6 Common Boat-Buying Mistakes That You Should Avoid Committing

With the winters taking a long time to kick off in Australia, you can take time to explore options for buying a boat for some delightful adventures in summer. After all, boat purchase is one of the crucial investments of life. Well, to get an idea, you can chat with boat owners and listen to their mistakes.

Mistakes teach us lessons. Learning from previous boat owners’ mistakes can help you enjoy your boat purchase, as well as boating. Therefore, before you head on to the boat dealers, read this article. We’ve listed down six common boat buying mistakes that you should avoid committing.

1. Buying Too Big Or Too Small Boat:
   Extreme decisions are always risky! Purchasing a boat that’s too big or too small isn’t always realistic. While buying the one, always keep three things in mind – it’s monthly and annual expenses, your skills (especially for yachts) and your basic needs. Also, make sure you're highly self-assured about its maintenance. If you think you'll outgrow your boat, buy a bigger one, but if you’re not confident about it, then a small one would work well.
   
   
2. Not Thinking Of Long Term:
   When we recommend making a wise decision, we also mean thinking about your future needs. You might have children who may enjoy the sport and use it frequently. If that is the case with you, then purchase the one that can work for you in the long run. You can handpick a motorboat of 18 or 20 feet instead of a 16-feet model. And, avoid ski boats if your purpose is fishing only.
   
   
3. Budgeting Incorrectly:
   Boat purchase is a significant investment. Additionally, its initial outlay is the beginning of its ongoing expenses. Hence, you must make a correct budget. Also, consider its monthly as well as annual costs like insurance, maintenance and berthing charges. You may lose interest in boat buying once you discover from boat dealers in Victoria that you’re going to burn a hole in your pockets. As well, less maintenance can depreciate your boat sooner. So, make sure you’ve got the required budget for this investment.
   
   
4. Not Doing Proper Research:
   As it is one of the crucial investments of your life, you shouldn’t rush in without doing proper homework. Keep patience and understand your needs first. After that, look at the boat designs available on the market and go through their pros and cons. Shortlist a few boats that arouse your interest. Next, research their resale values if you’re buying a used boat. For a satisfying experience, investigate the boat history and compare its prices.
   
   
5. Looking For A Brand New Boat:
   Bear in mind that the first-hand boat is no more in trend. Boating or cruising is a steep learning curve. And you can barely get right at the very first time. Furthermore, once you get more experienced, you may desire to have an upgraded boat for further water adventures. That being the case, purchasing a used boat can be a cost-effective option. Having said that, if you’re a member of a boating club and have years of experience boating, then you can opt to be a first-hand boat buyer.
   
   
6. Preferring Boat Show For The Purchase:
   Undoubtedly, boat shows are a great place to look for new boat models. And, many buyers get hitched with their passion for boating, and of course, negotiations. However, is a boat show really a good place to buy boats? Sometimes, yes! They put boats on sale, and you get good offers. However, you should also consult boat dealers and compare the prices thoroughly. And get from the one who offers better value for money.

The ultimate goal of buying a boat is to enjoy the new lifestyle that it renders. Therefore, considering the above mistakes made by previous buyers would be sage. When you look back after some years of its purchase, you’ll feel proud of yourself as you’ve made this boat purchase differently. Next, whether you want to buy yachts or cruise boats from a sale or a boat dealer, make a wise decision.