Before I buy

I don't have any previous buying experience but I do have a couple of questions.

Are boats like cars in the sense that you can get 200,000 miles from a Toyota but only 150,000 from a Ford or Chevrolet? I don't want to buy a boat that is getting ready to break down.

Is there a "blue book" for boats and where would I find a copy of said blue book?

If a boat is in the water but for-sale would it be wrong or un-couth to ask the boat be lifted out of the water for an inspection of the underside and prop? (and what is this process called by people in the know...dry dock?)

If the boat is in Dry dock, is it to much to ask to have the boat be put in the water for a "test drive"?

When you all bought your first boat was there ever a time when you said "&^%#$^ I wish I had" and what was the mistake you made?

Are their common mistakes that are made?

Should I avoid one engine over another?

Have marine engines gotten as complicated as car engines?

the boat would be used for day trips mostly. Looking at used 20-35 ft boat in the Louisville, KY area so intended use areas would be Ohio river and Kentucky lake. Budget is 35,000 and according to yachtworld.com there are quite a few Carvers and a couple Sea Rays, Chris-Crafts, and the odd Crownline and Bayliner that fall under those criteria.

Well that should get me started...FYI if the boat gets bought I will be going to the power squadron to take their classes but I hate to waste my time if a boat isn't in the future.

Thanks in advance and happy sailing. Scott

I owned a boat with a friend years ago and it worked out very well. It was just an 18 foot bowrider so there weren't too many things that couldn't be worked out without any discussion. On a larger boat you can expect more maintenance issues and expenses that could turn it into an ugly partnership.

As long as you can agree on splitting the maintenance, insurance, and repair costs and filling it up with fuel at the end of each day, your biggest concern will be how to split the time on the boat. Holidays are the toughest but, in my case, we often boated together with the women.

If your boat partner is financially irresponsible or unstable then you should reconsider. In the 5-6 years I shared a boat we never had a problem but there are a lot of stories out there that don't have the same results.

Dan

is a place to start, if a boat is really clean, expect to pay at least 20% over what nada says, & opposite is also true. it really depends on how well the owners took care of it

>If the boat is in Dry dock, is it too much to ask to have the boat be >put in the water for a "test drive"?

Absolutely not. Do not even think about buying a boat that can not be demonstrated to run properly. Your offer should be made subject to "satisfactory sea trial and survey", fancy words for inspection by a qualified expert and a satisfactory test run.

If the seller wants a deposit first, and some will, make sure your offer is in writing and that you reserve the right to reject the boat for any reason (with a refund of the deposit less any expenses).

With small boats I will typically offer the owner $100 towards fuel and expenses for an informal test ride.

Look over the craiglist ads in your area. You'll start to get a feel as to what the general asking price will be for the boats your looking at.

sam

Eisboch