Factors to Consider When Buying a Boat for the First Time

South Carolina resident Chris Manfuso’s hobbies include surfing, fishing, and coaching and playing basketball. Chris Manfuso is also an enthusiast of boating.

Shopping for a boat is like any other purchase, but because boating requires skill and experience, beginners should consider a few things when shopping for one.

Regardless of the purchase, the budget will always be a consideration, but prospective buyers will be pleasantly surprised to find that there are a variety of boats to choose from based on their own needs. Buyers will have to first determine how many people they will transport and where they plan to use the boat, as the larger the body of water requires a larger body and deeper hull.

In addition to the budget, however, shoppers will need to prepare themselves to transport the boat in and out of water. Trailering the boat does take some skill, requiring the driver to maneuver the boat in and out of the water. The worst thing that can happen is to take the boat on its first trip and get hung up at the dock, leaving other boaters impatiently waiting. Before taking the boat for a spin, consider doing a few practices runs at the dock.

Finally, prospective buyers should consider maintenance costs. In addition to docking/mooring fees, prospective boaters have to pay for insurance, gas, taxes, and registration fees. Finally, there are costs associated with maintaining (repairing) the condition of the boat itself.