Boat auctions is a great means of finding the boat of your choice and many times you will get boats that are almost new and at a price that is considerably lower than its retail value. It is normal to find good brand names as well as top quality boats such as Centurion, Meridian, Stingray and Bayliner that may have become the property of the state, or of a bank and which are available at very competitive prices. Thus, when you go to boat auctions, you may very often is able to pick up outstanding bargains and sometimes you could even end up paying just ten percent of the original retail price if you are lucky.

Do Your Preparatory Work
However, before you enter the boat auctions makes sure that you have done your preparatory work and are well armed to get the best out of your experience. First off, you should get hold of a copy of the datasheet from the manufacturer regarding the boat of interest to you as it will enable you to find out the specifications with regard to the boat. Next, you need to check out the maintenance history of the boat that is being sold at the boat auctions and ensure that it has been regularly maintained especially note the engine hours, history of damage, equipment, and paint and also the interior. And, if the boat has had more than one previous owner, then it will surely have many problems and thus should not be considered an ideal choice.

When you go to boat auctions and wish to purchase a boat, you should make it a point to be very observant and attending the preview would be recommended, and it also pays to keep a cool head during the auction and avoid getting into bidding wars, which more often than not, will end up causing you much unwanted remorse.

Once you find a boat that interests you which is being sold at boat auctions makes sure to give it a complete visual checkup and look closely at the hull, check out the throttle controls and also cables, and also the steering, and whenever possible check the blower, bilge pump, winches, stereo etc.

In any case, you need to devote much time and also closely inspect the engine and look for things such as whether the bilge has oil in it which can indicate leakage of oil. And, if you feel that you do not have the proper qualification to perform these checks, take the help of technical hand.

Also, before you make your bid at the boat yacht auctions, it would be wise to have ascertained the market value of the boat and put a limit on how much you are willing to pay. Also, stay clear of claims that seem to be too good to be true and also fight shy of police and salvage auctions which are not professionally run.

Finally, if you do win the bid makes sure that the contract is set in writing and makes sure all important figures as well as claims are set down in writing, and whatever else you do, don’t be hasty and take a good look at other auctioned boats so that you get the feel of what it is going to like at the boat auctions, and remember that the market is pretty widely spread and new and good opportunities will always be available, and staying patient can be to your advantage.

We sometimes see people doing it in movies and on television.  It seems like a romantic and attractive way to live.  But is living on a boat really as exciting as it might seem at first glance?

There is no doubt that boating is an enjoyable and relaxing way to spend a weekend, or perhaps a vacation.  It’s the ideal way to get away from it all.  But living afloat every day of the week poses a whole new set of challenges that make it far from ideal for some people.

What Are The Attractions Of Living On A Boat?

For many, the best part is the fact that you are not part of the general population.  If your job demands that you need to relocate, you don’t have to give up your home to do it.  You simply set sail for a new mooring – no moving vans and no hassle.

Another advantage is that a boat can be a lot cheaper to buy than a property.  Some people have in fact opted for a life on the water instead of struggling to buy a more traditional home.

You will have to make sure your boat is well maintained, but there is really no more maintenance required than would be necessary on a house.  It’s all part of the joys of ownership.

How About The Disadvantages?

The main disadvantage is the lack of room you will often experience.  Boats do vary widely in size, of course, but every single one will demand the need to be tidy and well organised.

Storage is of paramount importance, and you need to be ruthless with what you keep and discard.  Living on board a boat might not be ideal if you are self employed and you work from home, for example.

If you are thinking about changing your lifestyle and living on board a boat, get as much information as you can about the practicalities before you actually make the change.  If possible, speak to people who are currently doing it to see how they fare.  There are bound to be issues you won’t have thought about, and finding out about potential problems before you take the plunge makes them far easier to solve than if you wait until after you have bought your boat and you are living on board.

Finally, remember that living on a boat is very different from going on vacation on one for a week or two.  Make sure it’s what you want before trying it out for real.