| How to Avoid an “Oops” Buy Here are a few boat-buying mistakes that are all too common. The Power isn’t what you expected. The most expensive line item on you boat is neither the place to pinch pennies nor to splurge. An undersized engine limits your boat’s potential and makes it work too hard. Too much horsepower is an unnecessary expense, but it’s better to err on this side than being underpowered. Make sure you test-drive the boat with it loaded in the way you plan to use it. The boat’s too small. Now that you have a new boat, everybody will want a ride - the in-laws, Junior’s soccer buddies, Junior’s soccer buddies’ in-laws. Consider that extra two or three feet. It’s better to bite the bullet now than trade in for a bigger boat in six months. You bought the wrong package. The Deluxe Fishing Edition sounds nice in the showroom, but it might be excess if you only fish once every two months. Think: What will you use more often: Storage space or two livewells and a rod locker? The trailer is cheap. If the upgrade to the trailer is a pair of chrome-plated rims and premium paint, then it’s an aesthetics call. But if you pay a little extra for a custom-fit trailer and sealed lights, you’ll save yourself a load of frustration in the short and long run. You were cheap. Trying to save more by forgoing factory-installed options for aftermarket additions usually backfires. Decide what options you’d like before-hand and get them factory installed. It consolidates your warranties and results in a better installation. The dealer was shady. You can’t just take your boat to the local mechanic, so finding the right dealer is a key maintenance issue. Research their service department and reputation, and check if they have a high CSI score, which indicates how customers measure the dealer’s service quality |
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