how do i go about buying a boat for the first time?

Answer 1

my brother wants to sell his. its nice but need work he wants to sell or trade. pontoon

Answer 2

Lots of variables in this question
1 what is your experiance
2 what types of waters will you be navigating
3 what type of boating are you doing (Sail or Power)
4 if sail are you going to race
5 Budget
6 how many people will you be taking at any given time
with all this in mind lets look at the boat.

New you will have manufacture warranty
used as is

if you are going to buy used i strongly encorage you to hire an independant surveior if the boat fails the survey the seller pays if it passes you pay and buy the boat.

Talk to freinds that have purchased boats
talk to different retailers
talk to different broakerages
talk to your insurance agent
talk to the coast guard auxilary
watch the paper and different boating publications for tips prices and suggestions

be sure that if it is a trailerable boat that your vehicle can properly tow the boat you are considering by consulting your local auto dealer for the make of your car

Good luck and welcome to the world of boat ownership

I own a Choy Lee Offshore 41 Sail Boat and a 21' Grady White and I love the both

Answer 3

First consider what you want to do with the boat, how many people will be onboard, and the waters you plan to do it in.

Second consider the cost against the size of boat and features you are looking for and decide if you will be buying new or used.

If buying a used boat I would suggest consulting with a marine surveyor. For a few hundred dollars they will survey the boat. The report of survey should include an estimated value and a complete list of the equipment, including its condition. This will be required by the insurance company prior to insuring the boat.

Answer 4

depending on where you are going to operate this boat and what you plan to do with it will determine what type of boat and how much power you need. If you are on an inland lake you may not need a 100 ft yacht, but if you are running in the ocean you don't want a flat bottom jon boat either. For a first timer, I would suggest a modest boat that can be used for several different things such as fishing, skiing, boat riding...etc. Go to some of your local dealers and get some brochures and pricing. Take them home and think about how much you are really going to use this boat and determine how much you are willing to spend on this piece of recreational equipment. Consider the cost of maintenance while weighing your options.Outboard engines are cheaper to maintain than an inboard/ outboard. 4stroke engines are longer lasting than 2 stokers. Aluminum is lest costly than fiberglass for the boat. It al depends on how fancy you want to go and what you can afford. Tracker boats offers a large line of boats ranging from jon boats to pontoon boats to bass boats and tahoe runabouts. Good Luck.

Answer 5

If you're thinking of purchasing a boat large enough for serious cruising, say a sloop-rigged sailboat 28' or longer, or a power boat of a similar size, the best think to do (once you have found a boat you like) is to hire an independent marine architect to survey the boat and make a list of the vessel's condition in all areas. This will give you a clear idea of exactly what you can expect this boat to cost in terms of repair and upkeep.
The easiest boats to work with are fibreglass-hulled. As a first-timer, I would say AVOID wooden-hulled boats. They may be more romantic, and an older one may be cheaper, but the maintenance, upkeep, repair, and yearly refurbishing costs will quickly kill your wallet. I would also stay away from ferrocement-hulled boats, as they are VERY heavy, and are not worth the effort.
Visit your local marinas. There will always be boats for sale at marinas, and you can inspect them for yourself. But, unless you know EXACTLY what to look for on any boat, get a marine architect.

Oh, wait! I see the "Thumbs Down" moron is at it again. Hey, jerk! How many seamanship courses have YOU passed?!

Answer 6

You pay money - they give you the boat. That part is easy. Knowing how to safely enjoy it is not so easy. The smartest thing is to take the Power Squadron boater's course... which you'll see advertised in the local papers at the start of boating season..... or look up power squadron in the white pages. That will get you started. In some states you need a permit or license and have to take a particular licensing course or exam. To get started immediately, you'll find lots of interesting books in your local library or at Barnes & Nobel.
You'll have a great time..... but learn the basics or you'll regret it.

Answer 7

Start saving money.
Then decide what you want to use the boat for: hunting, fishing, rowing, sailing, motoring, water skiing, touring, etc., and where salt water, fresh water, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, then how you are going to keep it between uses on the water, on the shore of the water, on a trailer (and if a trailer where it will be parked.) How many people you are going to carry and how long you are going to stay out so food, water, and fuel storage.
Take a water safety course with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Read magazines that cover the kind of boat you have roughly settled on and fine tune your choice. Go to boat marinas and look for boats like the one you want and talk to owners about their choice and satisfaction.

Answer 8

Depends if you want to sail or not. Then you have to decide how much money you have. Sail boats are more expensive. And, you have to be pretty sharp to sail adequately.

however a motorboat is simple. Find the Craigslist for your city or state, and look it up. Most of them come with trailers, which is a real big bonus. Then buy a truck, and a trailer hitch.

Otherwise you can check your nearby harbors or lakes to find a 'slip' that you can rent to keep the boat.

Answer 9

"Kal" has the best advice, find someone knowledgeable, and take him w/you. I would suggest a used Boston Whaler 13' sport.

easy to handle
Low Maint.
UNSINKABLE
Rugged
Fast (without a big motor, so it's excellent on fuel consumption)
stores easily
Easy to fix (simple design)
and NOW the most important part--- They are a bit pricey but, YOU'LL GET YOUR MONEY BACK when you go to sell it, most other boats just depreciate, giving little or no return, when sold.
Look at "Rescue" boats for the fire dept., they are almost ALWAYS a 13' "Boston Whaler".

Answer 10

Have patience and shop around . Once you make your purchase be prepared to spend a lot of money on maintenance and service.
The first happy day for a boater is when they buy it and the second happy day is when they sell it
Another popular phrase is its a hole in the water you throw your money into