Boat Buying Guide

With hundreds of different boat makes, models, and types flooding the market, finding the right one for you is quite the challenge. Luckily, it’s not a challenge that you’ll have to face alone. This guide from the experts at Clarks Landing will be able to help you find the right boat for you.

How Much Do You Want To Spend?

A boat represents a major investment. Besides just the sticker price, you need to account for fuel costs, insurance, registration fees, and so on. Creating a budget will help you keep track of these costs and make it easier to define how much you want to spend on your boat. 

How Will You Use The Boat?

There are many different types of boat, and each type will typically be better suited to certain activities than others. For example, if you plan to host guests and entertain on your boat, then a pontoon boat will provide you with the deck space and stability you need to make that happen. If you’re more interested in watersports, wake boats have many features meant to enhance the watersports experience. Don’t be afraid to shop around and compare options. 

What Boat Size Do You Want?

Larger boats offer more space, but they also usually cost more. FIgure out how much storage space and room to accommodate passengers you need before you start shopping. Don’t overspend on a vessel that’s larger than what you can afford. 

What Hull Shape Suits Your Needs?

Most commercially available boats have either flat-bottomed or v-shaped hulls. Flat hulls are able to glide gracefully over shallow water, but don’t provide much stability in choppy waters. If you plan to sail deeper waters and want more stability, you’ll need a boat with a v-shaped hull. 

Shop boats at Clarks Landing. We operate dealerships in Shady Side and Stevensville, Maryland, as well as Point Pleasant, New Jersey. We’re proud to serve communities like Annapolis, Maryland and Brick, New Jersey. We also offer servicing, parts, financing, trade-ins, test rides, and brokerage.