Bayliner Boats - Boat Buyers Guide

Hi gang, Rick Ostler here from North American Waterway bringing you Bayliner Boats along with news and views from the boating industry. I don’t know about everyone else, but every time I go to the gas station and fill up my car, I can feel the pain in my wallet.

Although gas prices have gone down a bit in the past couple weeks, they have still risen greatly in the past year. But, the passion to wake board hasn’t left, and unfortunately that means that we still need to fuel our boats! So, that got us thinking here at wake board stuff, what goes into purchasing a boat? What are the most fuel-efficient boats? How does a first-timer go about purchasing a boat, what are they looking for? Well, we did some research, and you’ll love the information we’ve come up with. It’s our very own beginners boat-buying guide! Over the next week, we will be presenting our guidelines for buying a boat, and our reviews of various different boats, so stay tuned!

There are so many things to consider when buying a boat: insurance, brand, warranty, maintenance, and of course, how much it will all cost. Well, the average boater boats 75 hours/season, and 95% of boats are less than 26 feet, which does not have much of an effect on the cost of fuel. 64% of those buyers purchase less than 50 gallons of gas per season, that’s the equivalent of 2 trips to the gas station for an SUV. So, for a $500,000 large boat that uses 100 gallons in gas per weekend, if there were a $.50 increase in gas, it would result in an increase of $50 over the weekend. Whereas, a smaller boat, that only require 20 gallons a weekend will result in a $10 increase over the weekend.

That being said, now its time to figure out which boat is the right boat for you! There are so many to choose from, over 7 different brands, all with different models, features, and prices.

1. Well, one of the first questions you have to ask yourself is how often am I going to be boarding (realistically), and how experienced am I? If you are a beginner, and do not plan on boarding enormous amounts of hours for awhile, then a used or pre-owned boat may be the best way to go. If you have your heart set on a new boat, but you are a beginner, you want to make sure that you get a boat that does not create a large wake, instead get one that creates a small to medium wake, allowing yourself to increase your experience before you move on to bigger wakes.

2. Now, what is the difference between all these boats? You have inboard boats, all purpose fishing boats, bow riders, closed bow runabouts, cuddy cabins, deck boats, jet boats, pontoon boats… what do they all mean, and what is right for you? Well, for wake boarding, any of the above can work, but the best type is an inboard boat. An inboard boat has a “v-drive” engine, which is placed in the rear of the boat, near the transom. This placement allows for larger wakes. There are also ballast tanks that help weigh the boat down (generally, they can be automatically filled or emptied to regulate the weight). Most boats also have something known as a wedge, a piece of metal that I behind the propeller, and helps to shape the wake.

3. Now, there are other things to consider, other than just the boat and operating costs. Maintenance can get pricey if your boat is not well taken care of. A freshwater wash down after each use, and keeping your boat covered between uses can go a long way in the life of your boat. There are routine maintenance costs, like with most big purchases, like oil changes and winterizing.

4. Next, is where you are going to keep your boat. You can’t store it in your driveway with your car, so what is the cost of storing your boat? Well, the cheapest solution is to keep the boat on a trailer on your property. But, you can also use rack storage which keeps your boat in a covered shed. And, for those who want convenience or have larger boats, a marina slip, though a bit pricier is the way to go.

5. You also have to take into consideration insurance prices, which varies depending on the length and type, cost of the boat, and the level of coverage you are looking for. Before purchasing a boat be sure to contact your insurance agent and get quotes for insuring various boats before you make a final decision. You can always reduce your insurance cost by taking a boater’s education course too!

6. The best information you can get is from people who own or have owned boats, and can give you first hand experience, ask around, and find out what brands they liked and didn’t like. Then, go to various boat shows and dealers and talk to people about what you’re looking for and what their boats have to offer. Always make sure to test-drive the boat (yes, believe it or not you can actually do that!). It’s a lot like a car, it’s a big investment, and you want to make sure it’s the perfect fit and that you will be happy behind the wheel. Thanks to; wakeboardStuff.com: Shut up and Wake: Boat-buyer's guide part 1