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Health & Fitness

The Boat Buyer's Guide

Some tips for the best ways to buy a boat this summer.

Looking to buy a new boat to have in the water by Memorial Day?  Well before you dot the I’s and cross the T’s on your watercraft insurance policy, let’s take a moment to talk about the best ways to actually buy a boat and how not to get wrapped into the wrong deal.

-          Don’t get entranced in boat show specials, as many of these deals do not include service in a nearby location and you may have to travel hundreds of miles in order to get help with your watercraft.

-          Instead of focusing on a brand new model, look for leftover models that have been sitting unsold on dealers’ lots from the previous years.

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-          Buying directly from an owner can reduce costs and get you a better price than going through a dealer as the overhead at these places can be extremely high, causing profit margins to be cut thin, leaving little room for bargaining.

-          Always have your boat inspected before purchase and have a marine surveyor give a valuation as part of a written report in order to know the true value and price of the boat you are trying to buy.

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