Boat buying guide: our top advice before buying a boat

1. Consider your boat purchasing options

The first thing you need to consider before buying a boat is your purchase options. There are several boat purchasing decisions you need to keep in mind, and these are:

• Are you buying a brand new boat or purchasing a second-hand boat? 
• How will you finance the boat? 
• How will you maintain the boat? 
• Where will you keep the boat?

Buying your first boat through the Emerald Star Ownership Programme means you will have the help and advice from one of our experts throughout your purchase process. They will be there to guide and support you, answering any questions you may have. 

You will be able to become the happy owner of your very own boat. Spend time with your family and friends without having to worry about the paperwork attached to owning a boat – from the maintenance to the registration of the boat.

2. Assess the benefits

You need to assess the benefits of owning your own boat vs renting a boat. Some of the benefits of owning your own boat include being able to use the boat whenever you like, being able to decorate and style the boat to suit you and being able to take pride in your investment. 

Some of the added benefits that come with our Emerald Star Ownership programme that you don’t get from a private seller are:

• On average, 8 weeks of cruising per year
• Guaranteed monthly income of 8% per year
• Professional maintenance and free moorings
• Guaranteed buyback of your boat – 50% to 60% of the purchase price depending on the boat you choose

Find out more about the advantages by downloading our ownership brochure!

3. Choose a boat fit for purpose

There are so many different makes and models of boats to choose from that it can feel overwhelming. The main thing to consider is how many people will be cruising with you, so you can figure out how many cabins you will need for sleeping and how much space you will need. Once you know which size boat you need, it’s much easier to pick one based on your budget, experience level and style preferences.

At Emerald Star, our team can take the pressure out of the decision-making and help you find your dream boat. At the end of the Emerald Star Boat Ownership programme, you have the option to keep the boat, so make sure you think about the future. Discover our wide range of boats within our Horizon fleet to suit your needs.

4. What kind of Captain are you?

Popular boating activities include fishing, water sports, and leisure cruising. Knowing what type of captain you are and how you will be using the boat will help you determine whether you need a small leisure boat, river boat, cosy houseboat or family-sized cruiser. 

 At Emerald Star, each of our boats has a different specification and layout to suit the needs of you and your crew members. Some of our boats have en-suite cabins to give your guests that extra privacy. 

5. Assess the costs

You might think that owning a boat is costly – especially when annual maintenance costs can exceed 10% of the purchase price. 

The Emerald Star Ownership Programme takes away all these worries, as we handle the maintenance and mooring fees for you. 

Not only that, the initial investment becomes profitable thanks to the guaranteed monthly income and buy-back at the end of the program.