By Lance C. Valentine
With spring fast approaching and boat shows in full swing many are thinking of buying a new boat. This can be one of the most exciting purchases you will ever make, but if not careful can lead to years of frustration. Follow these simple tips and you will have a better chance to buy a boat that will provide years of pleasure, safety and great memories.
Buy the right boat: This sounds so simple, but every year at boat shows I see folks buying a boat that they won’t be happy with. The first thing you need to realize is that the perfect boat does not exist! The boat I use for walleye tournament fishing is poorly suited for chasing panfish in small lakes. The boat you need to pull 2 skiers around the lake will probably be a poor handling boat when casting for bass.
Pick a boat based on how you will use it most often. Make a list of the times you boated last year and where you will be boating and how you will use the boat this season. Pick a boat that best suits where and how you will most often use it. Remember that all boats are compromises, but compromise too much and you will never be happy in your boat regardless of how you are using it. Once you figure out what you are really buying the boat for, start making more detailed decisions.
The debate between aluminum and fiberglass boats will always be a main concern for the boat buyer. If you are buying a tournament quality fishing boat the weight difference between comparable glass and tin boats is very small. If you are shopping for a smaller boat, aluminum will definitely save a few pounds and if you are looking for high-speed performance or pulling skiers, glass will definitely be your first choice. If you choose aluminum, will you go with a riveted or welded hull? Both have advantages and disadvantages. How important is weight-do you own a large enough tow vehicle to haul the boat you are looking at. Nothing is harder on automobile engines and transmissions than pulling a boat that is too large.
Aluminum hulls are very popular among fishermen who may have to travel in shallow water, or beach their boat often. Manufacturers of aluminum boats are limited in hull designs because aluminum cannot be formed into the shapes that fiberglass can. Today, most aluminum boats are extremely durable, but look for aluminum in the .090” to .100” to guarantee a strong enough hull to stand up to large, rough water.
Fiberglass hulls are gaining popularity every season.
Glass boat builders can form a hull to any shape imaginable, which leads to
boats that are usually faster, dryer and softer riding than aluminum boats.
Glass boats are a little more work to keep looking nice, but the choices in
colors and cosmetics makes it worth it to some boat buyers.
Preparation: Now that we have covered the basics of
choosing the right boat, let’s discuss how to prepare to make your final
decision. For most of us a boat is a major purchase and should be treated no
more lightly than buying a new house or car. Do your homework before the show
season starts. Make your list of how you will use the boat. Buying a fishing
boat? Will you use it on big or small lakes, casting or trolling, how many
people on a normal trip, how much gear do you need to store? All of these
questions need to be answered BEFORE you attend a show so you can maximize your
time looking at boats that actually fit your needs.
Now is also the time to make a “Wish List”. If you could buy a boat, full rig it and money was no option, what equipment would you purchase? Complete this list and carry it with you because the boat you purchase must be able to accommodate all this equipment. Thinking of adding a gas or electric motor for trolling? You better buy a boat with a transom that has room to mount one. Do you need livewells and/or baitwells? What about sonar and GPS-does the boat you are looking at have enough space to mount them and enough storage to carry the batteries you will need? By having this list with you as you shop, you will quickly eliminate choices and get down to comparing the boats that you really should be purchasing.
Electronics and Accessories: While you are making this list remember to note all the electronic gear and accessories you will want to add. Again, make sure you think about how you will use the boat. Will you need 1 or 2 sonar units, how many GPS units, downriggers, rod holders, compass, marine radio, on-board battery charger, mooring cover, compass or extra seats? All of these items are essential to some boat buyers and others only need a few of these items.
A quick note about the electronics on most boat packages you will see at the show. Most boat manufacturers offer packages that usually include a sonar unit and bow mount trolling motor. More times than not both of these items are not adequate for anything but the most basic of use. Most electric trolling motors are underpowered for the boat and usually come with too short of a shaft to use in anything but the calmest of conditions. Most sonar units are VERY basic and do not show anything more than the depth of water.
The question now is should you buy your electronics and accessories from the dealer at the time you purchase your boat. My personal feeling is yes, you should. Even though you may be able to get a little better price through a catalog, buying the items through your dealer gives you a few advantages.
First, a dealer should replace a defective item they sold quickly and without any problems. If you buy your equipment through another source, do not expect your dealer to pull an item from his shelves to replace yours. Second, the price for a dealer to install equipment bought from them is usually much lower than for that purchased from an outside source. Third, you have the ability to put the cost of your electronics and accessories into your boat loan. This allows you to purchase the electronics and accessories you want and have them rigged when you pick up the boat.
For example, lets take a boat, motor and trailer that sells for $15000.00 with the basic trolling motor and sonar. We will use a 12-year term and 7.25% interest rate, which gives us a payment of roughly $157.00 a month. Now lets take the same boat and upgrade the trolling motor, upgrade the sonar, add a GPS, put on some Pursuit rod holders, add a cover and extra seat, add a spare tire and other accessories that add up to $3000.00. Now that same package fully rigged sells for $18000.00. Using the same term and interest rate, your boat fully loaded will cost around $187.00 a month. A difference of about $7.50 a week-or the cost of a couple trips to McDonalds. Buy your boat loaded with the accessories you want and start packing your lunch!
Trailers-Ignored but essential: The most important piece of your boat package is your trailer-unfortunately the trailer is usually given the least thought. How many days a year are you on the water? If you are extremely lucky you may get to play on your boat 100 days a year. Even if this is the case, your boat is on the trailer 2 ½ days to every one it is in the water. Buying the right trailer saves a lot of headaches-especially if you pull your trailer often and have to launch your boat every time you will be using it.
The first thing to consider when looking at trailers is the amount and type of support system used. Bunk or roller trailers are by far the most common, and both offer advantages. If you are buying a small, light boat and will be using it often at unimproved ramps, a roller trailer may be the best choice. Make sure the trailer has enough rollers-at least 4 sets of 4 rollers-to support the boat properly. If you buy a larger, heavier aluminum boat, or a fiberglass boat, then a bunk trailer should be your first choice.
Just like with the roller trailer, be sure you have enough support with a bunk trailer. Trailers should have a minimum of 4 bunks, and 6 bunks is a better choice if you will be doing a lot of towing. Check out the boat on the trailer and be sure the bunks fit well on the hull. You want them to extend far enough forward to support the entire weight of the boat.
Another concern with the trailer is the tire size. I would not recommend buying any trailer with tires smaller than 12”. Again, if you will be spending a lot of time towing or have a heavier boat, consider going to 13 or 14” tires for easier towing. Another advantage to larger tires is the ability to find a spare most anywhere in the country. No matter where you travel you should be able to find a 13 or 14” tire with a 5-hole lug pattern. Of course this shouldn’t be a problem because you bought a spare with your boat package.
Two other features I wouldn’t be without on a trailer are a trailer jack and side guide-ons. A trailer jack makes it simple to maneuver the boat around the driveway or garage by using a wheel that folds up against the trailer frame when not in use. Side guide-ons make loading a boat a chore by keeping it centered on the trailer and not allowing wind to blow the boat off the rollers or bunks. Both of these items can be standard or options, depending on the quality of the boat package you are looking at, but should be added if they are not standard.
Motors-How big do you need: Another issue most boat buyers ignore is the size of the engine included in a boat package. Most dealers package boats with a motor that will attractively price the package. Unfortunately this engine is usually the smallest horsepower to power the boat. Take some time to consider upgrading the engine on any package you purchase.
Why more horsepower? Well, believe it or not the answer is not always just more speed. The horsepower rating on a boat gives you a good guideline for the size of engine that will allow the boat to perform close to its intended capabilities. Buy an engine that is no less than 80% of this rating and the boat will perform adequately. Adding more horsepower also helps when it comes time to trade-in or sell your boat. The key factor in staying close to the maximum horsepower is safety. An underpowered boat may have to be ran at full throttle to maintain headway into wind or heavy waves, leaving the operator unable to add more power if needed to fight a surprise larger wave or to keep the boat headed in the correct direction. Both are situations you want to avoid at all costs but can be safely handled with a larger engine.
Picking a dealer: In today’s boat market the buyer has more choices than ever before. Most manufacturers make a boat to handle almost every boating need. By choosing a boat from a dealer you feel comfortable with, the buying process is easier and you will enjoy a long relationship with someone you trust. Make sure your dealer has a fully stocked parts department, rigging crews and fully staffed service department. Ask if they have mechanics schooled in your particular brand of boat and motor.
If you feel it necessary, ask the dealer for references. If you will need off-season storage, is it available at your dealer? Picking a dealer close to you is not always a priority, but can be nice if you need to buy some small items for an upcoming outing. Make a trip to the dealership and look around. Be sure the employees are courteous and friendly and that the parts and service departments are clean and look fully stocked. This one step of the buying process may prove to be the most important one in years to come.
Safety: Hopefully this article has helped with the boat buying process and you are now the proud owner of a new boat. Now comes the fun part, but not before the most important part. Make sure your boat has all the necessary safety equipment required and maybe even a little more. While at the show, sign up for a boater’s safety course, preferably one taught by the Coast Guard or Auxiliary. These multi-week classes cover everything a boater needs to know and everyone should take them at least once.
Spend some time at an uncrowded dock early in the season to practice loading and launching your boat. Don’t wait until Memorial Day weekend to try and launch your boat for the first time. Make a list and follow it every time you pack, launch, load and unpack your boat. Give everyone in the family a responsibility. If you are new to driving a trailer, take the rig to an empty parking lot and practice backing the rig up until you can maneuver into a 10-foot wide slot. Practice makes perfect and gets the day off to a good start.
In the state of Michigan we have more registered boats than any other state. With thousands of miles of shoreline, everyone should take time to enjoy the water. Follow the tips in this article, do your homework, shop wisely and become one of us that looks forward to everyday on the water in our great state.