Boat Buying Mistake #4
Trying To Buy the Boat of Your Dreams at the Lowest Price.
I know you are a great shopper and that you've gotten some great deals in the past. And you can get a great deal on your boat purchase, but please be careful. Don't let your dream become a nightmare. There are so many factors to consider when buying a boat and price is only one of them.
Remember that you are looking for low "cost," not the cheapest "price." Price is what you spend initially for your boat - cost would be the total of everything you paid for the boat while you owned it. Let me explain. When my son was 5 we bought him a Schwinn bicycle. The price was very high. When he was nine we bought him a K-Mart bike. The price was very low. Now he's a few years older. The K-Mart bike never worked as well as the Schwinn, it needed multiple repairs and new parts, plus its value now is virtually zero. The Schwinn needed little fix-up and always worked great. And it is still worth close to what we paid for it. The K-Mart bike had the lowest price, but the Schwinn had the lowest over - all cost and was certainly the better value and the wisest choice.
Think Low Cost, Not Low Price!
From now on, be sure to look for a low cost boat, not a low priced boat. You don't own the cheapest car being built today, because you wouldn't be satisfied. You won't be satisfied with the cheapest boat either!
Unfortunately, it will be harder to identify a good boat than a good car. There are over 400 manufactures of boats! Each one has a different combination of lengths, widths, weight, power, materials, options and guarantees. It can be mind - boggling for anyone.
Look for companies (especially engine companies) that have been in business for a while (at least 10 years is best). After you decide on a length for your boat, be sure it has enough power - A Big Mistake people make in buying a boat is trying to save money by buying a smaller engine. Your family will never be happy with a boat that isn't powerful enough.
Then look for options like seat arrangements, radios, coolers, storage, drink holders, gauges, depth finders, or whatever type of equipment you might like. This should help you narrow your choices down to a few different boats that would probably work for you.
Next, look at how the boat is made and the quality of the materials. As your familiarity grows, you'll quickly notice the quality differences of the fiberglass, gel-coat, windshields, seats, vinyls, and carpet. Ask about thickness, guarantees, assembly procedures and longevity. Look hard and you'll notice details, workmanship, materials used, where the weak points are and where the strength is. Shake the seats, pound the hull, lean on the windshield, bounce on the cushions, jump on the floor, work on the hinges, and sit behind the wheel, use the ladder-do everything. This is how you'll use it, so you might as well test it out.
It Is The Easy Way...But The Wrong Way!
I've seen people go from 19' boat to 19' boat and compare only length, power, and price. That's easy...but it is wrong! You must go through the whole boat...(Who made it, what materials were used, what assembly procedures were followed, what equipment is standard)...in order to make an informed decision. Then you'll get a great deal!
Our dealership has been here over 58 years. We decided a long time ago that the price of a cheap boat is just too expensive. I have to admit that years ago we tried to carry the "lowest priced" brands available, but they just don't work out in the long run. We had trouble getting our orders on time and the new boats would be delivered to us incomplete and needing further fix - up. One manufacturer even told me "at those prices you'll have to expect problems!" We would fix up the boats before we sold them, but our customers wouldn't be happy. The boats didn't "feel" right. Parts were always coming loose, thin upholstery would always rip; the ride was rough and uncomfortable.
A Cheap Boat Was No Fun for Anybody
Now, we only carry new boats that are the very best for our customers. Our goal is to be able to offer the best combination of quality, value and pricing. Strong companies, making excellent products. Boats that we are proud to sell and you'll be proud to own. We can show you a wide variety of family boats with excellent features and benefits that you and your family will enjoy for years and years. And every one of our boats comes to you at the low cost that you really want.
Price can be a very heavy factor today, but it is the cost of your enjoyment over the next 5, 10, 15, or even 20 years that is going to decide if you have received a great deal or not. You can't make a good deal with a bad guy, and the cheapest price is inevitably on the cheapest product.