Some people fall in love with the boating lifestyle and find they can not afford the cost of the boat and all the annual expenditures. Once you are hooked, you will do just about anything to get out on the water with friends and family. Before you put a second mortgage on the house or take out a small business loan to finance the boat, consider a few of these tips for buying boats on a budget.

1. Consider Buying a Used Boat – Rather than falling in love with a new boat, think about this for a moment. Thousands of eager buyers bought new last year, then for whatever reason they need to get out of the deal. This mean you can score a gently used boat packed with a ton of accessories like fishing gear, safety gear, a trailer, and even a sound system upgrade. Their huge lose is going to be your gain this year.

2. Gather Information at a Boat Show – One reason you should be attending a local boat show is all the information that will be at your fingertips. At these boat shows, you will see boat manufacturer representatives who have literature, videos, and promotional discounts on hand to help with your buying decision. Not only get you get on board these boats, you can get serious deals that are not even available at the boat dealerships.

3. Shop Online Auctions – Online auction websites like eBay are packed with boat auctions listed by boat owners who need to get out of the deal as soon as possible. There are plenty of local listings of boats that are packed with bonuses and discounted to a price point that could be incredibly low compared to what you were thinking of spending on the boat.

4. Check Out Facebook Groups – One of the best free resources for gathering information on inexpensive boats is taking the time to join a few Facebook groups on boating. Local boat enthusiasts will have insane deals on the boats that are in your own neighborhood. Here you have the chance to pick the brains of these locals and even incorporate the help of the other forum users to help you choose the best possible deal for your budget.

These tips for buying a boat on a budget should get you out on the water without breaking the bank doing so. Now you can enjoy time on the water and keep some cash in pocket.