Bass Tracker Boats



How To Test A Boat

If you think you've found the boat of your dreams, it's time to test it. Testing your boat is more than just taking it for a test drive around the
harbor. You should look at everything closely, as a professional boat tester would. Sometimes, it can be hard to tell a top quality boat from one that may have problems later on. To an untrained eye, both can look good on the surface.When you start to break everything down and give it a careful inspection, you'll be able to tell a great boat from a not-so-great boat.

By opening up all doors and access plates, you can get great insight on the the construction of the boat. You should also stick your head into the anchor locker of any boat you are considering to buy, as if they've cut any corners you'll normally be able to see it here.Looking into the anchor locker also lets you lookat the hull to deck joint. If there is light coming from through, or if the fiberglass around the joint can be seen through, it normally meansthe boat has poor construction.

When you buy a boat, you should put it through a rigorous visual inspection. It's also equally important to conduct a vigorous test on the water as well. A private seller or dealer will normally want to stack the deck, ensuring that the boat will perform well. Normally, this involves a near empty gas tank, no gear or extra passengers, and keeping the boat in sheltered water. Therefore, it's up to you to insist on a more realistic test. Think of the test as an actual day out on the water, and you'll find out if the boat is indeed something you should spend your money on.

During your water testing, you should determine if the boat performs well and meets all of your expectations. You should determine if the boattravels at the right speeds, and whether or not it is capable of doing everything that you plan todo with it after you buy it.When test driving the boat, you should put it through all paces in open water, cutting waves at all angles. If you plan to test a saltwater boat, you should bring along a 5 gallon bucket and try throwing some water on board. Any boat you plant o use offshore should quickly shed water through the scuppers. Some boats will pool water in the
bow and drain slowly - which can be very dangerous in rough waters.

If a seller or dealer balks at the mention of any requests you have, simply find yourself another dealer or another boat. There are plenty of greatquality boats available, ranging in prices. Make sure to check everything very carefully before you make any decisions.

Financing A Boat

Once you decide to buy a boat, you'll find yourself wondering how you are going to pay for it. This type of purchase will involve some type of financing, whether it's a credit line through the home, an unsecured loan, or a boat line. Choosing the right financing source can be just as important as choosing the right boat. When choosing a source of financing, there are several things to consider. The first factor is how long you plan to keep the boat. If you are buying a first boat, it'll make more sense to find a loan that will be flexible enough for an early payoff via private party or even a trade in.

If you are purchasing the boat of your dreams, you should expect to have it financed for a long time which makes it important to get a fixed rate loan
with terms that allow for a low monthly payment. Another factor you'll need to consider is the down payment. Most lenders or dealers would liketo see at least ten percent down.  Zero down payments do exist for those with good enough credit. Normally, the down payment doesn't significantly change the monthly payment for your boat loan.

Choosing the right type of boat loan is a very important part of the entire buying process. You can start with a boat finance brokerage, which will show you how each one of the available options fit into your profile.Doing this will give you the knowledge and ability you need to find the loan that best fits you and your budget. The, you can concentrate on the important things - taking your new boat out on the water.







Those of you who have the money and plan to keep one boat forever, should buy it new. If you happen to be on a budget and skeptical about owning a
boat, you should buy it used. Buying used is great for some, although it isn't always the most glamorous decision. The oceans and lakes are filled with boaters who are far wealthier than most. Many boaters go well beyond their means and finance their boats at extreme levels.

What really counts with a used boat is being out there on the water. Someone who is out there every weekend on his beat up boat is a great boater. A businessman who only has time to ride on his 60 foot yacht once or twice a year isn't considered a boater at all.

If you look around the water, you'll see that the little boats are the ones that move, while the big boats are the ones that never move. Those that are too busy earning money and never have the time to go boating shouldn't really have a boat at all.

New boats can lose half of their value in less than 2 years. With a used boat, the previous owner has already fixed the problems that are  associated with new boats. The previous owner has also already hassled with the dealer to get the warranty service taken care of.

A used boat normally hasn't be used very much at all. A boat will sit a majority of the time,  which is nothing like a used car. You can find many boats with less than a couple hundreds hours of engine time. For the sake of comparison, look at how many hours are on the engine of yourcar.

A used boat will already have scratches and dings, so you won't feel half as bad when you add a few of your own. When you purchase your used boat, you should leave at least a grand tooutfit the boat and make any necessary repairs.

A used boat will normally come with dock lines, life jackets, spare props, a radio, safety equipment, and other nice additions. New boat owners will have to pay hundreds of dollars for these kinds of things.

The wild card is, of course, whether or not theprevious boat owner did the proper maintenance of the boat. Prior to buying you should always get the boat surveyed to be sure that it's in reasonable condition. This way, you'll know your getting a great used boat.