Buying a boat is an exciting endeavor and a great way to start off the new year! It marks the opening of a new chapter of fun for your family and friends, but it is also a big financial decision. Our team at Island Cove is experienced in helping you find the perfect aquatic match for you and your boating lifestyle. But there are a few things to consider before you come to visit us:

1. Your Budget, Wants, & Needs – Obviously, if you had all the money in the world to put toward your dream boat, you would purchase the most up-to-date, accessorized boat imaginable. However, you must consider what your budget truly is before jumping in to considering how to outfit your boat with the best gear. Once you have established your budget. Our team at Island Cove can help you determine what type of boat and motor will best fit your needs and boating activities. After allocation your budget to those needs, you can begin to accessorize and outfit you boat with your “wants” that fit best in your budget.

2. Pay Attention to Your Motor – It is important to make sure that your boat has the appropriate size engine and is not under-powered. Especially if you consider the re-sale opportunities for your boat, it is vital to make sure that the horse-power and performance of your boat is correct because under-powered boats are difficult to sell down the road.

3. How Many People – Before getting too far into the purchase process, don’t forget to think through how many people you can envision using the boat. It’s important to not buy a boat that is too small or too big for what you want to use it for, whether that is exclusively for fishing trips with friends or tooling around on the lake with your family. It is also important to consider this because there are safety risks to having too many people on a boat than it can safely hold. A helpful equation when considering the boat size in relation to the number of people is

BOAT LENGTH IN FEET X WIDTH OF BOAT IN FEET / 18 = HOW MANY

PASSENGERS CAN SAFELY FIT

So, if your boat is 15 ft long and 5 ft wide, you can fit four people comfortably and safely on your boat. While you can’t always predict how many passengers will be using your boat, it is always a good idea to consider this before purchasing your new boat.

4. Don’t forget the trailer! – Your boat isn’t the only thing to consider in your purchase; you also need to purchase a trailer for your boat. If you are planning on storing your boat at our marina, this might not be a necessity, but if you want to be able to take your boat to other lakes, it is important to remember to save some of your budget for a trailer.

Our team at Island Cove Marina has decades of experience with both new and used boats, and we’re ready for you to start off the new year in a new vessel! Come by and see us, or give us a call at (423) 344-8331 to find out more about the selection of boats we have for sale.