How to Purchase

Below are some handy resources to help you navigate the boat purchase and registration process.

Chapter 7: Negotiating the Price

Jerry Mona2023-10-26T15:40:51-05:00October 21, 2023|

This is the seventh of a 10-part series on how to buy a boat. If you have not already seen it, check out Chapter 6 – How to Do a Sea Trial. Once you have found a boat that meets your needs and passes your inspection, the next step is to negotiate the price. In order to increase the odds of a favorable outcome for you, the boat buyer, it is important to do some homework before you start talking figures. Assessing a Fair Value The most important thing you need to do to help you [...]

Chapter 6: How to Do a Sea Trial

Jerry Mona2023-09-25T15:27:32-05:00September 19, 2023|

This is the sixth of a 10-part series on how to buy a boat. If you have not already seen it, check out Chapter 4 – How to Evaluate a Used Boat. When shopping for a boat, taking a Sea Trial is an important step - especially if you are looking at a used boat. This is because it will enable you to see how the engine performs under load, check that all mechanical and electrical systems are working properly, and see how the boat rides/handles. It is also a good opportunity to learn how to [...]

Chapter 4: How to Evaluate a Used Boat

Jerry Mona2023-09-25T09:59:56-05:00September 9, 2023|

This is the fourth of a 10-part series on how to buy a boat. If you have not already seen it, check out Chapter 3 – Best Places to Shop for Boats. Once you have found an interesting boat listing or two, the first thing to do is contact the seller to get additional details and possibly arrange a time to check out the boat. The goal at this stage is to learn more about the boat and the seller to help you decide whether it is worth your time to go see it. INITIAL QUESTIONS [...]

Best Places to Shop for Boats

Jerry Mona2023-09-09T15:00:47-05:00July 25, 2023|

Chapter 3: Best Places to Shop for Boats This is the third of a 10-part series on how to buy a boat. You can see Chapter 2 - Establishing a Budget here. Now that you have an idea of what type of boat to purchase and approximately how much you want to spend, the next step is to locate candidate boats for sale near you. However, the process is slightly different depending on whether you are wanting to buy a New or Used boat. New or Used? Approximately 3 out of 4 first time boat buyers start with a [...]

How to Buy a Boat – Establishing a Budget

Jerry Mona2023-08-10T10:56:07-05:00June 26, 2023|

Chapter 2: Establishing a Budget This is the second of a 10-part series on how to buy a boat. You can see Chapter 1 - Identifying Needs here. Once you have decided on the type and approximate size of the boat you want, the next step is to establish a general budget to help guide your purchase. After all, you don’t want to waste time chasing after boats that you cannot afford. If you intend to pay with cash, this step is fairly straight-forward. You already know how much you have available and so the question becomes how much [...]

How to Buy a Boat – Identifying Needs

Jerry Mona2023-06-27T11:21:22-05:00June 9, 2023|

This is the first of a 10-part series on how to buy a boat. Shopping for a boat can be a bit overwhelming – especially if you are a first time buyer or have not purchased a boat in a long time. There are over a dozen boat types available and hundreds of brands to choose from. You need to do a little homework first to avoid wasting countless hours searching every online classified listing or running from dealer to dealer. To help narrow the field and find the right boat for you and your family, you need to [...]

How to buy a boat from a private seller

Jerry Mona2022-12-07T23:37:43-06:00November 11, 2022|

The vast majority of Used boats purchased today are bought directly from a private party. However, buying a boat from an individual instead of a dealer requires you to do a little more work and carries additional risks. In this article, I outline the key steps to purchasing a used boat and provide suggestions for how to protect your interests along the way. It is assumed that you have already found a used boat to potentially purchase. However, if you are still trying to decide which type of boat to buy or where to find a boat online, be [...]

How to Register a Boat

Jerry Mona2022-12-15T10:27:27-06:00November 10, 2022|

You just bought a boat and are anxious to start using it. But, before you can legally use it on public waterways, you likely need to register it with your state. What is a Boat Registration? Whereas a boat title designates who has legal ownership of a boat, the registration dictates whether the vessel can be legally docked, stored, moored and/or operated on public waters within that state. Nearly all motorized boats and even some non-motorized vessels are required to be registered. When you register your boat, you will need to pay a fee. The amount typically varies based on [...]

“This boat gives you a fast, dry, and smooth ride.” (Overall Rating: 10)

Milton K., 2015 Skeeter ZX225

“Wide beam and large cockpit. Love the open feel.” (Overall Rating: 9)

Rich G., 1998 Tiara Yachts 3500 Open

“The Formula brand is a well-built boat that uses high end components and has things such as fume detection for the bilge and other items like that are not seen on other brands. The seats are very comfortable and both interior and exterior are holding up extremely well. The boat handles great and has a very solid ride.” (Overall Rating: 10)

Capt Stubbing, 2005 Formula 37 PC

“Not many people are very familiar with Bryant but they build a quality boat that is a bit more affordable than some of the other premium names. I have had this boat 5 years now and it looks great and rides well.” (Overall Rating: 9)

Jerry M., 2013 Bryant 210

“It’s the best all-weather boat I’ve owned for lakes. Handles just about anything that’s marginal to get back to the ramp safely. And plenty of storage room, actually it could be too much room at times.” (Overall Rating: 10)

Howard B., 2015 Nitro Z7

“When I bought it , it was probably the best deal one could find for a fiberglass bass boat with absolutely no wood in it. The boat and Yamaha 70 have performed flawlessly for 12 years.” (Overall Rating: 10)

Jerome K., 2008 Stratos 176XT

“This model falls into the category that most salt water fishermen refer to as “Bay Boat”. It has a center console which provides tremendous stability and a deeper hull than a “flats” boat for smoother ride on choppy water. The boat is made for fishing and has very few comfort features for cruising. It is not my favorite hull because it draws a little more water than some of the other shallow water bay boats such as Pathfinder.” (Overall Rating: 9)

Ken L., 2005 Key West 196 Bay/Reef

“Great boat, solid ride… great bay boat for fishing. Fast with Yamaha 300!!” (Overall Rating: 10)

Rich N., 2023 Robalo Cayman 246 SD

“Excellent high-end Pontoon Boat with a 400hp R Mercury outboard Racing motor. Too nice to be a Pontoon Boat. Rear twin electric recliners.” (Overall Rating: 9)

Don M., 2019 Avalon Excaliber

“We had a lot of fun using this boat the past summer. it can accommodate nine persons, has comfortable seating for all passengers, is easy to board for both passengers and water skiers, handles well in rough water, is easy to launch and dock, looks great on the water and drew lots of compliments from all who saw it on the water.” (Overall Rating: 10)

John S., 2022 Tahoe T18

“Great boat and a great price point. Carolina flare and deadrise makes for an exceptionally dry boat which I would expect from any Carolina boat builder that builds primarily for the Atlantic. This is not a shallow draft boat for its size, however….I would say it drafts in 12″ +.” (Overall Rating: 8)

Rich N., 2020 Kencraft 218 Bay Rider