Three Ways To Assess A Yacht Before You Buy It

Jacey Martin

Shopping for a yacht can be a fun experience as you take some time to read about different boats online and then visit a local dealer to assess them in person. While walking through a yacht can help you to get a feel for it, there's nothing better than actually being out on the water. Fortunately, there are several ways that you can spend some time riding on a particular type to see if it's the right fit for you. The available options vary from dealer to dealer, but here are three options that may be available to you.

Sea Trial

A yacht sea trial is extremely similar to a test drive that you'd perform on a road vehicle that you're thinking about buying. It allows you to get behind the wheel of a yacht and spend some time on the water. A salesperson from the boat dealer will ride along with you to answer your questions and bring different features to your attention. If you're shopping for a yacht with a few other people, you'll want to arrange a sea trial that you can all attend together. Each of you can take a turn driving the boat to get a feel for it.

Demo Day

Lots of boat dealers have what is commonly known as a demo day. During a typical demo day, a dealer employee will take groups of people out onto the water to demonstrate the yachts that are for sale. Demo days can be a good way to get a feel for several different boats, as you may be able to participate in rides on different vessels. Typically, a demo day won't give you a chance to actually drive the yacht, but you'll have a good opportunity to walk around it and note how it performs in the water.

Private Charter

If you want the opportunity to ride on a particular yacht without being a part of a group of other prospective buyers, ask if the boat dealer has charters available. This experience is similar to a demo day outing but is a private experience for you. Like a demo day outing, you'll be a passenger instead of the driver. It can be ideal because you'll be able to spend the entire time speaking with a salesperson to better understand the yacht, rather than having to compete with other people on the ride. Learn more about each of these options when you shop for a yacht at a boat dealer.

For more information, contact a company like Lifestyle Marine in your area.


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