Boat Buying Tips

You have decided to enjoy the boating lifestyle, and like many people you ask where do I start? This article is designed to answer many of those questions. Some of the questions you should ask yourself are:

• primarily plan to cruise or fish — or a combination of both?
• need overnight accommodations — if so for how many people?
• need a boat designed for specific sea conditions that you might be exposed to?
• want an express style or cabin style vessel? An express style boat allows everyone to be on the same level and makes line handling easier while a flybridge sedan vessel gives you greater interior room and better visibility from the helm.
• want the economy of a single engine vessel or do you want the increased performance, maneuverability, and safety of a twin engine vessel?
• want a gas or diesel powered vessel? Gas powered vessels are less expensive initially while diesel power offers superior performance, long term reliability, and safety.
• want a new or used vessel? A new vessel will have warranties, a used vessel may offer a better value and has already been equipped but may require higher maintenance based on the age of the vessel.

• What are the vessels sailing characteristics versus interior accommodations?
• How accessible are the systems on the vessel?
• Does the vessel have adequate storage space and ventilation?
• What is the location of the traveler, is it more suitable for cruising or racing?

Now that you have established these basic parameters, one of the next steps should be to look in the other costs associated with the purchase of your new boats. Those would be financing, survey, insurance, and Coast Guard Documentation, if applicable.

Financing

A lender who specializes in marine financing will normally be your best source for financing your new vessel as they understand boats and are familiar with all the paperwork and documents involved. Most lenders will do a preapproval for you which will give you the budget parameters within which you can work and also should increase your negotiating position with the dealer or seller.

The standard terms for a marine loan are 15 years for loans of $ 25,000 and above, with a 20 year term being available with most lenders at $75,000 and above. Down payments range from 15-20%. You should keep in mind that the more money you put down now will allow you to be in a better equity position in the future when you want to trade up or sell your boat. It is a simple case of "Pay me now or pay me later."

If your boat has eating, sleeping, and bathroom facilities it may qualify for the second home mortgage interest deduction. You should check with an accountant to verify the details. The loan approval process will normally take from 24-48 hours. Loan approvals are usually good for 30-60 days from the date of approval by the lender.

Note: Make sure you get a commitment in writing from the lender spelling out the details of your approval so you are aware of and understand the terms and conditions of your loan and any fees associated with the closing of the loan.

Survey

If you are buying a used vessel a marine survey will be required by the lender, normally when the boat is three years old or more. A prepurchase marine survey will run between $12 and $18 per foot depending on the geographic area, type and size of vessel, and other parameters.

You should talk to two or three surveyors to see which one you are most comfortable with and has the most expertise in relation to the type of vessel you are purchasing.

A list of certified surveyors can be obtained from us in addition to those the dealer or broker may recommend.

Insurance

Yacht insurance is a specialty field. You want an agency and company that understands boats. The coverage will be better, the policy will be agreed value and replacement cost and if you ever do have a claim they will have adjusters that actually understand boats. Costs can vary substantially depending on territory and the type of coverage you need. We have a licensed yacht insurance agent in our corporate office

Documentation

Coast Guard Documentation of a vessel will be required by most marine lenders if the boat is of applicable size. This typically comes in to play with vessels that are approximately 26' and larger. This allows the bank to secure its lien on the federal level. One of the primary benefits of documentation for you as the buyer is that a title search, called an abstract of title is done on the vessel prior to settlement to show what liens if any are outstanding on the vessel and to make sure that free and clear title can be passed to you as the buyer. We hope this information will be helpful to you as you look for your new boat. We will continue to try to update this article as the industry changes and new and different questions are posed by you.

We are members of the American Vessel Documentation Association (AVDA). Our Coast Guard documentation is done in house, not by an outside service.

E-mail: financing@sterlingacceptance.com

© 2000 Sterling Acceptance Corporation