Advice for the novice boat buyer

There’s no need to spend a million dollars to enjoy the waterways. You can bet this fellow is having as much fun in his ’tinnie’ as the wealthy in the megayachts. - advice for 1st time buyers Cobalt Boats

Streaker Boats are a well-respected breed produced in Melbourne. If fishing is your passion this rig would prove a winner. - advice for 1st time buyers © Cobalt Boats

The aim of this planned three part series is to show the novice that with careful planning and some appropriate ‘home work' buying a boat need not be an intimidating procedure.

My three parts will comprise; What to look for in a second-hand or new aluminium runabout; How to choose the right second-hand or new trailerable fibreglass boat; and What you need to know when considering the purchase of a big boat (as in cruiser).

Don't be alarmed, I don't plan on simply pushing my ideas at you, I'm heading for the experts and we'll discuss each section with the people who can offer sound advice, from boat builders to brokers, outboard technicians to marine mechanics, marina managers to boat detailers.

There are some aspects I can point out right now that all potential boat buyers should be aware of.

The first is the most obvious.

The budget.

Don't send yourself to the wall by committing to a vessel that will simply prove beyond your means.

Secondly, be very careful if buying a second-hand boat privately; it could be encumbered (not all states have a REV system yet) and unless you know its current owner you don't know how hard it has been treated.

If you fancy your boating with a touch of class, the US-built Cobalt has a superb reputation for quality. - advice for 1st time buyer © Cobalt Boats

Thirdly, if buying from an authorised marine dealer or brokerage, ensure the organisation is a member of its local Boating Industry Association, whether in Australia, New Zealand, the United States or elsewhere.

Reason for that is the fact that the industry associations around the world generally adhere to a Code of Ethics, and almost always offer warranties on product they sell.

Buy a boat privately from some fellow you don't know from the proverbial ‘bar of soap' and I would not fancy your chances of obtaining warranty.

If it's a trailer boat in your sights, the next consideration is aluminium or fibreglass?

Each has advantages and disadvantages; aluminium boats, affectionately known as ‘tinnies' to Australians, are lighter then comparably-sized ‘glass boats and therefore need less horsepower to achieve similar performance.

That means they're priced lower at point of purchase and whichever engine is chosen will use less fuel.

Fibreglass boats are 'prettier', that is ‘glass boat builders can incorporate flowing lines and sweeping profiles into their designs, a rather difficult undertaking when producing boats from sheets of aluminium.

Also, ‘glass boats are usually quieter, with none of the ‘slam bang' associated with aluminium boats and generally offer interiors with superior upholstery and more comfortable than the average ‘tinnie.'

Perhaps the final consideration a potential buyer needs to complete his or her homework on is the intended us of this soon-to-be-purchased vessel.

This all-plastic Queensland-built runabout by Polycraft is ideal for the novice boater. - advice for 1st time buyers © Cobalt Boats

If you're a dedicated water skier, don't get saddled with a bass boat; if family cruising is the intended use, avoid specialist ski boats with their low freeboard and restricted on-board space.

Nevertheless, we'll cover all these factors over the next three weeks.

We're out to convince the doubters, making your first-ever boat purchase is no big deal!

Come join us out on the water, you'll never regret it, I promise.