Even buying a rowboat can be intimidating to the novice. You don't know what to look for or how to evaluate a boat. Make sure you do your homework. Buy a book or two on the subject and talk to friends who own boats. Read boating periodicals (you can find titles like Boating, Cruising World, Soundings, and Motorboating & Sailing at newsstands, marinas, and bookstores) and check the classified ads.
Attend a boat show. Sign up for a class. Become familiar with terminology, styles, and prices. As you talk to boat owners, you'll also find out what problems people experience with their boats, what features they find most useful, and how different types of boats handle. Pretty soon you'll know what you want and recognize a good deal when you see one.
You'll want to look at prospective boats in terms of:
- performance
- looks
- cost
- physical condition
- options/accessories
- safety
Carefully inspect any boat you're considering. If you're spending thousands of dollars on a boat, new or used, you may want to have the boat professionally inspected by a surveyor. (If you're borrowing money, your bank or insurance company may require a surveyor to appraise your boat.) To find a surveyor, ask around at boating shops, boat yards, and marinas, check the Internet or call the National Association of Marine Surveyors at 1-800-822-6267 or www.nams-cms.org or the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors at 1-800-344-9077 or www.marinesurvey.org. Surveyors charge a fee based on the value of the boat, and you'd have to pay the fee, regardless of whether you bought the boat. If possible, accompany the surveyor to the inspection. If the surveyor discovers problems with the boat, you can walk away from the deal or use the information to negotiate a lower price. For used boats, you'll also want to know the boat's repair history, so get a copy of the maintenance log or service records.
Safety, of course, is a major concern. Here are just a few of the questions you need to ask to evaluate a boat's safety:
- Is the boat stable?
- Is the boat equipped with nonslip surfaces on walking areas?
- Are there flotation devices, flares, fire extinguisher, VHF radio, and anchor?
- Are handrails bolted through (not screwed to the surface)?
