Buying a boat for the first time? You’ll want to make sure you do it right.
Just like owning a car or investing in a motorcycle there’s a lot to take in. You need to make sure you stay within budget, because nothing kills the mood more than bringing debt to your relaxing weekend. You also want to buy the right size boat for your excursions. Wait, what about your boating accessories and basic safety protocol? There’s no need to start stressing. Before you start digging around for boats for sale, look below and learn a little more about how to approach your boat dealer with confidence.
Here are five tips on boating smart, from buying a nicely priced used boat for sale to choosing the best accessories.
Boating Is A Great Leisure Activity
What’s a great way to supplement your weekend camping trips and family gatherings? Pontoon boats for sale are certainly not a bad place to start. Boating is a popular activity, particularly among middle-class families, with over 70% of boat owners having a household income of less than $100,000 or so. Over 90% of all Americans also live within an hour’s drive of a navigable body of water, whether it’s a lake or a coastline. Whether you’re a fan of swimming or prefer to wile away the hours with a fishing rod in your hand, there’s a lot to love.
Pontoon Boats Are Wildly Popular
Just how popular is boating nowadays? Even more than you think. Sales of new powerboats increased by over 5% in 2016 alone. The recreational boating industry in the United States also has an annual economic impact of more than $120 billion, which includes direct, indirect and induced spending. This figure supports over 650,000 direct and indirect American jobs as well as 35,000 small businesses. Not only will you have a fresh new hobby to enjoy, you’ll feel even better knowing your dollar is traveling far.
There Is No One-Size-Fits-All
One person’s boat is another person’s waste of time. You need to make sure your boats for sale suit your lifestyle and budget so you can enjoy each ride more than the last. The average pontoon boat (under ideal conditions) with only one person is able to reach 30 miles per hour, sometimes a little more. The average pontoon boat with a 115hp engine can reach 20 miles per hour with a maximum capacity of 10 or 11 people. Are you using this boat mostly for one or two people or do you want it to carry a party for the weekends?
Boating Accessories Can Make You More Comfortable
There are ways to make your pontoon boat for sale even more accommodating to your lifestyle. Boating accessories can pad out your purchase and keep you comfortable as you breeze along your favorite lake surface. A waterproof mat is ideal if you want to go swimming but don’t want to track water all over the place. You can also buy a portable smoker to do a little on-the-spot grilling for the lazy days. Always keep a little of your budget for maintenance services, particularly since boating property damage is still a very real possibility for inexperienced owners.
Choosing The Right Boats For Sale
Boating is a beloved hobby that enjoys steady activity during the warm months and even chillier weather. It brings families together and helps create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. The yearly sales of boats, marine products and repair services climbed 3% these past few years and boat dealers are enjoying steady activity as hobbyists and professionals work in tandem year in and year out. Choosing the right pontoon boats means being honest about your budget, what you’re going to use the boat for and how often you’ll be out boating each year.
Ready to kick off the season right? There’s a boat for sale with your name on it.