Is Financing A Fishing Boat Smart?

Whatever you do, make sure you've carefully thought out what your expenses are going to be. You don't want to spend all of your money on just the boat itself. When you purchase the boat, you'll need to have enough money for taxes, registration, storage, towing insurance, gas, equipment, and even minor repairs if your boat requires them.

When buying a fishing boat, used or new, cash is always better than financing. And you can save money with cash, as there are no finance charges. Financing charges can get high, very high in fact if you don't know a lot about it.

Once you decide to buy a fishing boat, you'll find yourself wondering how you are going to pay for it. This type of purchase will involve some type of financing, whether it's a credit line through the home, an unsecured loan, or a boat line. Choosing the right financing source can be just as important as choosing the right boat.

When choosing a source of financing or payments over time, there are several things to consider. The first thing is how long you plan to keep the boat. If you are buying your first boat, it will make more sense to get a loan that will have an early payoff option via private party or even a trade in.

If you are purchasing your dream boat, you should think about financing for a long term. A fixed rate loan with terms that have for a low monthly payment will be easier on your monthly budget.

Another important item is the cash down. Banks, lenders and dealers like to see a sizable amount down. Zero down loans do exist for those with good enough credit but in today's economy they are very rare. Normally, the down payment doesn't significantly change the monthly payment unless the amount approaches 20 percent or more.

Choosing the right type of boat loan is a very important part of the entire buying process. You can start with a boat finance brokerage, which will show you how each one of the available options fit into your profile.

Doing this will give you the knowledge and ability you need to find the loan that best fits you and your budget. The, you can concentrate on the important things - taking your new boat out on the water.