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Giving people boat-buying advice is unavoidable in my profession. They are always asking, “What boat is the best?”, “Which boat should we buy?”
Before offering my wisdom on the matter, there are obviously many questions I will need to ask them first, such as, “What will you use it for?”, “How many persons will be onboard?”, “Where do you want to go boating?”, “Will you tow it or moor it?” and “How much do you want to spend?”
Throughout the conversation, there is also one important consideration I will be asking myself, “What kind of boat will these people look right in?” Placing a group of teens on a Riv, is going to be calling out, “Daddy’s boat!” Likewise, a retired elderly couple on an old battered up American sports cruiser is a telltale sign that the investment plan did not go so well. Ideally, a successful stockbroker that has no real interest in fishing is best suited to the style and sophistication of an Italian-made Rivamare, with her sinuous, flowing lines – a seductive, sporty motorboat that charms from the first glance, just like her owner.
My first piece of boat-buying advice is that anything that floats is good. To enjoy our beautiful waterways, all you really want to do is get out on the water. Ultimately, every buyer visualises himself or herself aboard their dream boat. The reality is, most of these dreams are going to be shaped by your available budget.
Take for instance these millennial groovers I spotted in their rustic alloy runabout at Couran Cove Marina over the summer holidays. Let us not argue about the value of the boat, because out on the water it is priceless. With windscreen and bimini for protection from the elements, bench seating for the girls and the dogs, and beer and rod holders in all the right spots – these guys are living the dream!
Image and text by Andy Kancachian
Published in the April – June 2020 edition
