These days, you can shop for anything online—from tacos to socks to barbecue grills—and with the click of button, have it delivered to your doorstep. It might be tempting to take advantage of the same technology in making your next boat purchase, and you should. But there are still advantages to going to a boat show or visiting a boat dealership. Here are the pros and cons of each.
Research Rules
Thanks to the internet, we now have unprecedented access to information about the boats we want to buy. So a good way to start your research online is by asking general questions in search engines to find out which type of boat best serves your needs. Whether you’re a striper angler in the Northeast or chasing redfish in skinny water down South will dictate which style of boat best suits you. Also, are you looking for a bare-bones boat to get the job done, one laden with creature comforts and amenities, or some combination that serves the family as well as the fish?
Once you pick a few manufacturers, head over to their websites. Many builders have a “build my boat” prompt that will let you pick a power choice as well as any options you’d like to consider, and in the end provide you with a national manufacturer’s suggested retail price. With that you can build a comparison framework to see which boat fits your budget and which offers the most bang for your buck. (For example, you can see what comes standard on one boat versus options on another.) The caveat is that a suggested retail price versus the price you actually pay will likely be dictated at the local-dealership level. Also, the dream boat you assemble on the website might not be available in inventory, and you might have to settle for what’s available on a dealer’s showroom floor or schedule a build that could take months to complete.
Third-Party Sources
Another drawback of websites is that you’re looking at every boat through rose-colored glasses—and you won’t get a full sense of any particular boat. Thankfully, we have an inventory of boat reviews online to give you expert analysis on a particular boat. (Our sister publication, Boating, also posts in-depth reviews at boatingmag.com.) You can also watch video walk-throughs on different boats to see how they look on the water in use, not just on paper. Also keep an eye out for “roundup” articles that compare several brands of one type of boat in one place so that you can see how they stack up.
Up Close and Personal
It might be tempting to take the wealth of information available online and make a purchase, either from a manufacturer, dealer, broker or private seller, sight unseen. Yet, nothing beats viewing a boat in person to see if it passes the eyeball test. And in that regard, there’s no better way to check out several boats you might be interested in all at once than at a boat show. If you’re interested in a specific brand or style, take time to walk through not just that boat, but all of its competitors, and maybe even different styles that could be a better fit. You might find that one has a preferable cockpit but another has a better livewell setup or maybe more seating for your family. There’s no way to know for sure unless you put boots on the ground (perhaps more appropriately, on deck). Plus, you might be able to schedule a sea trial to see how it actually runs on the water.
Once you’ve narrowed down your choice, your best bet is buying through a dealer. For one, dealerships can beat the MSRP and will work with you to rig your boat exactly as you’d like it, with the ability to install electronics or amenities that might not be offered directly from the manufacturer. But most important, the dealer will be able to service your boat. If you buy through other means, you’re likely on your own.
The good news is, if you’ve spent your screen time researching boats instead of doom scrolling, you’ll be prepared enough that there should be no surprises.
