Buying a boat advice

When buying a boat there are some key steps you should follow to make sure you get the perfect boat for your needs. Here you'll find my top tips to buying a boat.

Set a budget

Before you set foot on a single deck you need to think about how much money you want to spend on a boat. This might be a monthly repayment or simply an amount of money you are prepared to invest in your hobby.It might well change as you start your search but you have to narrow the market somehow and price is an easy way to do it. It's worth remembering that if costs get out of hand it's very difficult to have fun, and fun is why you're here.

Costs to consider

• Boat purchase price / monthly repayments
• Moorings - approx £350 per meter per annum ie 10m craft costs £3500 pa
• Fuel
• Servicing -  approx £500 per engine per annum
• Maintenance and lift out from £500
• Insurance
• Survey report

Unless you are a qualified marine engineer or just very lucky, you need to call in a surveyor on most boat purchases.Boats are fairly complex machines whose components and overall build need to be professionally scrutinised. The purpose of a survey is not to nit-pick and chip away at the offer price, it is to avoid a bad boat, one that will require serious and on going remedial work. Other, more serious or expensive issues or faults can be discussed and the offer price negotiated accordingly. 

Surveys predominantly form part of a used boat deal but can be employed for new boat sales.  

Choosing a boat type
The market can be broken down into several different types of craft. Open day boats, sportscruisers, flybridge and aft cabin cruisers and wheelhouse designs. But before you get to design types you need to ask yourself how and where you will be using the boat. River and coastal boats are designed for different tasks, if you know you are going to spend a couple of years on the river you will enjoy the experience a whole lot more if the boat you are on is designed for that job. Boats, especially second hand models, do not necessarily lose money all that quickly so you can afford to buy the right craft and change your boat along with your cruising style.

Ask yourself

• Where will I use the boat and for how long?
• How many people will be on board?
• Will we (all) overnight on the boat?
• How agile are the crew, is deck access a priority?
• Do I want to be sheltered or out in the elements

Dayboats
Any boat is, in theory, a dayboat, that is a boat you can send the day on. But what we really mean here is a smaller open craft, possibly with a small cuddy cabin, that is designed for harbour and inshore use. These can be of any speed and be powered by inboard or outboard engines. Smaller, lighter boats are perfect for trailing and are therefore easier and cheaper to maintain with home storage an option.

Sportscruisers
The most popular form of cruiser, a boat that offers a degree of interior accommodation, these fast, stylish craft can start from smaller, trailable sizes and run up to large, multi-million pound vessels. Almost always inboard powered, vessels over 30ft can offer hardtop option for the cockpit. For families, craft over 24ft can usually sleep four.

Flybridge
The idea of placing a flying bridge atop of a wheelhouse has been around almost as long as the motorboat itself but in the last 20 years this versatile design has really taken off. The winning mix sees a sheltered, comfortable accommodation on the deck level, usually including a lower helm position and a separate upper deck for a more exposed and exciting experience.

Aft cabin
As the name suggests, these boats work in a cabin in the stern of the boat in place of a cockpit. This delivers more and very private accommodation away from the forward interior sections. A usual bi-product of this design is a raised aft deck where seating and an outside steering position can be sited.

Wheelhouse
The classic motorboat design delivering a sheltered steering position and saloon on the deck level. Practical in nature, modern design now builds in more light and access in the form of cockpit and side deck doors and overhead hatches and sunroofs.

Buying a boat..........To be continued