Boat Show Bargains

# If you happen to be in the market for a new boat, there is no better place to buy one than at the shows.

By Eric Burnley

Most of us who love boats can’t wait for the winter boat shows so we can drool over the latest in fiberglass beauties displayed in all their finery. If you happen to be in the market for a new boat, there is no better place to buy one than at the shows.

First, it’s the middle of winter so people are not exactly beating a path to the dealer’s door. Second, buying an in-stock boat helps the dealer get that boat out the door and off his inventory on which he must pay the bank interest. Third, you can shop around simply by walking from one display to another without having to drive anywhere. You should also have your family with you so they can see what you are thinking about buying and help you decide exactly which boat is right for the family.

As anyone one who has looked at boat prices knows, you can drop 100 grand quickly, and that is a lot of money to most people. With that type of investment, you want to be sure you get the right boat and that requires a little study before you leave the house.

Gather everything you can about the manufacturer of the boats that interest you. How are they constructed? How long have they been in business? What type of hardware do they use? Not always, but as a general rule, the cheaper the boat, the cheaper the construction.

On the other hand, if you are only going to use the boat on weekends at the lake, a less expensive boat may suit you well. If you plan runs to the canyons, you will want a boat that’s built like a tank!

Most fishing boats come with such things as livewells, washdowns, and rod holders as standard equipment. Even center consoles will have some sort of head arrangement inside the console. Today you can get a center console as large as 50 feet with four or more outboards. While they will cost less than a 50-foot express with twin diesels, they will still set you back somewhere in the million-dollar range. For our discussion, we will concentrate on boats around 24 feet with twin outboards or single inboard/outboards.

There is much to be said for center consoles. They are wide open for fishing on all sides and are generally lighter than cabin boats and therefore should burn less fuel. I spent many years fishing from center console boats, but since I passed the half-century mark, cabin boats, such as my 24 Albemarle, became more attractive.

Some of the more useful options that I have seen are a freshwater washdown and even a sink at the bait prep station where you can freshen up on a hot day. Outriggers mounted on the hardtop where they will be out of the way when deployed. Actual seats at the helm, not a leaning post. That leaning post gets a bit uncomfortable on that long ride to the canyons.

Once you find a boat that has all or most of the options you want, the next thing is to get the price you and the dealer can live with. Before you start talking money, find out how much money you have. Go to your bank to get an idea of how high their interest rates are and then shop a few lenders at the show. Once you have an idea of how much you can spend, you will know where the negotiations will have to end.

If the cost of a new boat is beyond your means, there is nothing wrong with a used one. Most boat dealers at the show will have a board with photos of their used boats in stock. If the dealer is selling a boat, you can be reasonably sure it is in reasonable condition. Full disclosure, I have never been able to afford a new boat. Every one of my boats, from my 14-foot tin boats to my 24 Albemarle, were purchased used. Most were from boat dealers and some from private owners. In every case I did my due diligence and the boats served me well.