Are you looking for adventure on the open water, but you don't know where to begin when shopping for a boat? I know exactly how you feel so I've put together some boat buying tips. Last year, I got the fever, you know what I'm talking about., that sensation when you want to buy something big!  I caught the boat fever.  I wanted to start traveling on the open waters, but I didn't know what kind of boat I needed.  While I'm no expert on boating, I can provide you with a few boat buying tips.

Budget

Ok, let's be honest, we have to take into consideration that we are not all rich and famous.  We all can't go out and buy a small yacht.  You will need to figure out how much money you want to spend on a boat.  Figure out the price range that accommodates your budget.  Please be realistic, buying a boat is not the same as buying a car.  The bigger the boat, the higher the price.  If this is your first boat, I would recommend buying a used boat.

Storage, Maintenance, and Towing

Now that you've figured out that this isn't going to be easy.  Let's talk about the other important boat buying tips and considerations to think about.  Do you have adequate storage space? Will you have to rent a place to store your boat?  You want to make sure you have somewhere to put your boat when you are not using it.

Whether you are buying a new boat or a used boat, with owning a boat comes maintenance and care.  You will need to ensure that  you provide the care that your boat will need to maintain its integrity.  You wouldn't drive your car a year and not have an oil change would you?  While your boat does not require as much maintenance as an automobile, you need to  have the regularly scheduled maintenance recommended by the manufacturer of the boat. 

Type of Boat

Ok now we are going to talk about the best part and my favorite boat buying tip.  Aside from your budge, this is the most important factor in boat buying.  What type of boat do you want?  That depends on what activities you are looking to do in the boat.  Are you an entertainer? Then you may want to look into buying a pontoon party boat or a deck boat.  Are you wanting to learn to fish? Then a bass boat is right up your alley.  What about water sports?  If you want a boat with speed and that is designed for water sports you may be interested in looking at high performance boats.  While there are a multitude of boats on the market, I recommend you do your fair share of research on your boat type.  Don't forget to take into consideration if you want to take your boat into salt water and freshwater, not all boats are made for the high seas. 

These tips on buying a boat are  just to get you started.  Some people say the best days of owning a boat are the day you purchased your boat and the day that you sell your boat.  While that does not hold true in my eyes, it may hold true in some.  Boating is a lifestyle, a sense of freedom and solitude.  Don't rush into it.  Take your time, test drive some boats, find your passion, and set sail!