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Selective Sailing – What Goes Into Choosing the Right Boat?

In many ways, choosing a boat is not too dissimilar to picking out a car. In both instances, you’re on the lookout for quality and strong design. You also want to make sure that the boat you buy fits your lifestyle. It is all good and well splashing out on a speedboat if you’re a singleton, but families need reliability and space.

Like any big purchase, your boat is an investment. Whether you plan to sell it on or keep it forever, making the right choice is paramount. Think about how far you might want to travel, whether you’ll be carrying passengers on a regular basis, and how much fuel you’re willing to burn.

This guide to picking the perfect boat will help you find the seafaring vessel of your dreams.

Identify Your Needs

 

Before you browse some great value used catamarans for sale, think about how you plan to handle the boat. Will it be used primarily for pleasure cruising? Or, are you looking for a vessel which can handle water sports as well? Would you like to travel long distances or are you happy with a speedy motor that is great at skipping along the coast? Different functions require slightly different boats, so it is important to know what you want.

Pick the Right Hull

The hull is the part of the boat which rests in the water. In many ways, it represents the most difficult choice of all, because there usually has to be a compromise between speed and practicality. The good news is that multihulls offer plenty of space without giving up too much performance. They contain two or three deep vee hulls which slice through chop with great skill and provide lots of stability.

Get Enough Horsepower

According to industry research, the most common reason for dissatisfaction with new boats is a lack of horsepower. Often, people assume that speed is not a top priority, but they get out onto the water and wish they’d invested in a more powerful engine. Don’t forget that horsepower isn’t all about speed though. It increases handling (particularly when midrange) and improves tolerance for rough, turbulent conditions. So, it is worth going the extra mile.

Choose a Stellar Engine

Selective Sailing

The debate over whether gas or diesel engines are better for pleasure boats is one which has been ongoing for some time. Ultimately, it all boils down to how you plan to use it, how much you are willing to spend, and whether you want to keep the vessel for a long time. While diesel is considered the premium choice, it can end up costing a lot more. The best thing to do is test-drive two models, one with a diesel engine and one with a gasoline propulsion engine.

Be Aware of the Expenses

New owners are often surprised to find out how affordable boating can be. It isn’t a cheap hobby, but you don’t have to be insanely wealthy either, as some would have you think. Before buying, make room in your budget for sales and personal property taxes, storage fees, slip rental, insurance, maintenance costs, and fuel. Generally, it costs around $50 to own a boat if you take care of it by yourself. This rises to around $150 if you pay for professional care, monitoring, and maintenance.

Why You Deserve the Perfect Boat

It can take time to find that dream vessel – the one you’ve always imagined when you thought about making this investment – but it is worth a little caution and care. Spend plenty of time browsing collections from reputable dealers and speak to boat owners if you can. The more time you spend gathering information and insights, the easier it will be to make the right decision and feel completely satisfied with your purchase.

Article Submitted By Community Writer

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