There are many good reasons to be interested in buying a boat. To pick the right vessel for your needs, you'll need to carefully consider your location, your budget, and your personal preferences. But what about your lifestyle and future?
Assessing Your Lifestyle
There are several factors you'll need to consider when assessing your lifestyle.
For example:
- Boating experience. First, you'll need to think about how much boating experience you've had in the past and how competent you feel as a boat captain. If you're relatively new to the world of boating, you may not even know what you want out of the hobby; if you have many decades of experience, you can be more confident about what you enjoy and what you don't. Also, more experienced boaters should feel comfortable considering a wider range of vessels, while newer people in the hobby should gravitate toward simpler models.
- Personal preferences. What are your wants and needs? Are you a self-proclaimed thrill seeker who’s constantly looking for new ways to get an adrenaline rush? Or are you a more laid-back type who enjoys reading books for hours? Are you an outgoing social partier or more of a reserved individualist?
- Level of involvement. Next, think about how involved you want to be in this activity. Some boats are more expensive than others, and some require more maintenance than others – so people who want to go boating every day typically buy different vessels than people who only want this as an occasional activity.
- Friends and family members. Who are you going to go boating with? If this is going to be a solitary activity, you can consider vessels made for one or two people only. Otherwise, you'll need to consider a boat with much more room.
- Your vision for the future. Also think about how your lifestyle preferences might change in the future. Are there activities or hobbies that you're considering taking up?
General Lifestyles
Every person is unique, but most people interested in a boat can be categorised into one of the following general descriptions.
What do you want a boat for?
- Relaxation and leisure. Some people are primarily interested in boating for relaxation and leisure. They don't particularly care about any specific hobbies, nor are they boating for the thrill of it. Instead, they want to spend lazy afternoons drifting on the water, taking in the sights, and finding peace with loved ones (or alone).
- Energy and excitement. Conversely, some people crave the energy and excitement that certain water sports can offer. They want to go wakeboarding, they want to practice agile manoeuvrability, and they want vessels that can travel at incredibly high speeds.
- Socialisation and partying. Other people are more interested in the social and partying aspects of boating. Some people want a large vessel, where they can host thrilling parties with all their friends and family members. Others are just interested in simple family vacations that everyone can enjoy. Either way, socialisation and entertainment are the main goals.
- Sport and angling. You might be interested in boating because you're interested in a specific sport or activity. For example, you may be interested in sailboat racing or recreational fishing. If this is the case, you'll want a boat that's specifically made for that purpose.
- Cruising and travel. Finally, some boaters are mostly interested in cruising and travel. For these people, the boat is primarily a method of traveling from one area to the next as comfortably and conveniently as possible.
Types of Boats
These types of boats each support a different range of lifestyles:
- Runabout boats. Runabout boats are relatively versatile, capable of helping you pursue a wide range of activities like fishing, cruising, and certain types of sports. They tend to be relatively small, manoeuvrable, and fast, and they typically come with a powerful outboard or sterndrive engine.
- Pontoon boats. Pontoon boats aren’t as fast, but they are very spacious and stable. This makes them ideal for hosting people and for taking leisurely cruises across the water. Many pontoon boats also come with accessories for entertaining, like comfortable seats.
- Fishing boats. Fishing boats, as the name suggests, are designed for fishing primarily. They come equipped with specific features for anglers, like fishing rod holders and livewells. They also come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, so they can usually support other activities as well.
- Sailboats. Sailboats are designed for sailing – in other words, using wind power as the main method of propulsion. Some people sail for sport, while others do it to relax; there are many different types of sailboats that can support different lifestyles.
- Cruisers. Cruisers tend to be relatively large vessels, with amenities for long bouts of travel on the water. They're typically, but not always equipped with sleeping accommodations and cabins – and they’re excellent vessels for travel.
- Speedboats. You probably already know that speedboats are made to be as fast and manoeuvrable as possible, enabling thrilling experiences. Whether you're interested in racing or other water sports, these types of vessels are for thrill seekers.
- Personal watercraft (PWC). Personal watercrafts are typically smaller, but they can often accommodate one or two additional guests. They're very agile and they rely on jet propulsion systems, making them fast enough for supporting water sports.
- Trawlers. Trawlers are another type of boat made for long-distance cruising. They’re known for their storage space, stability, and overall size.
Additional Considerations
Obviously, your current lifestyle and personal preferences aren't the only factors you'll need to consider when making a decision like this. Boats can be expensive, so you'll need to carefully consider your budget – as well as additional costs of owning and maintaining the boat. You may also want to consider factors like resale value and functional utility; for example, can this boat fit in your garage?
Choosing a boat isn't easy, especially with so many options available. But with our platform, it's easier than ever to start browsing. Take a look at our vast selection of new and used boats for sale today!