16 Pontoon^ & Deck Boat January^2018 http://www.pdbmagazine.com

Let’s Play 20 Questions

4

1

3

2

So all your friends have told how great

it is to own a boat and you’ve decided

to make the plunge and buy your own.

That’s great! Recognition is the first step

to realizing you have a problem. (I kid,

I kid.) But seriously, do you actually

know what you’re in for? Not just in a

general sense, but in very specific areas?

We asked around and got an idea of the

kinds of things you should be aware of as

you’re looking to make a boat purchase.

Hopefully this list will keep you from

plopping down your money on a lemon

or, say, a transatlantic paddle-powered

catamaran.

General

These are the basic questions you need

to ask yourself to drill down to a good

starting point. In some cases, though, the

answers to these questions may even tell

you that you’re not ready for a boat yet,

so try to be as honest with yourself as

possible.

What kind of boat should I get?

This is an easy one, of course, but

the answer can be pretty broad. If you’re

reading this magazine, you’re obviously

interested in a pontoon or deck boat,

but really this question is getting at

what category you’re going to be looking

at: entry-level, high-end, performance,

fishing, etc.

What am I interested in?

Ah, here we go. What do you expect

you’re going to be using the boat for the

most? Are you an angler? Do you have a

family that would enjoy days out on the

lake? Do you have money to burn and

want the fastest boat out there? Do you

just want to get

on the water and

chill? What kind

of boat fits your

personality?

Are you a thrill-seeker or do you just

want to appear that way to your buddies?

How will I use the boat?

Take an honest look inside yourself. Is

there a difference between the fantasy in

your head and how you’re actually going

to end up using the boat? If there is, you

need to reconcile that difference. That

doesn’t mean you have to give up your

dreams of setting the world record for top

speed, but you might want to look into

something a little more reasonable.

Who will use the boat?

Are you a lone wolf, eager to go fast

and meet new people out on the

water? Or do you have family

who will make different use

of your boat?