What You Need When You Buy a Boat
Here is what you need when you buy a boat, so if you have a great love of being out on the water and would love to be able to go on a marine adventure to exotic, warm places or take your friends and family out into the ocean for fishing and fun, then owning a boat may be the perfect thing for you. While many people may dream of getting a boat, there are many things you need to consider before you buy a boat for yourself. A vessel like this can be a significant investment for you, so you want to be sure it is a good decision. You also want to take your time going through the process so you can get a boat you will enjoy. Here are a few basics of what you need most and what to do when you are buying a boat:
- Consider the Purpose – Before you even start looking at all of the different boats out there, think about what your purposes for the boat will be. Do you plan to use it mainly for fishing trips with a group of buddies or just one or two people? Will it be for recreational trips for you and the family? The purpose is important because it can help you determine the size of the boat you need and what features in the boat are most important to you.
- Budget – Budget is always an important consideration when you are looking at boats. You need to know how much you are willing to spend and what you can comfortably afford to get. This decision can help you determine if you look at brand new boats from dealers or used boats from private owners and brokers.
- Inspection – You never want to buy anything this significant without checking it over closely. You should always spend some time looking at the boat yourself, but it is well worth it to you to hire a surveyor to check over the boat for you as well. The surveyor can check inside and out to make sure the boat is sound and a worthwhile investment for you.
- Closing the Sale – When you are getting ready to finalize the sale, you are going to need to decide if you want to register the boat in your state or document the boat federally with the Coast Guard. If your boat is for recreation and is over twenty-six feet, you have a choice if you want to document the boat or not. If the boat is for commercial purposes, documentation is a legal requirement. Documentation is done either through the Coast Guard Documentation Center or a third party service like U.S. Vessel Documentation. You will need to provide forms and documents like the bill of sale to get your certificate of documentation.
Go Slowly through the Process
It is always a good idea not to try and rush through the process and just buy the first boat you see so you can say you own one. Take your time, do your homework and research things thoroughly so you can end up with a boat that you truly love and that everyone will get enjoyment from down the road.
