Choosing The Perfect Boat

Where To Start

Choosing the perfect boat is not always an easy process. There are so many factors to consider. What type of boating do you intend to do? How many people to you expect to bring with you? What is your price range? Do you intend to boat on small lakes or venture out into the ocean? Do you boat in shallow or deep water? These questions, along with many more factors will come into your decision making process. We will explore these issues to help you get started.

What Type Of Boating Will You Be Doing?

This is probably the most important question you need to answer in helping determining the type of boat which best suits your needs. Although boating is a great pastime which most people enjoy, everyone enjoys boating for different reasons. Some people enjoy boating by just being on the water and enjoying the scenery. Some like to spend their time engaging in activities such as wake boarding, skiing, tubing, wakesurfing and more. Some people enjoy fishing. Some people like having the ability to overnight on their boat. And more often than not, people want the ability to enjoy a combination of these activities.

Party of __?

The next question we need to determine is how many people you intend to bring with you. Once you own a boat, you will realize that new friends will come out of the woodwork. Some people like to load the boat up to capacity with all the friends and family they can fit aboard, and others prefer a more peaceful day on the water with just a few others. This is an important factor to consider when selecting a style of boat. Size has a direct relationship with capacity, but the style of boat you choose will play a large factor as well. Pontoon boats tend to have a large capacity in relationship to overall size, whereas boats with cabins may have limited seating room even in larger models. All boats have a maximum capacity determined by the coast guard, and this can be found on a capacity plate in the boat. Once a boat reaches a certain size (typically fiberglass boats starting around 25’), it may be rated as “yacht certified” meaning there is no passenger limit assuming you have enough safety equipment for the passengers and they are able to ride safely within the boats seating area. The best advice is to get inside the boat and try to imagine how may people can fit based on the seating provided.

Price Range

Everyone has a price they intend to spend on a boat, and boats can range drastically in price depending on style and options. Some styles of boats are much more affordable in relation to overall size than others. Pontoon boats tend to be a great bang for the buck on the price/size scale. You can typically go up in size for a very reasonable upgrade charge, where fiberglass boats can go up in price drastically when you increase the size by just a few feet. Engine size also plays a huge role in price. Pontoons can get very pricey as well with big power, so you have to know what you need the boat to do regarding performance based on what you intend to use the boat for.

Where Will You Be Boating?

There are many great boating destinations across the world and you need to be sure you have the proper size and style of boat to fit that body of water. Small lakes tend to be more calm and can be navigated comfortably with a smaller boat, and larger lakes and going offshore requires a larger boat to handle the conditions. You will want to look into the regulations of that body of water as well. Some small lakes have size and horsepower restrictions. Other larger bodies of water have no limits. Talk to local boaters to get an idea what size boat will best handle the water you intend to spend most of your time boating on.

That’s a Start!

Now that you have answered these questions, you will have a good starting point in selecting a boat that fits your needs. If you choose to start shopping at dealerships, tell your salesperson this criteria to get started. Most dealerships carry a wide range of boat types and should be able to point you in the right direction. For a more detailed overview about these boat types, check out our articles page. Happy shopping!