|
|
| So you want to buy your first boat? |
 |
|
|
|
So you are thinking about buying your first boat to spend some quality leisure time with the family? If you have never owned a boat, where do you start?
We think that you should start by asking yourself a few simple questions. Will you tow the boat to the lake each trip or leave it in a slip? What is the towing capacity of your car or truck? How many people will go boating on a typical outing? Will you boat on a large body of water or a smaller, Northern lake? Will you spend the day fishing, swimming or skiing? Armed with some basic information like this, it becomes easier to zero in on a size and style of boat that best fits the needs of you and your family.
|
|
| |
A family of four might find an 18’ bowrider to be all the boat that they ever need on a small to medium sized cottage lake. But if you ever want to invite a second family along for the day, or venture out onto larger lakes then a 20’ to 22’ model might better suit your needs.
Many first time shoppers will count the number of seats in a prospective boat to determine its capacity just as they might while shopping for a new car. We ask you to consider that you use your car differently than you will your new boat. In your car you stay put for the duration of the trip and immediately exit the vehicle upon your arrival, while when boating you are not constrained by a seat belt and may find it practical to get up and move about the cockpit while underway. Often times once docked or anchored a great deal of time may be spent relaxing or socializing on board. Therefore it is important to make sure that there is more than “just enough” space on board for the people that you plan to invite along on a regular basis. Just because a boat has enough room for 12 people to sit down, the boat’s safe carrying capacity may (or may-not) be less than this amount.
On larger bodies of water, like the Great Lakes, you might spend the whole day out on the lake. Boaters who commonly spend an entire day aboard their runabouts often prefer the comforts of a small cabin or “cuddy cabin”.
A typical cuddy cabin boat offers sleeping accommodations for 2 and a marine toilet, or “head” usually tucked away under the v-berth. Probably 75% of all cuddies that are purchased never get slept on, but the small sit-up cabin area makes a great change room, wash room, storage area and a great spot to crash for an afternoon nap on a relaxing Sunday afternoon.
If the idea of spending the weekend onboard appeals to you then you might consider a cruiser. A typical cruiser offers a larger cabin area with stand-up headroom, a private bathroom, a galley with fridge, stove and running water and usually 2 separate sleeping areas.
Because a cruiser offers greater cabin accommodations, often times the cockpit area is somewhat diminished. A gang of 6 or 8 out for the afternoon might find a 21’ bowrider more appropriate than a 26’ cruiser. The cruiser would better suit 2 couples or a family of 4 to spend a weekend together. Most experience cruiser owners find that the closer you live to the lake, the less often you tend to overnight on board your boat.
|
| |
|
|
The perfect boat for you and your family might be a completely different type than your neighbor’s perfect boat, even if you often boat together on the same lake.
|
| |
|
|
| |
The perfect boat for you and your family might be a completely different type than your neighbor’s perfect boat, even if you often boat together on the same lake. It is important to consider how you will boat before deciding which type of boat best suits your own personal needs.
For more information on this topic, we suggest that you check out Discover Boating
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
