Many people dream of the day they can buy a boat and travel to exotic locations while enjoying their home away from home. But just having enough money to buy the boat you desire will not be enough to ensure you will get to enjoy it the way you imagine. There are additional costs, and maintenance fees can hit hard too. Beyond that, local regulations and restrictions are different in each location. And then there are the considerations of the boat. What condition is it in, how much will it cost to maintain it, is it big enough for what you need, can you sail? These are some of the things you need to know before you decide.
- New or Second Hand: Buying a new boat will solve a few of your questions right away, like the condition and repairs. But buying new can be expensive, at least for some of us. If you want to buy a boat in Thailand or other tropical location where yachting is popular, there will always be good deals to be found, as long as you perform due diligence.,
- Size: Size and price go hand in hand, so your budget will likely be the main factor here. But if you are expecting to be out in the open sea and even entertain guests. You will have to make careful considerations. Settling for something unsuitable will be worse than getting nothing at all. Make sure you know what your minimum requirements are.
- Purpose: If you are only looking for a boat to take you out to local islands and dive sites, your options will increase, and the costs will go down. But if you also want to travel to faraway holiday spots, you must make sure the vessel can handle the open ocean.
- Inspection: If you are not well experienced with boats, you need to have the craft inspected before you begin to negotiate. Hidden expenses have sunk the dreams of many prospective captains
- Financing: Buying a boat in a foreign country will require extra steps, and it might not even be legal for you to do so. Using a reputable dealer or agency will likely be necessary to make sure the process will proceed legally and favourably
- Extra Costs: Another thing to consider is where your boat will be moored when not in use. You will need to know all the additional costs, including maintenance.
- Regulations: You will also need a captain’s license or some equivalent for navigating most waters; if you have no qualifications, then you will need to know how and where to hire a crew, or at least a captain
If you have been dreaming about finally owning a boat, then it is likely that you will already have answers for many of these concerns, but it would not be a bad idea to join a yachting forum and ask questions and seek advice. A lot can go wrong when purchasing a boat, and you should seek expert advice at every step. If you are patient and wise, your dream can become all you imagined it could be.
