What I've Learned about Buying and Owing Boats
Let’s face it. We live in a world where we shop around. Because of google, we’ve learned to price check to see if someone else has the product we need at a better price, with free shipping, etc. And a lot of that is a good thing. It’s helped us save money on rods and reels and other fishing tackle. And that might work when it comes to tackle, but when it comes to being a boat owner, there’s more to wrestle with than simply the bottom line. Here are a couple of things I’ve learned from being a boat owner for almost twenty years.
You need your dealer’s service department more than you need a smoking deal on the boat. I’ve become convinced that my marine mechanic is one of the most important people in my world. And when you need service work done, you want to be able to go back to the dealer you bought the boat from and feel confident he’ll get you in quickly and get you back on the water. When you buy a boat from a dealer, you help keep that dealer in business. Don’t be surprised when you end up at the back of the service line because you got a deal from someone else that you wouldn’t trust with repairing your engine.
You want to buy a boat from a company that thoroughly stands behind their product. I’ve been super impressed with Yamaha and Skeeter as a company and brand. Not only do you get a stellar looking boat that’s been engineered to perfection, you get a bulletproof motor and a company that stands behind what they sell. I felt like a number with Mercury, but not with Yamaha. I’ve received respect and courtesy with Yamaha from day one. Skeeter has gone out of their way to make things right when something’s come up. That’s what you’re looking for in a boat manufacturer and motor company.
At least give the marina where you get the best service a chance to sell you a boat. In my mind, I wasn’t going to buy a boat from anyone else than Lake Drive Marine in Coldwater, MI. Why? Because they had built trust with me all the years I needed service done on my other outboards. I knew I could trust them to fix things right and to be fair in the way that they dealt with me.
The word that comes to mind on a regular basis is trust. People do business with people they trust. I’ve learned the hard way by trying to save a couple bucks in years past. I’m moving into a phase of my life where I only want to do business with those I trust. Trust takes time to be established and it can be eroded relatively quickly. So as you consider the next boat purchase, consider buying from the marina where you’ve got trust built with their service department. I think over the long haul, you’ll be glad you did.