Buying A Used Boat
Boating can be a great way to make the most of a beautiful day, but a boat is a hefty investment. Of the many ways to stretch your dollar, buying your boat pre-owned is the best. We here at Club Royale know that can sound scary, so we’ve put together some tips for buying the right used boat. To learn more, or to see the used boats we have for sale, contact our store in Waterford, Michigan, today!
Build Your Budget
Your first step in any big purchase should be to build a firm and reasonable budget. When buying a boat, it’s easy to get attached to fancy or newer models that you end up unable to afford. Setting the budget beforehand will help you avoid any heartbreak or buyer’s remorse. Just make sure your budget includes more than just the sticker price—the cost of gear, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and more should also factor in.
Do Some Research
It’s always good to know as much about a particular make and model as possible before you buy it. With a used boat, that’s considerably easier, making it easier to discover what you want in a craft and which models should hold up well. Look around online for customer reviews, remembering to take them with a grain of salt. Even so, you might find a trend that helps you decide on a feature or whether a specific boat will work for you.
Size
You should also take into account how many people you’ll want to take on the water at a time. Every boat has a set passenger limit which you should never go over for safety reasons, so make sure you get a boat that can fit all the folks you want to drive around. That doesn’t mean you should get the biggest model you can find, though. You don’t want to pay out the nose for extra space and fuel that you don’t end up needing.
Records
With a used boat, it’s vital that you get as much information from the previous owner as possible before you buy a specific boat. Ask for maintenance records so you can see how well the vessel has been cared for and whether it’s due for any major maintenance soon. Also look into how many previous owners the boat has had. Use all of this information to verify that the asking price is a fair one.
Inspection
Your last step before finalizing a purchase is a visual inspection. Look for any obvious damage or excessive wear and tear, for mold and mildew, and for corrosion. Test the oil and fuel and various electrical systems as well.
Ready to get started? Contact us at Club Royale for more information, or to see the used boats we have available. We proudly serve the people of Waterford and Rochester, Michigan—let us serve you today!