Let’s continue our discussion of affordable boats. To really understand what you’re buying look at the factors that can affect a boat’s price. Compare this to the last time you car shopped. It was probably daunting, sorting through the variety of styles and options. Still a car is basically a simple machine with a single function.

Now think of all the extra stuff that a boat has to do. It’s not only a moving vehicle, but also a home on the water, and a place of refuge in a hostile environment. Now add in the fact that any boat is probably best suited for only one type of cruising. All this complexity adds a great deal to the confusion. The sticker price of a boat represents the sum total of the materials, labor, equipment, overhead and mark-up to bring the boat to market. Unfortunately, the quality of the materials and equipment and the skill and efficiency of the folks who build the boat can vary widely. Ditto all the other associated costs.

How do you sort through it? Look beyond the boat’s beautiful looks and desirable interior: the things they showed you at the boat show. The real quality (or lack thereof) is often most apparent looking where the builder never expected you to look: under floorboards and in those other hard to reach places. Train your eye to seek out the things they don’t choose show you. Be advised one common technique used is to glossing up the interior to keep the buyer from noticing shabby workmanship hiding just behind the finish trim. Trust me, a builder with nothing to hide will be glad to accommodate.

A careful buyer should always beware. One who knows the issues and asks the right questions, however, is more likely to get a quality boat at an affordable price: not just a cheap one.