Trawlers, Power Cats, Motoryachts for Charter!

San Juan Islands Gulf Islands Desolation Sound Inside Passage/Alaska

Boat shopping can seem a lot like looking for a new automobile. For both you may head to dealerships to evaluate the choices. Boats can take you to boat shows, not much different than heading out on an auto dealer’s lot. If you buy from an individual you still probably use the resources above or similar online information. Boats and cars however, are very different animals. Both are complex machines featuring diverse systems, components, and technologies but with a car, parts and systems are tightly integrated into the whole. They can only be replaced with exact copies of themselves. They may come from the original manufacturer or be third party clones, but when no longer available, or when too many fail, the vehicle itself becomes virtually useless.

A boat, on the other hand, may have similar complex systems but they are more loosely integrated. The parts come from a host of manufacturers resulting in a range of quality and reliability. That variety offers many more options if one part or system dies. On top of that, consider the durability and life span of the hull, deck and basic structures. They are the main reason that it’s not uncommon to see boats ten, twenty, thirty or more years old at marinas next to their newer counterparts. The durability of the basic structures is an exceptional advantage

In that sense I think boats are much more like houses than cars. So if looking at a boat here’s something to remember. A boat with a few things you don’t like is no different than a house with a refrigerator or stove you don’t like. It shouldn’t be a deal breaker. There is little that can’t be replaced, or upgraded, and if done over time it shouldn’t break the bank.

But then that’s just my opinion.