If you're toying with the idea of buying a boat (or another boat) this spring, now's the time to start. Sure, it's too cold to spend much time clambering around boatyards, but you'll need to do a lot of homework if you want to make boat buying simpler and faster when the weather warms up. And what better place to start that in your own den? 1. Make a carefully considered list of the ways you plan to use the boat. For family outings? Fishing? Water-skiing? Gunkholing? Overnighters? Long trips? Once a week? Once a month? By yourself? With one or two buddies? Inviting a group of guests? Only between June and early September? From early spring through late fall? All year-round? As a live-aboard? In relatively calm waters? One- or two-foot chop? Heavy seas? The answers to those and other questions ought to help narrow down what kind of boat you ought to consider, how large it should be, and how many amenities (head, galley, sea-berths, and the like) you’ll need to have. You don’t want to buy a jon boat to go fishing in the middle of the Bay on a windy day. At the same time, you shouldn’t over-buy. The bigger and more complicated your boat is, the more it’ll take — in money and effort — to maintain it. 2. Assess your own boathandling ability and that of the people who are likely to serve as crew. Can you operate the boat on your own, without need for additional crewmembers? If you’re planning to have a regular crew (family members or friends), are they skilled enough to do the job—or willing to let you train them? There’s no point in buying a boat that you won’t be able to operate properly or that requires skilled help for docking if you can’t count on regular crewmembers. If you don’t have the skills — for docking twin-screw powerboats, for example — get them before you buy. Don’t spend the money for a boat you won’t be able to handle. 3. Ask yourself whether you really can afford the boat. As often is the case with houses, the purchase price is just the tip of the iceberg. You’ll also need to consider the cost of items such as slip space and dry storage, maintenance, equipment, fuel, and emergency repairs, which can squeeze your budget a lot more than you expect. Keeping a boat shipshape can be even more critical than maintaining your ho me. When something goes wrong out at sea, you have far fewer options to get away safely and have the problem fixed. 4. Decide whether you want to buy a new boat or a used one. Each has its own set of advantages and drawbacks. Used boats usually are substantially less expensive, but you may have to make more repairs or upgrades. One possibility: if you’re just starting out, opt for an inexpensive used boat that you can operate while you learn more about the kind of boat you really need. When you move up, later, you can do so knowledgeably. 5. Hit the books. Make a list of five or six boats (sizes and brand names) that you think will meet your needs. Just as you would for a car, do some research. Scour boating magazines, newspapers, and the internet to get an idea of prices in your local market. Surf the web for reviews of these boats. Ask boaters who own similar vessels for their take on them. Also ask around about how dealers or brokers perform. 6. Think about where you want to keep your boat. On a trailer in your backyard? At a marina? At a friend’s pier? If you’re going to have to use a boat trailer, will your vehicle be able to haul it comfortably and safely when it’s loaded with your boat and associated equipment? Are boat ramps widely available in your area? Are slip fees and dry storage prices reasonable? You don’t have to choose a marina before you buy, but you ought to have some idea of what’s available. 7. If you have a boat in mind, try to go out on a similar vessel to see how she operates. One way is to visit a marina and ask whether the manager will put you in touch with a slipholder who owns that kind of boat. Or you can ask for a list of boatowners advertising for crewmembers. Most boaters are willing to talk about their vessels, and some may agree to take you out for a few hours. 8. Don’t decide without knowledgeable advice. When you finally see a boat you think you’re ready to buy, take along a disinterested party who’s an experienced boater, mechanic, or boatyard manager. The reason: boaters who are eager to buy are too often driven more by emotion than by hard facts about a vessel’s features or condition. Dealers represent themselves and the manufacturers of the boats they carry. Brokers represent the person who wants to sell the boat. You need someone who has your interests at heart and who knows what he or she is talking about. 9. For anything beyond a jon boat or rowboat, have the vessel inspected by a certified marine surveyor. Chances are that your insurance company will require it. A careful survey often will reveal important flaws that you ought to know about before you buy. If your surveyor turns up some disadvantages, there’s still time to bow out of your contract — or press the seller to reduce the price — before everything becomes final. And ask your surveyor to make a full inspection. Don’t cut corners, whether it’s to speed up the inspection process or to avoid getting bad news. You need to make an informed decision. 10. Before you sign a contract for a boat, read it carefully. Few dealers, brokers, or private boat owners are swindlers, but you’ll want to make sure that there are no surprises, and that the equipment or services that you think will come with the boat actually are specified in the contract. Ideally, you should show the document to a lawyer. Whether you do that or not, you owe it to yourself to do more than just sign it unread. by Capt. Art Pine