Are you on the market for your first boat? More and more people are considering getting their own watercraft after having a fantastic experience chartering or renting a boat. Having your own boat gives you the freedom to get out on the water anytime you like, without making plans in advance.

In this article, we give you some advice on how to choose your first boat and which types of vessels to invest into at this stage.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR FIRST BOAT

Making the right choice when it comes to a boat can be hard. There are many factors to objectively balance. It’s important to think things through.

First and foremost, look for an affordable boat. You need to be able to run, store, and maintain the vessel well. Think of fuel economy, marina or trailer costs, the price of repairing or replacing some of the onboard systems, and more.

Make a mental estimate of how much time you’ll be able to dedicate to the boat. How often will you be able to get out on the water? How much time are you willing to spend doing boat maintenance? Will you be able to take the vessel to a yard for repairs every now and then? The bigger, more complex the boat, the more time you will need to spend taking care of her.

Choose something in good condition, not a project boat. This will allow you to develop the skills to look after her over time. Plus, you’ll want to be able to get out on the water as soon as possible, right? A boat that’s not ready to sail will need weeks and months of work. Bear this in mind.

Whether you’re buying new or used, go on a “test ride.” Rent a similar model if you can, or request a sea trial. You may find the best boat for your needs by doing lots of research, but only being on it on the water will tell you if she’s right for you. The hull design, sail combination, and engine power make a big difference to your boating experience.

Above all, take time to find the right boat for you, or you will regret it. You may want to upgrade in the future - that’s natural - but buying a vessel that’s not suitable for you may result in resentment and giving up boating altogether.

ENGINELESS CRAFT

This is the most obvious choice for a beginner boater, as it’s a fantastic low-risk, low-cost experiment. Owning a small engineless vessel will allow you to accurately assess how much time you want to spend on her. The maintenance is very low, so you can see how likely you are to carry it out on time.

Here are some engineless craft we recommend.

Stand-up paddleboards

A SUP is a fantastic craft which allows you to get a nice workout in, while reaping the benefits of spending time on the water. Hard ones are a little heavy, but easily fit on a car roof. Inflatable SUPs can be carried into a big bag. Store it in your garage and use it as part of your exercise routine. The boards and paddles are early maintenance-free.

Kayaks or canoes

Want to go a little further? A sea kayak or canoe will allow you to travel bigger distances. You can even go on camping trips on them. This is a great way to try out fishing and cruising on a boat for cheap. While you do it, you also get to keep your arms and core strong.

Rowing boats

Want to to take crew on board? Get a rowing boat. If you keep her in an estuary, a lake, or a bay where the fishing is good, you’ll be able to get out angling regularly. If you don’t mind the exercise, you can even take crew with you to row somewhere nice where to have lunch or sunbathe.

SPEED BOATS AND PWC

If what you crave is that breeze in your hair, there’s a variety of powerboat options available.

PWCs and jet skis

If you like to get wet and enjoy fast speeds, a PWC is the best craft for you. A PWC can be driven in shallow water and pulled up a beach. It’s often seen as the equivalent of a motorbike on the water, except, you get wet. Have fun sprinting around on the waves or reaching a beautiful remote beach fast.

Relaxing, eating, and sunbathing on a jet ski isn’t very comfortable. So you must really enjoy riding it around. Running a PWC and maintaining it is fairly economical, though.

Small powerboats with small to medium engines

If you want to stay dry and bring your family along for the trip, choose a small powerboat. Many vessels fit in this category. Here are a few:

Skiffs
Small fishing boats
Open boats
Inflatables and RIBs
Pontoon boats
Walkarounds.

Small powerboats with small to medium engines are perfect for beginner boaters who want to cruise around or fish in company.

Any of these vessels require regular maintenance, such as antifouling, bilge cleaning and inspection, engine servicing, and more. However, the cost of maintaining, running, and storing them is affordable. You can go camping on most small boats, especially if you are happy to take a tent and set it up on shore. A small motorboat will allow you to truly experience boat ownership, so it makes for an excellent first boat.

SAILING BOATS

If you’re into sailing, start small - just like with powerboating. There are a number of options for new sailors.

Sailing dinghies

A dinghy allows you to really feel the effect of the wind on the sails, which is a fantastic way to learn how to sail. You will get wet and occasionally fall into the water, but it’s all part of the fun. If you don’t like falling into the water, join a sailing club and start racing on keel boats.

Maintaining a sailing dinghy isn’t super cheap, but it’s affordable. You can trailer a dinghy, so you can keep it out of the water for most of the year, which will help it last longer.

Day sailers and sailboats up to 30ft

If you already know you love sailing, you might be ready to make a bigger investment. On a day sailer or yacht under 30ft, you will be able to stay out for longer, have a meal on board, and even camp out.

These boats require a good amount of maintenance and not all of them are trailerable, so you may need to pay to store yours. If you dream of buying a cruising sailing boat, these smaller boats are a great test. They have many of the systems a bigger yacht has, on a smaller scale. But they lack all of those more complex systems you’d install, such as solar panels, a fridge, AC, and more. So the time and money commitment is a lot smaller.

No matter what boat you choose, make sure to attend a safety course relevant to your craft, whether you need a licence or not. When you get on the water, you’re expected to understand the rules of navigation and how to keep yourself safe. Don’t rely on rescue services - act responsibly.

THE BEST BOATS FOR BEGINNERS