What is it about buying a boat that makes people leave their brains at home?

Hey John, It's "Man Fishing". A boat with glitter and a bright shine is like a bass looking at a new lure swimming by! It's always the newbies and the unsuspecting that get hooked and buy Sh!t. With ALL of the warnings and experience that we give, they still bite hard. Both you and I know that the new buyer is easy prey for the salespeople and backyard boater. Even though I bought a new yacht, I took two years and many test drives before putting my money down. I made the sales people crazy! Like a lot of fishermen tossing lures at a school of fish and no one takes the bait. Even though we differ in our philosophies and our boating styles, we are both well schooled in boating and experience. I usually see these newbies in my classes after the purchase, but I have had many in class that did not have boats yet. Those are the ones that spend time and "Plus" time with me on the water off the record.

No matter how much I say in class, the most important info seems to bypass the brain. If most of the buyers could be blindfolded and then search out a boat without the excitement, most would make a better choice.

A boat is a hole in the water you pour money into. But a boat can be a means of independence and a challenge against the elements. For a land lover a boat can be an adventure in an environment not normally experienced. The open ocean with a bit of spray on the face can be exhilarating but sometimes its not for the faint of heart.

Praying to "Ralph" over the back of the vessel isn't fun by any means. The ocean can trick your brain in movement and make you sick. That's why passengers on cruises become "patch people". The patch has dramamine(?) which helps with motion sickness. If you feel sick at sea the best thing to do is get up and out on deck and look straight out at the horizon. Don't look down at the ocean. Closing the eyes and holding on to the rail with your face into the wind is a big help on a rough sea. Be one with the vessel. Relax and allow yourself to flow with the ship. But watch out for rroguewaves. They take many people overboard without warning.

I think it what a person wants versus life. I was raised fishing and on fishing boats with my dad all my life. But when I turned 30 I had this dream to sail, to places I had never been, like a lot of men but maybe a little later. At 35 my brother and I bought a 24 ft sailboat (we did not know anything about sailing and lived in N Ga.) and thought off we go. After several months of not knowing what the boom lift was for, not knowing what was going on with the sail when it went to making all that noise, we decided to join a sail club. This was where our story changed from many people. Some park the boat and it waste away at this point. Anyway I have never sailed to those places I dreamed of (the place you have seen) but I have spent 25 years or so sailing along the Gulf Coast from the Mississippi River to the Keys. People have dreams, some big and some small, some you do and some you don't. I never sailed to my dream but I have enjoyed the people and times I have had. I count myself lucky.

Some certain circumstances of issues yes I do feel sympathy for used boat buyers, especially if its a very big problem hidden that a professional inspection misses.

However, for most scenarios of used boat purchasing, I got zero sympathy for burned boat/PWC buyers.

#1. People let the anxiety or adrenaline of boat buying and desire take top priority over their brain.

When this happens, people bypass doing research or verifying the quality of the vessel and get tunnel vision about the price or appearance of it.

#2. Impatience which also relates to #1.

Those with no training or experience in proper used boat shopping are most likely extremely impatient. Unless they have a large budget, rushing to find and buy a used boat always increases likelihood buying a lemon.

#3. Lack of wisdom

Most beginner used boat buyers do not understand the maintenance and repair hazards that could be hidden in a boat/PWC purchase. They also usually don't understand how expensive marine repairs are as well.

Those are my three main observations.

It is people chasing a dream. I knew nothing when I bought my first guitar at 15 years old, but I am a reasonably good player at 56.

I was early retired 2 years ago and decided to go for a job that I 'wanted' to do rather than one I 'had' to do. I went for a job making sandwiches for a catering company... but they said I wasn't 'cut out' for it. Seriously! So I went back to my original profession and am now back working as an HR Director, on far more money than the owner of the sandwiche concern.

If I choose to buy a boat and 'have a go' at sailing it.... then I will do so. I don't care what so called experienced 'sailor' moans about it. I have also been a health and safety officer for many years... so don't give me the old twaddle about everyone but you being a danger to all and sundry.

People buy boats because they want to, and are entitled to do so.

If you don't like it... get a skateboard.

That's because we do not require a license to operate a boat. And I'm not talking about the joke of class called (Boaters Safety and Education class) that some states require. I have had boaters take that class then take my OUPV (aka 6-Pack) class and state that the OUPV should be the bare minimum education. Just like getting your drivers license for a car, you have to know the basics of operating a car. My classes don't teach much about buying a boat, but at least your thinking about all the things that could go wrong. Hence you start looking for safer boats to own.

I think part of the responsibility also falls on the dealers. Just like when you buy a car or truck you have to have a license. Many boat dealer don't even mention that there are free or low cost boaters classes offered by the USCG Aux or Power Squadrons. Their classes should be mandatory for all boaters.

Something else I have experienced when piloting passenger vessels over the years. Some people think all state and federal rules don't apply on the water and they play as such. I've had people jump overboard and swim to shore thinking it was cool thing to do. (Its not a federal offense to jump overboard a vessel without the captain's permission) I don't remember the CFR on that.

It's our obligation as boaters to push for mandatory education for new boaters. Who knows, you might be the one saving someones life for making sure they knew what the Red light on a boat means.

No it's they want to have a boat for the first time and need help in searching out what is happening just like U and I did 40 yrs ago? Just they don't have a clue on what there doing.

Beats me. Had a guy last week drag in a mid 80s U.S Marine with a rotten floor and a seized engine he "only" paid $1200 for. I sold him a solid running 90 Ebbtide with a 75hp Johnson for $800 (+ $100 that i have to pay to landfill his boat). This poor guy bought his boat at the world's biggest marina, Ebay. The problem doesn't just lie with rookies, it's pirates who take advantage them also. These crooks should be keelhauled,stretched on the rack, and their genitals set alight. We try to run our business by my grandfathers' idioms, don't screw people, and only let them screw you once.

If i could offer the newbies one piece of advice- don't buy it until you drive it.

I could easily say the same thing about people buying cars. I can only wince when I see what they got and what they paid for it.