5 Things you need to know before you buy a family boat
Low-budget family boats are getting more and more popular and why wouldn’t they? They offer a healthy, bonding family experience with a bit of adventure to it! Obviously, before you buy a boat, you need to know about several things to choose a perfect model for you and your family. Here’s all you need to know before you buy a family boat.
1. Size of the boat
Or should we say – the size of your family! Because that’s what really matters here. Every small boat will be perfectly suitable for a 4-person family, but if you need some extra space, we strongly recommend a bigger one.
The number of seats, however, isn’t the only thing you need to consider. If you plan to organize fishing trips, it’s always better to have a bigger space for equipment and fishing rods. Bottom line is that it’s always better to take a bit bigger than you may need.
2. How much does the boat cost?
Good news! Small 4-5 person boats are affordable for everyone and prices range from XXXX to XXXX for the boat itself and all necessary equipment. That includes everything you need to take your family for a lake, canal, or river trip.
A lot like buying a new car though, depending on your budget, you can buy some extra equipment to make your boat more luxurious and more fun to be at.
Optional equipment
If you’re a music lover, what would you say for a radio with a CD/MP3 player? Or maybe you’d like your boat to look differently – there’s an option to swap plastic boat sides and control panel to leather-like material. If you plan to take your older parents for a trip, it might be a good idea to pick more comfortable, adjustable chairs, and a foldable table. Might be a good idea to pick extra safety handles too!
Last but not least, we have to mention that all boats in our shop come with a set of 2 oars and no outboard motor but they’re all suitable if you plan to mount one. Just remember to check how powerful it can be – each boat model has its limit.
3. Cost of upkeep
Just as with every vehicle, boats need some maintenance and its cost depends mostly on what type of boat it is. Good thing is that modern boats are made mostly of plastic and stainless steel, so they don’t need any professional maintenance if they are not damaged (which is hard to do).
The annual cost for bigger boats and motorboats is usually around 10% of the boat’s price, but with the smaller boats designed for low-cost entertainment, fishing, and family trips, it should be even less. Obviously, the cost will rise with every piece of optional equipment that needs specific maintenance.
What exactly you may need to take care of?
- The boat’s hull (bottom) and topsides
- Electrical systems, battery (if you have any)
- Moving parts (like helm, rudder)
- Upholstery (if you have any)
- Motor (if you have one)
And remember – all our boats come with a 2 years warranty.
4. Do I need a license and registration for the boat?
Once again good news! There is no license and no need for registration of this type of boat in the Netherlands and other major EU countries. You only need to have a license for boats that extend 15 meters in length or motorboats with speed over 20 km/h. Everything else is legal to use with no special boating license, so don’t worry, you’re good to go.
5. How will I store and transport my boat?
In terms of storage, there are several options that will suit each owner’s needs. Small family boats are very light and easy to transport. There are a lot of options for storage, such as a garage or even your backyard if you cover the boat properly.
Of course, it’s possible to keep the boat in the water, but you need to remember that in most places you will have to pay a small fee. The smaller the boat – the smaller the fee, so it really shouldn’t be expensive. Remember though, this option is mostly for places where the winters aren’t too severe. If there’s any risk that the water in the lake or river will freeze, you should take the boat out.
In terms of transport you will need a boat trailer, but luckily thanks to the low weight of family boats, you won’t need a powerful SUV car for transport. Every car with a trailer hitch should do the job just fine.