Boat Buying Tips

The dealer is as important as the boat.

Boaters often ask me what boat they should buy. I often answer with the question: “What’s the brand sold by the dealer in your area with the best reputation for service?"

A great dealer can’t make a boat that’s inappropriate for your use, or one that’s just plain a clunker, into a good boat. But barring those extremes, a dealer with a proven commitment to customer service will make boat ownership a more pleasant and stress-free experience.

The following list is reprinted from Boating Industry, a leading trade publication.

Boating Industry Announces Top 100 Boat Dealers in North America

It’s their annual Top 100 dealer awards. Such a list is a good place to start in your search for a dealer. Here are some other tips.

• Ask your friends about their dealer experience.

• Ask for referrals.

• When visiting at the dealership, ask for a tour of the facility.

• Speak to dealer staff and ask how long they’ve been employed there.

• Ask if the dealer is a parts and service dealer.

Takeaway: Prudent boat buyers shop dealers as hard as they shop boats.