Even though a lot of boats cost a lot of money, it doesn’t
necessarily mean that only the mighty rich c an afford them. Even we regular
folks can own and operate a boat if we want to. There are different types of
boats available in the market and you can find that there are a lot of
budget-friendly boats and used boats for sale in various boat shops and
dealerships. A boater can still enjoy the fun and excitement of boating
excursions even with a slim budget.
If you’re this aspiring boater, don’t let your finances
hinder you from owning a boat. If you’re not too picky with your boat type, you
can own a tinnie boat, such as a Quintrex
tinnie, one of the most economical and versatile boats you can own.
But how can you maintain a boat with a limited budget? Here
are some tips:
Know Your Budget
Before you go around your local boat dealerships and marine shops shopping for
boats, figure out your budget. Determine how much money you’re willing to spend
on buying a boat and maintaining it regularly. Aside from the cost of the boat
itself, you also need to consider insurance, fuel, mooring fees, maintenance,
equipment, and accessories. Calculate your current income and expenses to check
if this is another commitment that you can fit into your life.
All right, so you’ve figured out that you can shell out some
money for a boat. The first thing you need to come up with is the cash to
purchase a boat. The most cost-effective, worry-free way to do that is to save
up. If you can discipline yourself to change your spending habits drastically
or get another source of income, this is the way to buy a boat if you don’t
want to worry about paying for loan interest.
If you need the boat sooner or later, you can always try
marine financing. As long as interest rates are not too high, this is an easy
way to boost your purchasing power without demanding much money from you
upfront. Shop around with different financing providers or boat dealers to ensure
you get the best deal. Here at Fraser Marine, we offer in-house
financing for Mercury engines. The Specialist Marine Finance backed by
Mercury Finance offers you a 3+2 warranty on the entire range of outboard
engines with competitive interest fixed rates. This financing is available on
new and used trailerable boat packages, motors, and even repowers. If you want
to know more about this, shoot us a message here.
Try Buying Used Boats
If you’re in a pinch, abandon the thought of buying new
boats. Instead, try looking for used boats for sale. Shopping for slightly
aged or slightly used boats can help you save money instead of buying a brand
new one you can rarely get a discount on. Make sure to do a lot of research and
ask a lot of questions about the dealer or seller whom you’re planning to buy
from. Try to get information on the boat’s background, condition, engine
details, and other more important information about the boat. If you’re looking
for a used boat, look no further than here at our dealership. Check out our
listing of used
boats for sale or you can send your inquiries to our Contact Us page.
Do Your Maintenance
If you have the skills and expertise with tinkering with
tools and you pretty much consider yourself to be a good mechanic, then you can
easily perform many simple maintenance jobs which can help you save a lot of
money instead of going to a marine technician or repairman. However, if you’re
not sure what you’re doing or you have trouble identifying the different parts
of your boat or your engines, or you just simply don’t know what to do, it’s
best to go to a qualified marine technician if you're not good in this
department. Shop around your area to get the best deal. It’s best to also
befriend a technician so you can at least haggle for a discounted price. Make
sure to also do regular preventative maintenance such as servicing it at least
annually to lessen the chances of bringing your boat for repairs.
Guess what? Here at Fraser, we also do marine
servicing. Our expert team of marine technicians are qualified to service
outboard motors from Mercury, Suzuki, Evinrude, etc. We also re-power outboards as well to fit up
your new engines to your boats.
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 to save your money from monthly
costs as well as maintenance fees.
Avoid Overbuying Stuff You Don’t Need
Try to resist the temptation to overbuy. New boat owners
often overestimate how often they’re going to use the boat and get excited when
they see powerful-looking or sophisticated boats. This makes it quite easy to
buy a boat that’s bigger and more expensive than what you truly need. Don’t get
swayed by aesthetics alone, take into consideration what activities you want to
do with a boat and use those parameters as factors for you to decide the
appropriate and most economical boat you will own. Also avoid buying extra boat
accessories, gear, and equipment that you don’t need.
Buy the Appropriate Fuel for Your Boat
It’s no secret that boat engine fuel is more costly than
fuel sold at gas stations. While you might be tempted to use that type of fuel
for your boat, avoid them. They are usually mixed with ethanol, which can harm
your boat engine. Try not to do this as the maintenance and repair costs
can put a dent in your budget. Best to buy them on marina docksides. Make sure
to also treat the fuel stored in your engine if they are sitting there for more
than two months to prevent gumming your fuel injectors and filters.
Pursue Other Ventures Using Your Boat
You can use your boat to help you earn money and subside
your boat costs. If you fish regularly as a hobby, you can either use the fish
you caught as your meal to save money on food or sell them to earn a few bucks.
If you have extra time, you can offer water tours. If you’re not the worrying
type, you can rent out your boat for parties and excursions to others.