I have had the experience (I won't say pleasure) of purchasing two large boats in the past 6 years. One was a older 30' Alberg sailboat and the other was a 40' River Queen Cruiser which I currently live on. Living on a boat provides me with a front seat view of boats and the people who buy them. Following is the Step-by-step process I would recommend people to use if they think they want to purchase a boat.

YOUR BOATING NEEDS

I won't go into all the factors that you should consider before buying a boat, but here are a few things that you should put some thought into before putting out your money. Why do you want a boat? What will be in's purpose in your life? Is it for pleasure, for fishing, or to compete with your neighbours who just got a new boat last week? What is your boating experience? If you've never owned a boat before, you might be better off saving your money for a year and joining a boating association that will give you the opportunity to gain some experience out on the water. Further, you can get into trouble on a big boat just as easily as in a small one, so don't think like the Titanic owners ... What does your family think? Do they support your puchase - are they part of it? If so, what conditions or factors should you take into consideration for their needs. There are many other factors to consider such as: docking or mooring options, your finances (its costs money to maintain a boat), availability of local boat service people, how much time you actually have available to devote to your new boat, and the list goes on. It is a big decision, do not take it lightly.

POWER OR SAIL

Powerboats and sailboats are two very different vehicles. A powerboat is more like your car - turn the key and point, whereas a sailboat requires greater knowledge of wind, weather and water. Both are fine for a beginner, but you should know what your actual skills are. A powerboat, because it is more like a car, often seems to be the logical choice. However, a powerboat is more greatly effected by weather, has must greater danger potential due to speed and if you end up with engine trouble, you are stuck. A sailboat, just because it is slower is inhernetly safer in my opinion. It does take more time to learn though, but this should be viewed as a positive thing. If you want my opinion, I would advise most people to go with a smaller sailboat to start with.

Broker or Private

You will save money making your boat purchase a private one ... however, there are a number of rules and regulations that you will have to understand and usually some paperwork that must be filled out and filed. This is the advantage that a broker brings. While there are plenty of private boat sales made everyday, using a broker can make the process easier for you and is definitly safer for you overall. A broker, if he or she is doing her job properly, will establish clear ownership of the boat for sale. They will be very familiar with all the required governmental paperwork and licencing forms. While this might not sound like that big of a deal, in some states the paperwork can be quite extensive. A broker also usually provides some sort of protection for both the seller and the buyer. They will handle deposits and the associated paperwork and will also usually provide very detailed itemized lists of facts and features about the boat they are selling. A good broker takes pride in making a good sale - they know that if you are not happy, that their repuation will be on the hook. If you are comfortable with the local boating rules and regulations and are satisfied that you can handle all the little details of the sale, then by all means go for a private sale. My advice, especially to first time buyers, is to use a broker.

The Survey

The survey and your surveyor are your best tools in getting to know the boat you are looking to purchase. A survey, much like a home inspection, is a complete review and assesment of the prospective boat. A surveyor that you hire is working for you! As such, they make it their business to serve you well. They will do a very detailed inspection of the boat and then provide you will both an initial verbal report an then a written report. That written report will also be used when you go to purchase insurance. A good surveyor will be familiar with your boat model or at the very least your boat style. They should be aware of the common problems found in boats of your model or type and will usually pay special attention to those items. They will also verify that the instruments, wiring and basic safety features are there and up to date. They will inspect the hull in detail. This is very important as the hull must be in good condition if you are to trust the seaworthyness of your boat. Whether wood, fiberglass or some type of metal, they should inspect the hull for deterioration and other conditions that would render the boat unsafe. These inspections will go into detail far and above what the average boater would be looking at and as such are essential to your safety and peace of mind. After your surveyor has inspected the boat, don't just go by the written report. Sit down with your surveyor with some snacks and drinks and really get their impression of the boat first hand. It is amazing what they will see and find that the average boater will not. For a beginner: DO NOT buy a boat without getting a survey. It is essential for you to know what it is exactly that you are buying.

Closing Day

Finally, you should whenever possible negotiate into the conditions of the sale that the seller take you out for a sea-trial before the sale is final.  This should be more than just a formality.  Use this time on the water with the seller to find out about your new boat.  Make it clear that you want to learn as much as you can from them on that little cruise.  Ask them to show you how to rig the boat if it is a sailboat and how to manuver and operate a powerboat.  Ask them to show and demonstrate all the various systems on the boat including all the instruments.  This demonstration will do two things.  First it will bring out any problems that were not previously found and second it will familiarize you with your new boat.  This time learning about how your boat works can save you weeks of trying to figure it out yourself.

And now you've bought your boat!  Congratulations!