How to Inspecting Your New Boat, a Small guide about Inspecting Your New Boat

The viewing, or inspecting your boat is a very important part of the buying process.  Inspecting will allow you to see what you are buying before you pay any money.

You may want to use a surveyor to do this, as they will perform a very detailed inspection of the boat you are interested in.  You can be present if you like, as this will give you the chance to ask questions if you like.

Although using a surveyor is the best way to do an inspection, you can do it yourself if you are experienced and confident enough.  There are many parts of the boat to inspect, which makes it nearly impossible for beginners.

If you inspect yourself, make sure you look at  the bottom of the hull, the interior, the control cables, electrical system, pumps, and be sure that everything is in working order.  If the boat has been well maintained, you shouldn't have a  problem looking everything over.  

The engine should also be checked, as it is very important to the boat.  If you don't know a lot about boat engines or engines in general, you  should get a mechanic to look over it for you.  You may want to do this anyway, as the engine can be very tough to inspect.

If everything is up to par, it's time to take a test drive.  Before you fire up the engine, check to see if it's already warm.  If the engine has trouble starting or smokes when cold, the seller could have warmed up the engine prior to you arriving to disguise any problems.

Check for oil leaks as well, checking the bilges at the start and end of the test drive.  When moving around, see how the boat performs. You should experiment with hitting the waves from

different angles, looking for any type of roll or pitch.

Make sure you also test that all the instruments are working correctly, then run the engine for a period of time to see if it overheats.

If you are buying a sail boat, put the sails up and see how the boat performs under wind pressure alone.  Also, make sure you examine the mast and how the boat rigs under load.

If the boat you are planning to buy doesn't pass any of your tests, don't rule it out just yet.  If you are willing to put both time and money into making things work, you can use any problems as bargaining tools to try and get a lower price on the boat.

4 Tips For Buying The Perfect Fishing Boat

The sun is about to rise and the weather is crisp. You pack your tackle box, grab your pole and buy some worms. You make your way to the fishing dock dreaming you had the perfect fishing boat so you were landlocked no more. Now that dream can become reality with these 4 easy tips for finding and purchasing the perfect fishing boat!

Have a clear understanding of the purpose of the fishing boat. Obviously the boat is going to be used for fishing, but is it going to be used on oceans or in lakes? For day time trips or overnight stays? If you play to stay in your boat overnight, be sure to choose a boat with a hull which will allow you to ride the waves much better than a boat without one. 

Make sure to have a clear understanding of your budget. Boats are very expensive items. You should be well acquainted with your finances before you take on the extra burden of a boat purchase. Boats with hulls for overnight stays and rough waters are obviously more expensive than small boats for small lakes. Know your limitations.

Read and understand the warranties fully before making a purchase. A warranty can be your best friend. Make sure the dealer you buy the boat from offers you the proper coverage in case there is any defect or problem with your boat. You don’t want to end up having to pay huge amounts to fix your boat because you forgot to check out the warranties!

Make sure the boat has proper certification. The NMMA, or the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association is an organization that tests boats that are manufactured by different companies. They only certify those boats that pass their rigorous testing. Any boat certified by the NMMA is one that you would feel safe owning. 

Also, just like cars, boats must be registered. Be prepared to register your boat just like your vehicle (i.e. paying money). On top of that expense, you must now stock your boat with life jackets, brand new fishing gear, food and a cooler so you can get fishing!