Buying a Boat at a Boat Show: How to Get the Best Price

Boat shows are a great place for experienced sailors to buy a boat. But with the wide variety of boats available, how can you get the best price? This post will provide a guide to buying a boat at a boat show, from prep, to on-site negotiations, to help you get the boat of your choice at the ideal price.

Setting a budget for your purchase

Before attending a boat show, make sure you set a buying budget in advance and stick to it for the duration of the show. At the same time, don't overlook the cost of boat ownership, which includes a number of expenses such as routine maintenance, off-season storage, winterization, fuel consumption, insurance costs, taxes, and registration. If conditions permit, apply for a loan pre-approval through a bank or professional marine lender before attending a boat show to provide you with financial security when purchasing a boat.

Plan to visit the show

Most people who are ready to buy a boat have mentally cleared the type of boating they seek and the type of boat they desire, whether it's a cabin cruiser, a trawler used for watersports, or a boat specialized for fishing, you can find it at a boat show. If you have your goals clearly defined, then you can narrow down the boats and dealers you want to focus on at the boat show. Plan ahead so that you can check out specific models of boats directly when you get to the show. You can call and ask dealers before the show to confirm that the type of boat you're looking at will be at the boat show.

Next, for large regional or national boat shows, plan your entire viewing route. Most of these shows publish a list of participating manufacturers or dealers with a map of the showroom, so you can use this information to find the location of their booths and plan your route through the show.

As you stroll through the show, remember to take notes, take some photos, and record the pros and cons of the boats you view. Each boat will usually have signs listing its price, features and options, so remember to take a photo to document this.

Getting a favorable deal

Boat and engine manufacturers usually invest a lot of money in organizing boat shows because they are an important channel for them to do business. Often, manufacturers offer all kinds of incentives to dealers in order to promote boat sales during boat shows. Dealers are also happy to facilitate deals in such situations.

Dealers may give additional discounts on the price of the boat or offer other benefits, such as free off-season boat storage services, free engine maintenance for a few years, free winterization, or complimentary accessory kits, among other offers. If the boat show is held in the winter time, the dealer may even offer to store the boat for free until spring.

Be flexible, don't push for a purchase

If you can't find a boat at a boat show that perfectly fits your needs, ask the dealer if they have a similar boat in their store, or if they have a boat on order for subsequent delivery that better fits your preferences. If you are torn between several very similar models, don't make a hasty decision when you're tired; return to the boat show the next day when you're more energized, or go to the dealer to take another look, or even arrange for a test drive on the water if the weather permits.

Advice for first-time boat buyers

For first-time boat buyers, it is critical to proactively identify yourself to the dealer representative. That way, the dealer representative can provide you with more targeted information and advice to help you pinpoint the right boat, with the right powertrain and the right accessories for your situation. When you are on the boat show floor, don't put too much pressure on yourself; plan your time flexibly and make your buying decisions carefully, at your own pace and in a way that works best for you.