Buy a Boat - First Boat Buying Guide

When Jacques Cousteau wannabe and I decided to buy a boat, we knew very little about boats. We only had his sea exploring fantasies and my constant desire to get away to a coastal spot. Owning a boat seemed like the ideal way to fulfill our fantasies.

We went out looking for our dream vessel based on simple criteria: size - to allow for long stays with all comfort of home, and price - unfortunately we are not millionaires. We soon found out, when it comes to boats nothing is simple at all. I would advice anybody interested in buying a boat, to get the answer to the following questions correctly or you will not be taken seriously, and either become discouraged or buy a boat you’ll hate.

A question regularly asked by those in the know. Obviously, we wanted to boat around? What do people do with boats? Fish, cruise the intercoastal waterways, water sports, ride for the day? I was under the impression that people first get a boat and eventually develop interests. However, a fishing boat wouldn’t be the right choice if you just want to go cruising comfortably or vice versa.

Sail or Power? Sailboats are labor intensive, requiring instruction, knowledge of wind direction and other complicated minutiae. Power is the equivalent of plug and play. Buy, fill with gas, check the weather, go and enjoy. We knew we wanted a powerboat.

New or used? One might think this is a no brainer, similar to buying a car. Obviously, a new boat should not have any problems or need repairs. A used boat might be a better option for a novice or a tight budget. Either way, both require maintenance from the get go.

Class? Type or style and include: runabouts, high performance boats, center consoles or fishing boats, power cruisers, convertibles, motor yachts, trawlers, house boats, and many more. This also has to do with comfort and the “What do you want to do with it”, question.

Range? How far can a boat go on a tank of fuel, an important factor that can affect speed and how far you want to go.

Where are you going to use it? Obviously, on the water…While it might sound like a silly question it is not. It’s a matter of seaworthiness; a boat designed to cruise around a lake will not perform well out in the ocean, it will probably capsize or lead to scary moments.

What kind of power? More difficult than the class question, involves type of fuel and the boat's propulsion or drive system. Gas or diesel, inboard or outboard, single or twin, the list goes on.

Where are you going to keep it? At the nearest marina or will you trail it in and out every trip? While keeping it at the closest dock makes it easier to just go, it involves rental fees. Trailering is the cheaper way to go but time consuming, there’s towing, launching and retrieving involved, plus it requires having a driveway at home to park it.

Of course, knowing the answers to the questions will not only prevent you from looking like the novice that you are, but will help to come up with questions of your own.

Bear in mind that boats can sink, leave you stranded in a storm, go on fire, hurt people, or just look horrible amongst a sea of beautiful, shiny vessels.

How good is that engine? Having a qualified marine mechanic do an engine check, doing a test drive should answer this question. Do not buy a boat without checking and testing.

Who is going to maintain the boat? Will you do it yourself or pay others to keep everything shipshape. While DIY is cheaper, not to mention a way to get intimate with your boat, it takes hard work and time. Again, new or used boats require maintenance.

How’s that gelcoat doing? Gelcoat, the outer layer of a boat fiberglass structure, if neglected, will fade and eventually breakdown. Gelcoat in bad shape leaves white stains on everything it meets. If too far gone, it’s difficult and expensive to repair.

Come up with questions not listed here. Searching for a boat will enlighten you on things you didn’t think about before and closer to sailing away.

In our case, the vessel of our dreams found us. A friend of ours told us, about a guy he knew that had a boat occupying precious room on the back of a warehouse. Psyched by the idea that we’d get a great deal, we soon paid him a visit. The boat, a slightly neglected 32’ twin diesel stern drive cruiser, had everything we wanted.

It had two cockpits, a master cabin with a double bed and closet, a guest cabin, a roomy head with shower, a fully equipped galley, a spacious back porch (aft) seating, in other words a floating house. Pending an engine check (we did this right) we agreed to buy it.

Relief, the engine check went great, next step was to get it ready and put it in the water, it was March, and we figured getting it in top shape shouldn’t take more than a few weeks. Ha! Having spent our money on its purchase, we would have to do the work ourselves and it would take months.

We scrubbed, rubbed, scraped, scoured, and mended until we hurt, until summer arrived and almost left. We got to know every nook and cranny of our boat from top to bilge. Finally, ready, we named our boat Dulcinea and put it out to sea where we got to know her even more.

After a series of hard-learned lessons, difficulties and mishaps, the Cousteau wannabe and the escapee became the captain and first mate of Dulcinea, skilled at maneuvering her and dealing with her limitations. Together we handled rough seas, course plotting, sources of compass error, found our position on the earth's surface, both at sea and in our personal lives.

We couldn’t have asked for more from our first boat, she gave us a chance to learn, to live out our fantasies, and the best summers of our lives.

We sold Dulcinea for a nice profit and found a new boat. Odyssey, almost, the perfect one.

If you’re considering owning a boat, go for it. Nobody can tell you which boat is right for you but armed with some information the choice will be easier. Nonetheless, nothing beats learning hands on, in the process you might learn a bit about yourself.