Choosing the boat that's right for you


Boats!  What does that conjure in your mind?   White sails on a lazy blue lake or ocean?   The thrill of sailing hard into the wind with the boat heeled and taking water over the deck?   The deep, throaty sound of a power boat making its way to a favorite destination?   Or puttering around on a river, overshadowed by trees, listening to the sounds of cicadas and bull frogs?

Whatever boat you choose is good.  There are no rights or wrongs - except that you want a boat that is in good condition, and that is right for the kind of boating you want to do.  If you're on a river or lake, or planning to gunk-hole up creeks, then you need a boat with an appropriately shallow draft (depth below the waterline.)  Think about your budget; think about the time you have to spend on boating.   If you don't know much about boats, then read some sailing and boating magazines.  Visit marinas and talk to people about their boating experiences.  Visit yacht brokers and talk with them.   We've had some fun times sitting listening to sea stories in brokers' offices.  There are also places you can rent small boats for a few hours or a day, and other places that you can charter a larger boat for a week or more.   And if you're a real novice, then you can do some flotilla sailing, or even have someone act as captain for you. 

If you have never owned a boat before, then our recommendation would be to buy a used one first.  Find a broker that you like, and get them to help you.  Generally brokers sell boats 20' and over.  For smaller boats, you'll need to look on the web, on Craig's list, in magazines, and on bulletin boards in marinas and sailing clubs.  However, whatever size of boat you choose, you should always get it surveyed before you buy.   All kinds of boats can have problems, and you want to make sure that you get a boat that is in good condition.   Brokers can usually recommend surveyors, and you can always find them listed in magazines and on the web.  Depending on the size of the boat and where you live, you may need to get it registered by your state or by the Coast Guard.

When you are thinking about your time and budget considerations, you'll need to factor in maintenance.  All boats need to be looked after.  Once a year the bottom must be painted with anti-fouling, and that's a good time to see whether there are any obvious problems.   In fiberglass boats, it's possible to find cracks, blisters or holes in the resin, and these will need to be repaired before applying anti-fouling.  On the topsides, crack should be repaired before polishing.   Wooden boats should be checked for worm holes and caulking that is coming out of the seams.  Anything wooden -- cabin tops or trim, rails, seats...all will need sanding, varnishing or oiling.   Whether they are fiberglass or wood, maintenance takes about the same time.  But don't be deterred by this.   We ofen invited friends along to help, and made a party out of it.

Have fun!   Relax!   And get yourself a boat!
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