re not going to put the first scratch or ding in the boat.
• Any initial bugs in boat or motor have likely surfaced and been dealt with. For reassurance, and before signing, get a marine survey. Marine surveyors see what you can’t and look where you won’t. First, get a survey. Then smile and buy, whittle down the price, draft your own to-do list, or walk away.
• You get time-tested technologies. If a manufacturer brought out a bad boat or balky motor, the Internet and other sources will wave you off.
• You can choose a style of sale—from the trade-in or used stock of a dealer, who has to cover overhead but has a reputation to guard and a service bay; from a broker, who has reduced overhead costs; or from a private seller, who may be most motivated.

Benefits Buying a New Boat

• Who doesn’t like a shiny, new toy? No need to wonder how the boat’s been used or misused, or if it’s been adequately winterized and commissioned. There is no history to uncover, because you’ll write this boat’s on-water history.
• You can buy exactly what you want and not just what’s on the preowned market. You’ll be getting the latest, greatest technology and innovations.
• If something does go awry, you’ll have a manufacturer’s warranty to back you up. That warranty is served by the selling dealer, which is a good reason to buy nearby.
• You can rig it the way you want with the latest gear selected precisely for your purpose.

Now that you purchased your new or new to you boat, some boat owners are not as confident, skilled or knowledgeable in how the boat operates.   Very boat is different in the way it handles.

If you are you are an old salt and upgrading in size, or moving from single engine to multiple engines you may want to consider to hire a United States Coast Guard Credentialed Captain who are able to give refresher training or instruction on handling those twins engines or upsized boat.

If you are a novice boater or have limited experience in boating, you may want to consider taking a on the water boating class with a certified USCG Captain by the National Safe Boating Council instructor.  You can find one at https://boatusfoundation.ticketspice.com/ozark-boat-safety-and-training-lake-ozarks-mo---2023 or go to https://ozarkboattraining.com.

Mainly, enjoy your new boat and your new to you boat in a safe manner and be able to boat another day.