The Right Boat for the Job!
by Captain Tom Martin
Are you ready to buy your first boat? Where do you start? What are the most important issues to consider? How do you choose the best boat for your needs? Let’s look at some of the things to consider as you search for that dream boat.
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Choosing
Choosing the right boat for your needs is one of the most difficult choices to make when you set out to buy a boat. Determining what your boating needs actually are, might be even more difficult. Things begin to get complicated when you consider the large number of boat builders and models available, multiplied by the many different types of boats, each with a myriad of options and extras.
Mix into the equation the fact that most folks want a boat that does several tasks well and you could make a career of just shopping for a boat and some folks do.
Some people keep buying boats until they find the right one. Others shop until they’re so tired they accept whatever boat they last looked at, as something they can live with.
Let’s consider coming up with an organized approach that rely on basic principles that may help get you pretty close to knowing what you’re interested in viewing.
First, make up your mind on what you need before stepping onto the showroom floor. Just what is it you and your family or friends want to do with a boat? Sail, camp, cruise, fish, swim, beach it, just go fast, go short or long distances and many more choices. Will there be one, two or more people onboard? Will it be a compromise boat doing two or more tasks? This decision making should involve all those individuals who will be aboard. No matter what the result of this discussion on how you will use the boat it will give you a good sense of not only what kind of boat but who really is interested in what. That might be the most valuable result!
Okay, you know what you want; now decide how much you want to spend. Also budget in any future cost of storage, maintenance, insurance, fuel and such the best you can. Hopefully your budget will assist you in developing an idea of value and just what the cost of a boat will be. Of course this leads to an important decision should you look at new or used boats?
We should assume all boats will need maintenance. A word of Caution! Unlike being in a car on land, you’ll be taking your family and friends on to the water where you can’t just pull over to the side of the road and call AAA for assistance. You will have to rely on the good will of other boaters and the Coast Guard who may not be nearby. Used boats need more maintenance and care. If you’re handy this might not present a problem.
Cost wise, new boats, like new cars, loose value once they are driven off the showroom floor. This means used boats with low engine hours and light use are your best value. The older the boat the more you can expect to upgrade and invest in the electronics, gear and such to current safe standards.
:If you’re new to boating consider starting with a smaller boat than you think you need. Aside from the cost savings it is easier to learn and develop boating skills in a smaller vessel. Separate your long term goals, like circumnavigating the globe, from your immediate goals like going sailing on the lake in your home county. Get your feet wet first. Maybe you don’t need that dream boat yet.
Another principle of budgets and size is to only buy a boat as big as you need not as big as you can afford. So many folks get into boats that are too big for them, simply because they can afford it. Many others get in to the bigger is better syndrome and keep buying bigger and bigger boats. Fact is the bigger the boat the less time you get to play with it.
Big boat maintenance is an incredible 15% annually on the average. More maintenance, bigger slips, more fuel use, more skill operating it, higher insurance and more people to operate it safely. On the water size doesn’t always mean safety nor will it ever make it feel like you’re on land. Safe boating comes from skill and a conscious effort to be safe. The right size is as important as the right type of boat.
Before getting into shopping lets discuss boats and boat types and what each type does. There are two main types of boats sail or p ower. Each share a lot like cost, maintenance, skills and care yet the character and needs of those who use them is quite different.
Sailboats generally go slower. Sailboats rely on wind or a smaller auxiliary engine. Sailing takes practice and skill. Sailors must control the sails to achieve forward motion in a direction of choice. You can’t always go the direction you want; sometimes you have to tack to an objective. Sailing school is a good investment. At times you just go “sailing” which can be an objective in itself. Sailboats are generally designed to “go with the flow” and through adjustments in the sails (reefing) can handle nasty weather and keep going. Many sailboats are designed to sail around the world.
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Power boats generally go faster, other than trawlers, which are designed to go long distances at slower speeds. Power boats reflect the purpose they were designed for either for pleasure cruising or other uses.
Fishing boats vary by use with plenty of crossover such as being used on lakes, rivers, shallow water and off shore. All fishing boats are designed to fish from; fish boxes, live bait wells, low sides, rod holders, outriggers, center consoles, little or no cabins and more. Shallow draft or flat bottom for lakes, Jet boats for rivers, Deep Vee for larger lakes, bays and near shore, large and small sport fish for offshore.
Family cruisers share many specifications with fishing boats but have cabins, galleys and swim platforms. The family that wants to overnight and fish has numerous compromise boats available. Yet as you add on more accommodations for cruising you move further and further from a fishing boat style.
Go fast boats are just that, big engines, narrow beam, less accommodations yet you can get to your destination rapidly. Trawlers are the opposite of go fast boats in which you go slowly, comfortably and usually a long distance.
With both sail and power there are many variations on these themes to include mono-hull or multi-hull, inboard engine, outboard engine, gas or diesel, flybridge or express, center cockpit or aft cockpit and many more. Plus there are a wide variety of compromise boats.
Sail or power your first and most challenging choice. For many this is not such a big thing. Life and location have developed their interest. For example, I have been a sailor most of my life, and owned sailboats for over thirty years.
.My new interest is to “gunkhole” those hard to get to places in Florida, the Bahamas and much of the east coast of the USA
The type of boat I’m looking for has to be shallow draft, have overnight accommodations, be long range, have a top speed of 14 knots, a diesel inboard, a sheltered steering station and a protected prop. Sounds like a trawler but no I’d like a low profile for bridges and sea kindliness. The closest boat that matches my dream is a New England Lobster boat and that might be what I end up with.
Captain Tom's Dream Boat...
It is obvious how I plan to use the boat. It should be equally obvious to you when you choose your own dream or in-between boat.
Note: It has been said, "the two happiest days in a boater’s life are the day they buy their boat and the day they sell it". This is human nature and no explanation is requied. But consider the fact you might someday sell this “perfect boat” you found. Therefore resale value is important. Check each manufacture’s resale value in the used boat section of the newspaper, the internet, consumer guides, use boat guides, BUC book values when available. Quality is reflected in how well a boat holds its value.
Hints!
Look at as many boats as possible. Boat shows are good!!!
Get an opinion of your own all boaters have opinions.
Listen to other’s opinions on boats.
Ignore some opinions and advice.
Boat brokers are the same as auto salesmen, need I say more.
When you’ve narrowed it down to a couple of boats if your crew hasn’t been involved, get them involved.
Give all your crew a pencil and pad so they can list the pros and cons of each boat. Compare notes when you get home.
Never flip a coin if it comes down to two choices, perhaps your hesitant because neither is the right one.
Take as many boat rides as possible on as many different boats in good and bad weather.
Rent or charter similar or the same boats.
A sea trial should be a part of any deal.
Have a used boat surveyed if you’re serious about buying it.
Hopefully at some point in time you will arrive at feeling you have found the right boat. Don’t rush the process make it an enjoyable and family project.
For additional questions you can leave a message on the Yacht Club Forum at LyndaleIsland.com
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