By Johnny Holden
Have you been thinking about buying a boat? Let’s go over a few things to consider so you can make the boat-buying process a more pleasurable experience.
Some important questions to ask yourself are: “What do I want a boat for? Will I be using it with my family? Is it mostly for fishing? Skiing? Pleasure?” Now, pontoons are more family oriented with lots of seating and a not-so-bouncy ride. Bass boats are for the more serious anglers: You and one passenger is typically all these “bad boys” can handle. Fish and Skies are more ski with a little bit of “fishability”. Mid-engine ski boats are all about the pulling power for skiers and towables. Aluminum V-hull fishing boats are for what? You got it…Fishing! (See, you are getting better at this now). Deck boats are basically a planing pontoon. They have all the seating but you will experience a rougher ride. Runabouts provide a good combination for pleasure and skiing.
Now, new or used? If you have your heart set on buying a new boat, just pick the type that suits your needs, pick the color and go with it! Used boats, however, are a subject that I could write a whole book about.
I have heard people say they want to buy a cheap boat to see if they are really “boating” people. My observation is if you buy a cheap boat and it stays in the shop the whole boating season then guess what? You are not a boating person!
Let’s go over the basics of used boats. Always, always, always check the compression on outboards. You usually do not want to see any cylinder more than 15 lbs different than the other cylinders. Tilt the motor or out-drive up, then shake the motor to see if the transom is weak. You do not want to see any movement in the transom area. Spin the prop shaft to make sure it is not bent and check that the propeller is not out of round. Walk around on the floor to check for any soft spots or rot. Figure out if this boat will provide enough horsepower for what you intend to use it for. Is the steering system adequate? Is all instrumentation accurate and in working order? It’s a bad day when your fuel gauge says its full, and then you run out of gas. Consider the condition of the upholstery, carpet and finish. All these can be renewed, but it is a costly affair. You can take the boat to a dealer to have it checked out, if you are really not sure what you are looking for.
When you do buy a boat, I recommend getting insurance on the boat. Boat insurance is really inexpensive for what it covers. Make sure all your safety equipment is up to par. Let’s go boating and enjoy the summer!