A few of our friends have bought themselves boats over the past few years and I’ve felt inspired by their social media pictures (particularly when I see them donning beautiful Breton Stripes ashore in the South of France…or even on the Thames to be fair) and my husband, Peter, and I have been considering a purchase ourselves, with some water-sports such as water skiing and a spot of fishing on the agenda for a UK-baed family holiday this summer.
I want to broaden our horizons (literally) going on more family adventures, trying out new things such as holidaying on a boat and enjoying some quality family time taking the kids and I out of our comfort zone.
Peter’s folks owned a boat in South Africa, where he grew up, and he fondly remembers days out on the lagoon and fishing with his father.
I’d like my own children to experience the freedom and fun he felt on his own childhood vacations.
I’ve been doing some research and thought I’d share some tips I’ve picked up on what to look for when buying a boat.
Search reputable sites/ dealers and brokers when it comes to buying new and used boats respectively.
Work out the kind of boat you require: one with space to sleep overnight or a smaller boat for day trips perhaps? Will you be inviting friends on board or having parties? There are boats big and small to suit every taste and requirement. Whether you’re interested in superyachts for sale, or something cute and small like a speedboat, it’s just best to really evaluate what you want and what you can realistically buy (and this does go beyond just finances too).
Buying a boat, similarly to a car involves (for most) finance, berthing, fuel, servicing, insurance and training. Also similarly to a car, boats depreciate in value so consider this when taking out a loan. You should contract a professional boat surveyer before purchasing so any issues can be ascertained and the market vaue of the boat will be assessed.
There are licences and fees to consider
Whilst you don’t require a license in the UK as you do with a car, common sense states doing some training before embarking on a boating journey.
If you keep your boat on a certain waterway, you’ll need to renew your licence annually but you can buy visitor registrations for shorter periods, like holidays.
If you want to use your boat at sea, you’ll need to register it with the UK Ship Register. You should also look up the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), the national governing body for boating, and the Canal and River Trust for advice.
Get to know your boat tech
Boat technology is high-tech with gadgets such as gyro stabilisers, magnetic compasses, radars, autopilot systems, voyage data recorder, GPS receivers, lamps for daylight signalling, pilot cards, distance and speed log devices, navigational lights and ship flags, to name a few so you or whomever is ‘manning the ship’ needs to get their head and hands round these before embarking on a trip. There are lots of online videos on YouTube to help navigate you around the boat, so you can navigate the boat!!
Buy the best insurance
While some types of home insurance will cover your boat while docked at home, it’s unlikely to protect it while it’s being used.
It is always best to compare boat insurance and boat insurance can be taken out to cover a range of different types of boats, from yachts, motorboats and narrowboats to jet skis and canoes.
All policies cover third-party liability claims, and depending on the type of cover you have, may also insure against personal accident, accidental damage including in transit, fire, theft and deliberate damage by a third party. Common exclusions include damage caused while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and theft claims if your boat was left unlocked or unattended.
Have you ever considered buying a boat? Any more advice, is very welcome! Thanks.
Photo taken from our holiday to Jamaica c/o of Beaches Resorts.
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