Is There Ever A Bad Time to Buy A Boat?
No matter if you are searching for a new bass boat or a luxury sailing cruiser, buying a boat is a complicated process.
Boats have an endless supply of sizes, features, designs, purposes, and materials.
With all of the choices you will be making, from upholstery, to different types of wood grain finishes to engine size, it is easy to lose track of your budget.
That is why you need to plan carefully, and do your shopping at the best time and in the right places.
Here is your guide to the best time to buy a boat.
Timing is Make or Break So when should you buy a boat? Typically the buyer's season in most locales is winter and late fall.
This makes sense because people are usually not boating much during this time so dealers are looking to move inventory.
Private sellers may be even more motivated to sell, since they are paying for a boat they are often not even using.
However, many warmer and tropical areas will not likely experience the same seasonal fluctuations.
Boat Shows = Best Deals Find a major regional hub near you and look up in that town's event calendar when the next boat show will take place.
Often taking place in the winter, these events are a great opportunity to find excellent prices on the same boats you have been drooling over in the catalogs.
Additionally, it is a fantastic opportunity to familiarize yourself with different manufacturers and their products.
You will be able to browse and often even test drive many different boats to find the best model for you, even if you are not ready to buy just yet.
Shop Local, but Shop Smart As with any purchase, you would never just buy the first boat you see without looking around and doing your homework.
Shopping around gives you an opportunity to see what the general market is for boats, that is, what boats are going for what prices, what models are priced low, what models are priced high, etc.
This will give you the best possible perspective from which to make your decision when you are ready to buy.
Having a Broker Helps The higher the price tag of the boat you are considering, the more help you will gain from having an experienced boat broker on your side.
This professional has a tome of knowledge on not only the buying process, but critical details about the different makes, models, and manufacturers.
Additionally, they have access to a huge network of private and commercial boat sellers that you could never hope to match.
As an added benefit, in some cases with a boat broker you will not even have to set foot inside a dealership!
Boats have an endless supply of sizes, features, designs, purposes, and materials.
With all of the choices you will be making, from upholstery, to different types of wood grain finishes to engine size, it is easy to lose track of your budget.
That is why you need to plan carefully, and do your shopping at the best time and in the right places.
Here is your guide to the best time to buy a boat.
Timing is Make or Break So when should you buy a boat? Typically the buyer's season in most locales is winter and late fall.
This makes sense because people are usually not boating much during this time so dealers are looking to move inventory.
Private sellers may be even more motivated to sell, since they are paying for a boat they are often not even using.
However, many warmer and tropical areas will not likely experience the same seasonal fluctuations.
Boat Shows = Best Deals Find a major regional hub near you and look up in that town's event calendar when the next boat show will take place.
Often taking place in the winter, these events are a great opportunity to find excellent prices on the same boats you have been drooling over in the catalogs.
Additionally, it is a fantastic opportunity to familiarize yourself with different manufacturers and their products.
You will be able to browse and often even test drive many different boats to find the best model for you, even if you are not ready to buy just yet.
Shop Local, but Shop Smart As with any purchase, you would never just buy the first boat you see without looking around and doing your homework.
Shopping around gives you an opportunity to see what the general market is for boats, that is, what boats are going for what prices, what models are priced low, what models are priced high, etc.
This will give you the best possible perspective from which to make your decision when you are ready to buy.
Having a Broker Helps The higher the price tag of the boat you are considering, the more help you will gain from having an experienced boat broker on your side.
This professional has a tome of knowledge on not only the buying process, but critical details about the different makes, models, and manufacturers.
Additionally, they have access to a huge network of private and commercial boat sellers that you could never hope to match.
As an added benefit, in some cases with a boat broker you will not even have to set foot inside a dealership!