Make informed, calculated decisions to avoid heartache and headache.

The journey to your first boat, or even your next boat, is an exciting one, with a dash of confusion and a sprinkle of anxiety thrown into the mix. We’ve all been there. This can be a life-changing decision, so there’s a lot of information and factors to consider before deciding. A smart buyer is an informed one that takes many different factors into consideration. Here’s how you can be one of them, and make the best decision for your needs.

Brand new or preowned

Both have their advantages, for sure. A brand new boat comes with a warranty and no legacy problems. A preowned vessel is economically advantageous, but she may come with problems that will only manifest with time and use. It’s definitely more work to find a good one, but the short of it is to get a preowned yacht that is relatively younger, with great service history and a recent survey from a reputable company. If a new boat is on the table, the world is literally your oyster. The breadth of choice can be intimidating, so get in touch with us if you need some advice.

Length

While the useable space on a boat is not fully determined by the length of the boat, it really is the best indicator. There are many factors to further consider that will then determine the length and size of the vessel.

Where?
Due to the absence of any great bodies of freshwater in Malaysia, most of yachts are used at sea. Your mileage may differ if you are in another country, so this is worth considering.

When?
If you are planning to stay overnight at sea, a larger boat is necessary. She should have enough cabins, heads and showers, a galley, and also enough storage for important resources like potable water. Day cruisers need less space and therefore can be more compact – and more affordable.

Who?
Who do you want to share the boating experience with? Do you see yourself inviting friends along for a night or two out at sea? Or do you plan to use her primarily with your wife and two children? A vessel that entertains children with water sports, and guests with cocktails may be very different boats.

What?
As touched on briefly above, the various activities of a boat will affect her size. For example, a focused sport fisher to carry one or two fishermen is going to be much more compact than a yacht with garage for a tender.

Boating schedule

Be realistic with the frequency with which the boat will be used. Unless you’re a retiree with big plans to cruise across the oceans, it is never as regular as we hope it will be. It’s ultimately up to you of course, but we think it may be worth the wait if you can only head out once a month. The depreciation and the maintenance / docking costs versus enjoyment is not worth it in this scenario.

Financing

One of the challenges of growing the pleasure boating industry in Malaysia is the lack of any financing facilities, which leaves only one option here. Still, you may be from a country with such facilities. If your cash could be better invested elsewhere, consider getting a loan. These can go from 10 to 20 years, although most opt for 10 to 15 years. Different lenders will have different requirements, so there isn’t a ‘template’ for the loan, and sometimes a 20% deposit may be required.

Insurance

Some countries may not need pleasure vessels to be insured, but we highly recommend it even when it is not the law. The waters of marine boat insurance are murky to most people, and so engaging an agent from a reputable agency is the best way to clear the haze.

Boat licenses

Most countries with a robust and active pleasure boating scene will require a license for operating the vessel. It makes sense, because after all, you need a license to operate a motor vehicle, right? It may seem obvious, but check with your local authorities if you’re unsure. Moreover, these countries will also have to pass certain requirements during inspection, for safety purposes. When buying a preowned boat in these places, check if she meets these regulations.

Docking and storage

A question that often gets overlooked in our country is the question of storage. In areas with many different waterways, popping the boat onto a trailer and heading off to explore a new river or lake is part of the boating experience. In doing so, a few other key considerations arise. You’ll need to do some research on the size of the trailer needed, and decide if you want to park her at home or rent a space close by. If the boat is a large one, certain places may require a permit to move her whilst on a trailer.

Otherwise, the vessel will be docked permanently at her home marina. A space needs to be rented, which will then add to the cost of boat ownership.

Budget

Ultimately, it boils down to this. There’s no denying that pursuing this pastime is one that will cost you money, and it goes to the limits that you set, but the point is that you set the limit. We have boats that start from RM300k on our website. These are sailboats, however, and weekend cruisers of around 40-feet can be had for around RM1 million. On top of the price of the vessel, take into consideration also the cost of maintenance, insurance, fuel, docking, and cleaning.

The truth is, there is no ‘forever’ boat. A boater’s needs will not remain the same ten years from now, and the inexorable march of technology means that newer boats are generally better; better safety, better fuel economy, better hull design. Does this mean that you must upgrade? Of course not, but if you do, all the points listed here will definitely be helpful to you, and you may also need the help of a broker to sell your current boat.