As a yacht broker, 99.9% of the time I receive a call it is about a specific boat. Rarely am I asked about my qualifications to help someone purchase a boat. Most people fall under what I call the “car-lot” purchasing model. You see the car on the internet, you go to the lot, find the nearest helpful person and you purchase. Cars are expensive, but boats can be very expensive and are much more complicated in both the purchasing process and in operation. If you are an experienced boat owner the car lot program may work for you. But I have found that even experienced boaters may not have kept up with some of the changes in the boating industry and are suddenly caught by surprise and must modify their plans. Regardless, if you are just getting into boating or stepping up or down in boat size, then a little help is a good thing.
I recommend you take the time to find a broker who is willing to help you decide what is the best boat to meet your goals, both financially and experientially. A broker can get information on any listing and can help you purchase a boat regardless of the brokerage that has it listed. (A quick side note here, if you are purchasing a new boat you need to deal directly with the boat builder’s dealer in your area.)
How to find a good broker? A referral is always an excellent place to start if you have boating friends or acquaintances who have recently purchased a boat. Or spend a little time looking at brokerage websites and see if any feel like a good “fit” for you. Some brokers focus on different areas, and you may find one that matches your interests. Finally, when you do decide to pick up the phone and call, even if it is about a specific boat, have a few questions ready for the broker. Here are a few to start with.
- What is your experience?
- Do you have a particular interest or focus?
- How would you walk us through the process of selecting a boat?
- Do you have any references from past clients?
- Do you have time to take on another client?
Spend as much time as you like browsing the internet looking at boats, but when it comes time to move forward and begin a serious search that will result in your new boat-find a broker to help you. If this feels like an added complication, take a moment to think about all the experts you rely on and ask why this should be any different?
Todd Powell Boats 