Top Tips for Owning a Boat

Owning a boat can be an incredible experience, but it is one that is fraught with potential challenges if you haven’t done enough research beforehand. Given that relatively few people ever get to own and maintain their own boat, it’s easy to be swept up in the myth and rumors surrounding boat ownership – how much it really costs and whether it is a good idea.

Much like many recreational or luxury items, a boat should not be thought of primarily as an investment because you are unlikely to make – or even keep – the money you sink into one. Instead, you should treat it as a toy or hobby that you can enjoy if you have the necessary budget.

Indeed, knowing exactly what you are getting yourself into is crucial to understand before you buy your own boat. The reason for this is that it can be easy to develop a rose-tinted view of what the ownership experience is like. For some, it involves constant partying and adventure; for others, it is a blissfully peaceful experience in a beautiful part of the world. Both are attainable but far from the everyday reality of running your own boat.

To extract the maximum from your ownership experience, here are some top tips for owning a boat:

Find New Destinations

It might sound strange, but one of the most common challenges that boat owners face is choosing what to do with their boat once they have bought it. While it is easy to imagine boat ownership being one consecutive series of trips to exotic locations or adventures that produce memories that last a lifetime, in truth, you may soon be stuck for places to go and trips to make.

This complacency or even outright boredom of the familiar might be because you may be in a rut with your current mooring location, having seen everything you want to see in the local area or made all the available trips on a particular stretch of lake, river, or sea. Furthermore, it is likely too expensive to transport your vessel to a different country, which limits your options somewhat.

Once this starts to happen, it can be all too easy for life to get in the way and for you to use your boat less and less. To counteract this, search for new horizons to explore instead, from areas within your state to the top destinations in Florida for boating, the latter of which host plenty of mooring locations to suit a wide range of tastes. Whether you want to soak up the atmosphere of Miami or a quieter cove, there is plenty to see and do with your boat in the Sunshine State.

Learn How to Use Your Boat Properly

If you are buying your first boat, chances are you haven’t driven that model for very long before – or possibly any boat at all for that matter. Although most motor boats are relatively easy to use, the process of mooring them, launching them, and retrieving them can be complicated to the uninitiated.

Therefore, make sure you spend time going through these various routines and protocols to ensure you know exactly what you are doing. After all, the last thing you would want to do is damage your boat (or hurt yourself) during your maiden voyage by embarking on a journey well out of your comfort zone and current experience level.

Take your time when it comes to learning the ins and outs of owning a boat, and enjoy the experience because very few get to fall in love with the pleasures of boat ownership in the same way.

Use Your Boat Often Enough

Although it sounds counter-intuitive, it is possible to underuse your boat. Although you might imagine yourself protecting it by keeping it moored up and undisturbed for months on end, doing so can do more damage than good. Much like classic cars that aren’t driven enough, your boat can start to develop mechanical gremlins if it isn’t given a run out occasionally.

As such, set aside time every month or two (or as frequently as possible) to give your boat a quick blast and ensure everything is functioning correctly. Ultimately, you should remember that boats are built to be used, and sitting stationary (especially on the water) for long periods of time is not advised.

Maintain Your Boat Regularly

Following on from the previous point, you should endeavor to keep on top of maintenance. Depending on the size and type of boat you own, this could range from an easy series of checks you can do on a sunny Sunday afternoon or an extensive service that requires a team of professionals to undertake.

Regardless, remember to check your boat consistently, and don’t cut corners on any repairs. Vessels, like all vehicles, can quickly become unsafe if you neglect to repair or replace basic parts when necessary or if you use cheap parts that tend to fail quickly.

If you feel unsure about what to do or how to maintain your boat, consult experts online or talk to your local manufacturer representative. Alternatively, if you can afford it, you could enlist an expert to maintain your boat for you in your absence to ensure the vessel is kept in a safe, tip-top condition.

 

Create a Realistic Annual Budget

If you’re wondering how you are going to afford these regular services, repairs, and test runs, it is time to create a yearly boating budget. This should give you a good indication of how much it will cost to run your boat – including fuel, replacement part costs, maintenance, mooring costs, storage and transport costs, as well as insurance and other key areas.

Although this sounds daunting to begin with, in truth, it will prevent any nasty shocks further along the line and save you money in the long run by preventing costly damage, wear and tear, and, in worse scenarios, full-on breakdowns. Once you know how much your boat will cost you, you can save money accordingly.

Naturally, it is best to create a budget before you buy the boat if possible – even if the exact numbers are only rough. This is because you might save yourself from buying what appears to be a good deal, only to bite you later with expensive running and maintenance costs or repair bills.