MOVE DECISIVELY

“Be quick but don’t hurry.” Those words from legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden also apply to buying a boat in a boom market. “If you see a new boat at a dealership within the next year that you really want, grab it,” Hickey says.

“Don’t hold out in the expectation of a special deal because those don’t exist right now,” he adds.

“If you hesitate, someone else will buy the boat, and you will have wasted the opportunity,” Hickey says. “That’s just the way it is in this market.”

The same applies to the used-boat market, Slocum points out. “If you find a boat you’re interested in, visit the seller as soon as possible,” he advises. “In this market, time is of the essence. If the boat’s in good condition, it will sell quickly.”