What is my boat actually going to cost me?
What may be the toughest question: how much boat can you afford? Getting organized and proactively answering these kinds questions before you buy is the best way to limit uncertainty and successfully move forward in the boat buying process. The following list is all the costs you should consider before your decision.
- Annual Maintenance
- Trailer
- Boat Insurance
- Storage options & Costs
- Marina Fees
- Equipment & Accessories
- Boating Licenses
- Boating courses
Tips on saving boat costs
Buy Only the Size Boat You Need
A common mistake made by first-time boat buyers is simply buying more boat than they need. Consider these factors when thinking about boat size: How many people will usually be in the boat? What size water—a small lake or the open ocean—will you be boating on? A bigger boat can carry more people and handle challenging water conditions, but if you intend to be a fair-weather boater and will head out with just two to four people aboard, you may save big by considering a boat a size or two smaller than the bigger model that dazzled you at the boat show. You’ll of course save on the purchase price, but a smaller boat will use less fuel, cost less to insure, and will be easier to tow.
Do Your Own Maintenance
If you’re handy with tools and consider yourself to be a good mechanic, you can perform many of the maintenance and service tasks yourself; which can help you save instead of opting for marine mechanics do the work. This is a tricky area; first, be sure your efforts don’t invalidate any potential warranties. That being said, if you’re mechanically inclined and have good experience in auto repair and home repair, you’re probably capable of tackling most simple boat maintenance tasks.
Store Your Boat at Home
Keep your boat at home, on the trailer, and launch when you want—as opposed to keeping it at the marina, saving monthly costs as well as maintenance fees.
Fuel Costs
Marina fuel sold dockside can be much more expensive than gas sold at the highway station. Remember also that boats stored with fuel in them should have the fuel treated for storage if they’re sitting for more than a couple months. Otherwise the stale fuel turns bad and can gum up fuel injectors and filters.