United Yacht Sales, Yachting Insurance Terms

Author: Patricia Brown

A new boat is of course the best option for those who have the money and plan to keep one boat for a significant time. However, for those who happen to be on a budget or are skeptical about owning a boat, a used boat is a wise alternative.

Despite the negative perception, buying used is a great option for some people. Even though the lake and oceans are filled with boat owners who are wealthier than most, many boat owners spend beyond their means, financing their boats at extreme levels of debt.

Being out there on the water is what really counts with a boat. Someone who spends every weekend out on the water will become a great boater, regardless of the condition of his or her boat. Some wealthy individual who only has time to ride on their 60-foot yacht once or twice a year isn’t considered much of a boater at all.

Those who observe local bodies of water will notice that it seems as though the little boats are the ones that move about, while the big boats never move from their moorings. Those that are too busy earning vast sums of money and never have the time to enjoy their lavish yachts shouldn’t own a boat at all.

In less than 2 years new boats depreciate, on average, half of their original value. When considering a used boat keep in mind that the previous owner will have already fixed the problems associated with shaking down a new boat. The previous owner has already dealt with all the warranty service and dealer hassles.

Typically there is very little “use” on a used boat. Most of a boat’s life is spent sitting around waiting for the owner to find time to go boating, unlike used cars. It is possible to find many used boats for sale that have less than a couple hundreds hours of engine time. Compare that to the number of hours that are on the engine of an average used car.

A used boat will often already have scratches, dings, and other blemishes so the new owner won’t feel half as bad when another is inevitably added. It is important to make sure there is at least a thousand dollars available after the purchase of a used boat to outfit the boat and make any necessary repairs.

Normally a used boat will come with the necessary dock lines, spare props, radio, life jackets, safety equipment, and other needed items. New boat owners must purchase these things on top of the expense of the boat, often paying hundreds of dollars or more.

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Author: John Rodgers

If you’re a first time boat buyer the choice of boats available for purchase can be bewildering. How do you make sense of all the choices? Well, the first time boat buyer needs to avoid buying on impulse and take a close hard look at how they intend to use the boat. If not, your romance with boating will be short-lived as you quickly realize you have made the wrong choice for you and your family. The wrong choice could be dangerous, financially costly and at the least uncomfortable.

The first time buyer needs to assess how they are going to use the boat. Will the boat be used by just yourself to aid recreational fishing or sailing or is your boating going to be a family leisure experience? How often do you intend to use the boat? A once in a blue moon trip in the summer months would require a different boat to an avid sailing enthusiast.

A recreational fisherman who likes to fish in different waters will probably only need a small transportable boat. A family looking for a recreational boating experience will probably want a small cruiser with some home comforts such as comfortable seats and a small galley. A boating enthusiast with some prior experience looking for a regular excursion may look for something a little larger that can be moored for safe keeping rather than towed away at the end of each trip.

Planning on overnight trips? You will need something a little larger to sleep on. Larger boats that require mooring will also incur more operating costs so if you choose to go for something larger always check the hidden overheads to ensure your budget will fit the total cost.

Once you have assessed your likely boat use you can then decide on the type of boat you are likely to need. There are a multitude of sizes, shapes and classes of boats but generally they fall into one of the several common groups of boat: Fishing boat, sail boat/yacht, motor boat and self-propelled boat.

Fishing boats are generally for inshore use and will have few mod cons for comfort but will have equipment suitable for the boats use. You may choose a boat with storage tanks for your catch or with holders for your rods. A fishing craft will generally have a platform area or deck to carry out your fishing activity from.

Sail boats/yachts come in all sizes dependant on your use or experience. They differ from fishing boats in that decks are smaller and they are designed with the sailing activity of the user. Some may have a cabin with a berth, galley and table whilst a basic inshore day trip sail boat may be as small as a row boat with no comfort extras.

Motor boats come in all shapes and sizes and can be used for leisurely cruising or water skiing excursions. Large boats will often have a cabin with facilities for sleeping or cooking but a day tripper can find a small craft with a small deck, towable for use with skis.

Self propelled boats (rowing boats or pedelos) are ideal for day trip activities where you may not be looking to stray to far off the beaten track. Ideal for gentle rivers, quite lakes or inshore trips. Can be hitched behind a car and towed and stored relatively easily.

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