Should I Buy Water Sports Equipment Online or In-Store?

When getting into any kind of water sport or upgrading your current gear, it can be stressful deciding what the best fit, board style, or size is going to be for you.  Where you buy your gear should be less stressful!

Buying your new gear online is starting to gain attention because of online specials, but the downside to those deals is you’re not looking at the actual board that you are getting, so you can’t feel the weight of it and get a good judgment of the shape and size of it.  Another thing to think about when deciding if you should purchase your equipment online or in-store is that when you buy online, you are going to have to pay for a shipping and handling  charge, and have a wait time to get your new board or ski rather than picking it up that day and enjoying it.  If you have purchased gear before and are familiar with the brand models, purchasing online may work for you because you don’t need to see the board itself, but you will still have to wait for it to be shipped in.

As a new wakeboarder or waterskiier, going into a store to find your new gear will give you a more welcoming feel into the water sport game.  A sales associate will be able to give you helpful tips on the correct board or ski size for your height, weight, and experience, and show you options for board graphics and features.  The sales person will also be able to give some tips about everything that you will need to get started, and even about the easiest techniques to getting just about anyone up out of the water on their new wakeboard or ski.  Best of all, you can take your new board or skis out that day!

How Do I Buy a Boat? Part 4

In “How Do I Buy a Boat? Part 1” we learned the 3 questions to ask yourself before visiting a dealer.

In “How Do I Buy a Boat? Part 2” we learned about visiting a dealership and researching.

In “How Do I Buy a Boat? Part 3” we learned about the buying process.

Once you’ve signed a contract and put down a deposit on the boat of your dreams, your sales associate will likely want to set up a date for closing.  This date will depend on when you are available, when your financing (if any) will come through, when your boat is ready, etc.  Keep in mind that each dealer has their own closing process.

The following items are useful to the dealership on your closing date:

• Driver’s license (for each person on the contract)
• Proof of insurance, unless you will be insuring through your dealership
• A copy of your contract/bill of sale
• Your final payment, unless you are financing through your dealership (please note that financing paperwork may require you to bring additional paperwork such as proof of employment, a recent utility bill, etc.)
• Any additional paperwork your dealership has requested.

If you are financing or insuring your boat through your dealer, you will most likely do your closing with their F&I agent or a representative.  He/she should be able to give you an idea of what to expect for your closing.  In most cases, they will have a separate contract packet you will need to sign, and may require copies of additional paperwork to complete your loan/insurance.

Once that is completed, you will generally move to the boat closing.  At minimum, your dealer should have a bill of sale for you to sign.  In many cases there will be further paperwork such as a delivery form, “as-is” statement (for a used boat), extended warranty sheets, options & accessory sheets, and more.  You will most likely also have state registration & title paperwork to sign for your boat and/or trailer.

When everything is signed, and you have turned over your final payment, your dealer will typically provide you with copies of all of your paperwork.  If they do not offer, ask for copies as you will likely need them later.  This is especially true if you are financing or insuring your boat through your dealer, or will be registering the boat on your own.

In most cases, the final step is the most exciting: taking delivery of your boat!  Depending on your dealer, you may have the option for a captain water delivery, where you will go out with an experienced boat captain and learn about your new boat.  If you have the option, we highly recommend it!  The captain will be able to explain your boat’s functionalities, and is likely very knowledgeable about your boating area and can point out some tips, tricks, and hot spots to visit.  Your other option is typically to have someone from the dealership walk around the boat with you and point out some basics.

Congratulations!  You are now a proud boat owner!

Part 5, the final installment of the series, will cover buying from a private party.  Thanks for following the series with us!

What Boat Style is Best for Me? Part 2

In “What Boat Style is Best for Me? Part 1“, we took a quick look at the basic boat types.  In the final part of this 2-parter, we’ll look at some common scenarios and questions prospective boat owners have.

My family and I want to go out boating, but I worry about my young children moving around and falling out.  I mostly want to cruise around, and I don’t think we’ll be out overnight.  Pontoons are a very popular choice for families with young children.  When anchored, they are typically more stable than a runabout, and have higher sides around the boat, so you wouldn’t need to worry about your children running around.  Also, there is plenty of room for your family & friends.
That sounds great, but will I still be able to use it when the kids are older and want to tube or wakeboard?  Absolutely!  If you get a sport model or a larger engine size, your pontoon will be able to pull a tube or boarder/skiier behind without a problem.

I like to fish, but I also want to be able to cruise with family and friends.  You may want to look into a fishing pontoon!  An 18-20 foot fishing pontoon gives you the all the room you would need for the family and then some.  A fishing model will also include fishing seats, walking room, rod holders, and everything you would need built into the boat.

My son wants me to get a boat I can tow him behind, but I really just want to go fishing.  Fishing boats today have changed a lot from the basic bench model of years ago.  You can do a lot of different things with a a fishing boat now, especially if you look into a fish & ski or crossover model.  These will typically have a larger engine which will allow you to pull a tube, as well as the storage and styling you would need for your fishing gear.  You can easily go from fishing to water sports in a matter of minutes.

Now that my husband & I are retired, we want to travel long-distance, but I don’t want to get an RV.  I want something that feels like home!   If you want to travel long distances by boat, you have three options: a Sport Cruiser, Sport Yacht/Yacht, or houseboat.  Your choice will largely depend on how many you plan to have aboard, and what your budget looks like.
A Sport Cruiser will give you the feel of home, but in a more condensed package and lower price point. While not cramped by any means – especially with space above and below deck – this is the typically the smallest option of the three.
Houseboats are designed with comfort and space in mind; these are truly a floating house on the water.  These will typically give you the largest amount of space for your money, and depending on your budget can be range from “homey” or fully-loaded with the latest electronics and options.
A Sport Yacht or Yacht combines luxurious surroundings with plenty of space to bring the family aboard, or entertain guests for an extended period of time.  However, these will typically be your most expensive option.

I’m ready to purchase my first boat!  My two teenagers want something they can tube behind, and I want something that looks sporty.  You can’t beat a sport boat or runabout for performance, style, speed, and function!  A 17′-19′ sport boat will give you space for about 8 people with plenty of room to lounge.  These will typically come equipped with a place to hook a tow handle or tube tow rope, and a swim platform to use while the boat is anchored.

I want nothing more than to spend hours perfecting my wakeboarding tricks with my friends!  While a runabout can be used for water sports, you probably will not get the performance and wake you want.  A dedicated ski boat will give you more room, a better wake, and better fuel economy for spending hours on the water pulling tricks.  Today’s ski boats also come with a bevy of options, such as tower speakers, board holders, touch-screen cockpit functions, customizable ballast functions, wake plates, and more!

Do you have a question that wasn’t answered here?  Leave it in the comments and we’ll get back to you!