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The first thing you should know when choosing a boat
is that no single boat will do everything. If your
looking for a boat that inspires confidence, don't
expect it to shine in light air. Boats that are
exciting to sail on the weekends aren't the ideal boats
for a passage through the ocean.

You shouldn't expect to find quick acceleration and
load carrying capacity together with the same boat.
You can buy a boat now to race or fish, then sail
around later - as you can only do one or the other
with a specific type of boat.

The logic to choosing the right boat is determining
how you plan to use the boat. Think about why you
want to own a boat, what you plan to do with it, and
how you plan on using it.

For some, beauty is the first consideration. For
sail boats beauty is very important, as you'll
spend a majority of time floating and sailing around,
with many people looking at your sail boat. With
people looking at your vessel, you want to make sure
that it looks nothing short of amazing.

If you are planning to race instead of cruise, then
speed is your primary consideration. There are
many cruising sailors out there who simply can't be
happy unless their boats are moving very fast. The
ideal boat for speed demons are those that can cut
through the water, creating plenty of waves.

Fishermen on the other hand, want to look towards
fishing boats. Trackers and other boats that are
designed for fishing are ideal here. Fishing is one
of the most popular boat activities, meaning that
you'll have plenty of boats to select from.

When it comes down to it, selecting the right boat
is up to you and what you plan to do with it. Take
your time, weigh your options, and you'll have the
right boat before you know it.

Cash Or Finance For Your Boat

Before you go out and purchase your boat, remember
that boating is a hobby and you shouldn't go
overboard with it. Unlike your house, boating
isn't really worth going into debt for. First
time buyers who aren't sure about boating should
always make sure they spend well within their
budget.

To get the most out of your boat, it's always a
better idea to scrape up your recreational dollars,
sell a few of your belongings, and simply save up
for a while. In the meantime, you should carefully
study the boating market. When you manage to
save up 3,500 - 25,000 dollars, go ahead and buy
the boat you want.

Whatever you do, make sure you don't spend all of
your money on the just the boat itself. When you
purchase the boat, you'll need to have enough
money for taxes, registration, storage, towing
insurance, gas, equipment, and even minor repairs
if your boat requires them.

When buying a boat, used or new, cash is always
better than financing. You can save money with
cash, as there are no finance charges. Financing
charges can get high, very high in fact if you
don't know a lot about it.

If you simply must finance your purchase, it's a
smart idea to use a home equity loan instead. This
way, it'll be tax deductible. Always be on the
lookout for boat show financing, and never, ever
use it. Several boat show financing ploys will
extend the loan out over the course of 10 - 15
years.

A new boater will either advance with boating or
get out of it all together. Most boaters don't keep
their boat for more than 10 years, which is reason
enough not to get an extended finance loan on your
boat.

Finding the perfect boat is an undertaking for an
experienced boater. For the first time boater, it
can be a very difficult task to accomplish. To
help you with your quest for the perfect boat,
there are a few things you should know.

Deciding what's important
Choosing the right boat is all about knowing what's
really important to you. You need to decide whether
you'll be using the boat for your own private use,
fishing, or cruising. You should also consider your
families feelings, as buying a boat for your own
personal needs without consulting your family will
probably lead to disappointing experiences or less
time spent on the water.

Types of boats
Typically, boats will fall into five categories -
fishing boats, power boats, sailboats, personal
watercraft, and self powered boats. To help you
find the perfect boat, we'll take a look at what
each one offers.

Fishing boats
The designs for fishing boats will vary quite a
bit, as are the places you can use them. The boats
that are meant for shallow waters of inland lakes
and rivers aren't the same boats meant for deep
seas and great lakes. There are many different
designs, even boats that serve no other purpose
besides fishing.

These types of boats normally have stowage and
holders for bait, fishing poles, tackle, and
even special tanks to hold live fish. Other types
of fishing only boats feature an open platform
where anglers can fight fish from all sides of
the boat.

Power boats
Power boats are the most popular boats sold. The
designs with power boats are as varied as their
uses. Boats with seating in the front are
called bowriders, which are mainly used for towing
skiers or rafts. Most boats can also be used for
fishing as well. If you want to do both,
there are ski and fish combinations available.

Sailboats
When you first learn to pilot a sailboat, it can
be very challenging, although very rewarding as
well. A sailboat requires more skill and
knowledge to operate than boats, although they
are considered more rewarding once mastered.

With all available sailboats, the single masted
sloop is the most popular design. For those who
only boat on occasion, catboats, daysailers, and
dinghys are small and easily trailerable.

When you finally decide on the perfect boat for
you, look at what each one offers and how you
plan to use it. The perfect boat for you is
out there, all you have do is find the one that
best matches your needs.

One of the best things about boating is the fact
that there are many boats designed for many
different activities. For the majority of boaters,
a general purpose craft that serves as a fish, ski,
and picnic boat is ideal.

To help you narrow down your search, ask yourself
how you plan to use the boat. Fishing, cruising,
water skiing, watersports, racing, or a bit of
everything is what you should be wondering. There
is a boat out there for you, all you have to do is
find it.

Finding the right size
Finding the right size of boat depends on how many
people you'll have boating with you and where you
plan to go. All new boats have an "NMMA capacity
plate" that wil you how many people you can safely
have on the boat at a time. If you plan to use
a trailer, you shouldn't get a boat bigger than
26 feet in length.

Power needs
Those who plan to water ski will need more power
while those planning to fish will need less. The
boaters of today will also be able to choose from
new engines that are more efficient in fuel and
very friendly to the environment as well.

Boat costs
There are boats for every type of budgets. Many
new boat owners are very surprised to find that they
can get their dream boat for much less than they
ever expected. You can get new or used boats at
a reputable dealership with financing, taking
advantage of low monthly payments.

Boating can be a lot of fun, as you long as you
don't go overboard when you first begin. There is
a lot to know about boats, costs, and types, which
is something you'll learn over the years. Always
have fun - and you'll enjoy boating for many, many
years.