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Buying a boat will be among the largest purchases of your life, so it’s important to get it right. Given how boats come in all shapes and sizes and are designed for different purposes, it’s helpful to learn what you should be looking for to suit your needs.

Below are five criteria you can use to help choose the perfect boat.

1. Budget

Budget is always an important consideration—the cost range for boats is vast, so knowing what you’re comfortable spending ahead of time will narrow your search. Both new and used boats have their advantages when it comes to budget: new boats help you save on repairs while used boats offer some upfront savings.

Additional budget-related items to consider are gas, insurance, and maintenance, each of which will vary boat to boat.  

2. Use

How do you plan to use your new boat? Are you looking for an ocean cruiser that can entertain guests? To enjoy water sports with the family? Reel in some fish? A good place to start is determining whether you need a freshwater or saltwater boat.

Different boats are designed for different purposes, and it’s important to choose what’s built to accommodate your needs.

3. Size

Boats come in such a wide selection of sizes that it’s helpful to begin with a ballpark figure based on your needs. Size factors into other major considerations like towing and storage, where and how you plan to use the boat, and how many passengers you hope to accommodate. 

4. Boating experience

Like many other vehicles, some boats are more difficult to navigate and pilot than others. Much like how you shouldn’t hand the keys of a race car to a brand-new driver, you shouldn’t buy a boat that’s out of your comfort or safety level either. If you’re new to boating, comparing the maneuverability and ease of use of your choices will help in finding the boat that suits your confidence.  

5. Storage

You’re going to spend more time off your boat than on, so have a plan ahead of time for where you will store it. You may have access to wet or dry storage. For many, dry storage is the more secure choice because you can keep your vessel at a storage facility, or at your own home. For either of these dry storage options, you’re going to need to tow it, so factor in purchasing a trailer and a truck or SUV powerful enough to haul it. 

 Find Your Perfect Boat at Butler

Now that you know what factors to consider when choosing the right boat, you just need to know where to look. We at Butler Marine maintain a diverse inventory to meet the wide-ranging needs of our customers. 

We’re the preferred boat dealer in Charleston, SC for a reason—better selection, better prices, and exceptional customer service. Shop our used and new boats for sale in Charleston to find the perfect boat from the perfect dealer.