Should I Buy A New Or Used Boat?

Buy New or Used?

Buying a boat can be tough. You have to decide on the right size, the right features, and the right price for your budget. In many cases, people will choose a used boat over new. While there is certainly nothing wrong with purchasing a quality used boat, this may not be the right choice for everyone. To help you decide whether to buy a new or used boat, let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of both options.

ADVANTAGES OF BUYING A USED BOAT

When deciding to buy a new or used boat, Price is by far the biggest reason to go the pre-owned route. While you can certainly find expensive used boats, if you want a reasonable vessel that fits within a tight budget, you will likely choose a used option. Not only is the price lower, but like a used car, much of the value depreciation has already happened, so a used boat will hold its value better as well. You’ll also have the choice of buying from a dealer or a private seller.

The disadvantage, of course, is that you really never know what you’re going to get, and you could be stuck with a lemon. The boat may have been driven hard and treated rough, so you need to be extremely wary and inspect all the important components, including the hull and motor. With used boats, you may also have worn out seats, broken levers, and other issues that may not become noticeable until you’re out on the water.

255 Dorado

ADVANTAGES OF BUYING A NEW BOAT

When you buy a new boat, you can get exactly what you want from your craft. As an example, take a look at our Build Your Scout feature. This option allows you to build the exact boat you want, with all the right features and conveniences to fit you needs. With used boats, you essentially have to take what’s available. New boats are clean, neat, and shiny; they’re not beat up and the motors are reliable and trustworthy. While it’s certainly possible, you’ll rarely have engine troubles with a new boat – the same can’t be said for used. For reliability and quality, many people choose new boats. Also, if anything goes wrong with a new boat, you usually have the backing of a manufacturer’s warranty, which helps reduce or eliminate the overall cost of repairs.

Price, however, it the real downside to new boats. You will, in most cases, pay more for your new boat than if you were to buy a comparable used boat. You’ll also have to assume most of the value depreciation, although if you buy a high-quality boat like a Scout your depreciation could be less.

420 lxf

FIND OUTSTANDING BOATS FROM SCOUT

Ultimately, making the decision to buy a new or used boat can be a challenge. If you decide on a new boat, make sure you take a look at the complete lineup from Scout. From river fishing to open-ocean adventures, we have the right boat to fit your specific purposes.

Use our online customization tool to Build Your Scout today!

530 LXF Scout Line Drawing

Build Your Scout

Click below to build your dream Scout model.