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You’re Making this Boat Buying Thing
A Lot Harder Than it Needs To Be…
There I go implying that boat buying should be simple. Actually I’m just
questioning why when buying a boat folks ignore the techniques that
serve them so well when they make other major decisions. How do we buy
cars? There are hundreds of models with thousands more options: mind
boggling combinations. Still when ready to buy we don’t spend a lot of
time looking at cars that are designed to do significantly different
things and then try to find one that does both of them well. We rarely
look at cars that cost twice as much as our budget or bemoan the fact
that an economy family car is wanting compared to a luxury SUV.
We use the same screening mechanisms when we buy a house, starting with
what we can afford. Stir in the minimum requirements (bedrooms, baths
etc.) and that combination often makes much of the decision for us. It’s
not that we don’t want the brand new five-bedroom beach house, it’s just
far enough from our own reality that it doesn’t occur to us to consider
it an option.
With boats, however, many of us spend more time looking at boats that
don’t suit our needs or our bank accounts. All it does is confuse and
confound. So, STOP! Take inventory on paper of what suits your needs and
cruising horizons starting with what you can afford. Look at used, new,
and custom boat options that fit your own equation. If used or new boats
are the ticket, look at what’s out there and don’t become frustrated by
what is not. If custom is a possibility, don’t assume you can meet all
your expectations and save money to boot.
The major goal is the focus. You are not making an irreversible
decision. If you are like most of us you’ll probably be surprised how
much you will enjoy boating even if you’re NOT on the boat of your
dreams.
But that’s just my opinion….
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