Are you going to the Southampton Boat Show? Don't forget that if you are seriously looking for a boat, there are some major used boat shows on in the vicinity at the same time.
When we were last in the market, we spent a day at Southampton looking at new, and then a day looking at used boats. Having had one new and two second-hand boats, we know there are advantages in both.
A new boat is fantastic: it will be delivered to your specification, with everything as you want it, from the instrumentation to the right coloured upholstery. And it does give you enormous peace of mind to know absolutely everything that has happened to the boat - that the engine has been properly serviced from the word go, for example, and that there have been no collisions or groundings or anything that might have longer term repercussions that you aren't aware of.
On the other hand, buy second hand and you get more boat for your money, you avoid paying a lot of tax, and you let someone else take the first great hit of depreciation.
And, so long as you invest in a survey, you should avoid unexpected problems.
With a new boat, the chances are that your maintenance bills for the first few seasons will be relatively low however, whereas even a two- or three-year-old boat will be starting to demand more expenditure - new sails, maybe, or a big engine overhaul - which may reduce the apparent saving.
So it's a case of: you pay your money and you take your choice. But it's worth exploring both options, if only to convince yourself that you have made the right decision, whichever it turns out to be!
So if you are going to Southampton, why not set aside some time to visit one or more of the used boat shows?
Marina Developments Limited claim that theirs at Hamble Point is the UK's largest, with more than 300 boats from a wide variety of manufacturers on view. There's free entry and parking, and also a free shuttle service between Hamble Point and the Southampton Show. There are also numerous new boat sales agents on the site. www.hamblepoint.info.
Or go to Lymington for the Ancasta used boat show, which also runs for the duration of Southampton, and promises about 100 boat to choose from - plus thousands more on the broker's own database. www.ancasta.co.uk.
Deacons Boatyard at Bursledon also has a used boat show for the duration of Southampton, promising a display of more than 70 sail and power boats, from 25 to 40 ft.
www.deaconsboatyard.co.uk.
