With summer approaching, it’s the ideal time to find a boat that fits your needs, budget and expertise, whether you’re an expert fisherman or beginner boater. If you’re looking for tips on how to find that perfect boat for you, look no further for purchasing advice and important questions to ask throughout the process.
Which Boat Style Best Fits Your Hobby?
If you know that you’d like a boat specifically for your water hobbies, it’s imperative to do your due diligence to see what’s best. Different brands are better for certain hobbies, but could also require more money to repair than others. Keep repair costs in mind when researching. For a cheaper option, check out affordable fishing boats or a dingy that you could attach a motor to. A lot of fishing boats can be cost-effective and easy to maintain.
If you want something more luxurious for longer trips or if you’re into water sports, look into some pricier options ranging from sailboats to yachts to a speed boat. If you’re into wakeboarding or water skiing, there are plenty of sea sport boat options for you to browse as well. These all serve different purposes like travel, long-term stays, leisure or racing, but you’ll be sure to find a boat that can fit your needs if you know what to look for.
How Can I Afford My Boat?
Boats can be pretty pricey, especially if you haven’t yet been able to save that much money for your purchase. However, there are plenty of options out there that can assist you with paying for the boat of your dreams. If you’re purchasing a used or new boat, look into a boat loan. This loan usually requires you to put a down payment of about 10 to 20 percent of your boat’s cost down before purchasing.
If the boat you’re purchasing is quite large and requires a large sum of money, another option available to you is to make use of your home’s equity. By using a home equity loan to pay for your boat, you can take advantage of your home’s value and get a large sum of money all at once. You’ll be responsible for paying this off, but it can help you out with getting cash into your pocket right when you need it. A home equity loan often has a lower interest rate, which makes it a great option. If you have plenty of time to plan ahead for buying your boat, you’ll want to maintain a budget and set aside savings from each paycheck in order to work towards your goal.
How Can I Keep My Boat in Good Condition?
There are plenty of steps you can take to make sure your investment stays in great condition and your new boat lasts for years to come. No matter what boat you buy, prepare your boat properly for its first run of the season.
Different boats and brands will have different maintenance needs, but one thing that’s for sure is each boat will require repair if you don’t keep up with preventative maintenance. You can run through your boat’s maintenance checklist on your own if you want to save some money, or you can even have USBoatworks repair or maintain your boat for you.
Keeping up with the seasonal maintenance that your boat needs is essential to keep the engine running smoothly. Before you store your boat for the winter season, prepare it by winterizing the boat motor. This will ensure that your boat stays in great condition while in storage so that you’re ready to go when the next season comes around.
We hope these tips on how to find the perfect boat assist you in your search. We’re looking forward to seeing you out on the water summer boating season.
