Fire It Up
Earlier today an old friend of mine stopped by to talk about boats. He had just sold his center console and was looking for another boat to buy before the newfound cash got reallocated to a more mundane purpose such as redoing the main bathroom or putting shingles on the garage. He had his eye on a similar, but newer craft with more modern power, and he was looking to get some advice on steps to take in order to avoid a bad case of buyer’s remorse.
We discussed some of the basics: make sure the new boat is suited to the type of boating he planned to do; check for hull damage; and ask when and where the engine had been serviced. But, the last point we covered might have been the most important one, namely, take a test drive. You never know how a boat really will perform, in your operating conditions, until you actually go for a ride. Firing it up and taking it out for a quick spin gives you insight into all sorts of things from the ease of starting to the ability to plane with a load and from how it handles a chop to its performance in a following sea. Ten minutes behind the wheel and you’ll get a quick snapshot of the boat’s fit to your needs.
Fall always provides a buyer’s market, so take advantage of the next month to score a great deal.. But remember, if you can, take a ride. You’ll have a good time and significantly increase the odds of striking a deal you can live with for a long time to come.
