Matching Your Lifestyle
Perhaps the most important starting point is to ensure that you buy the right kind of boat that matches with what you want to get out of your life on the water.
Many different types of boats look great especially when you can visualise yourself in them all. Whether it's a sailing yacht, a motor boat, a go-faster get-anywhere rib or a centrally heated cosy river boat, the question is, which type best suits you, your family and the friends you're going to invite on board!?
You need to think carefully and establish what it is you want to get out of your boat, how far or how near you want to travel and what, if any are the physical limitations of your family that need to be taken into consideration.
Those who's world may revolve around having a boat to go waterskiing with, there's little point in looking at sail boats or even ribs with a 4hp, 2 stroke engine; they're not going to be quick enough or powerful enough to do the job. Equally, if your wife and children suffer from chronic seasickness its best to stick with canal and river boats or a trailer boat that you can use on lakes and in the sea, while the rest of the family enjoy life on the camp site!
Those who have bought a boat and then have regretted it have done so because they bought the wrong boat; and it's rarely to do with cost or maintenance problems or too much aggravation as they'd have you believe. It's simply that they bought a boat that did not suit them or their family.
Maybe they bought a boat that they found too big or difficult to manoeuvre for their experience, or they got into a situation that they found frightening, through a lack of confidence or knowledge. Although they often won't admit it, it is usually for these kinds of reasons that the few people who regretted buying a boat, did so. They obviously wanted to be on the water, they just needed to buy a boat that matched their needs, abilities and maybe in some cases limitations.
Think very carefully about what you and your family want out of a boat before you take one step outside your door into the world of boat buying.
Use our Lifestyle Checklist to help you decide.
What boat to buy
- Matching your lifestyle
- New or used
- What type of boat
