Tips for buying your first boat

• Make sure the boat you buy is certified to carry the number of passengers and amount of gear you plan to bring aboard.
  
• The manufacturer's suggested retail price is generally 15 percent more than the price you will actually pay for the boat.
  
• A used boat depreciates between 10-15 percent a year for the first three years.
  
• You should always hire a marine surveyor to evaluate a used boat before purchasing it.
  
• A good time to shop for a deal on a new boat is at the end of the model year, usually around July.

Resources

Hacker Boat Company
Route 9N, Silver Bay, NY 12874
(518) 543-6666
www.hackerboat.com

Surfside 3
Rex Marina
South Norwalk, Conn.
203-831-6311
www.surfside3.com

Rex Marine Center
South Norwalk, Conn.
203-866-5555
www.rexmarine.com

Grady-White Boats, Inc.
5121 N.E. Greenville Blvd.
Greenville, NC 27834
252-752-2111

Sea Ray Boats
Knoxville, Tenn.
865-971-6623
www.searay.com

Cigarette Racing Team
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
954-564-7234
www.cigaretteracing.com

BoatTraderOnline.com
Virginia Beach, Va.
877-354-4069 ex. 8261
www.BoatTraderOnline.com

Boattest.com
Stamford, Conn.
203-323-9900
www.boattest.com