- Buying a boat is an exciting thing! However, WHEN you purchase can be an important consideration, since there are opportunities and obstacles in buying at different seasons.
- In this video/blog, we explore the advantages and disadvantages of buying a boat in the spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Springtime is the most common time to buy a boat. During that time, dealerships have extensive inventories of both new and used boats with lots of different color and style options. Spring is a great time to trade in a boat because you will get the best value for your used watercraft. The downside, however, is that prices, in general, are up just before the boating season is in full swing so you will, usually, pay more for your vessel. Buying in the summer means immediate use of your boat, but, typically, you will find the highest prices and lowest selection of colors and styles. Additionally, major discounts or rebates are seldom available during June and July. Fall season, in the boat industry, typically from the middle of August to the end of the year, is considered to be the best time of the year to buy. Often there is availability of both previous and current model year boats at reduced prices, since dealers want to clear out old inventory before winter. Fall is also a great time to purchase a just-released model, since many manufacturers offer their best factory rebates to encourage purchasing at their least-busy time. Other manufacturer's rebates are available during the winter, but the closer it gets to boating season, the smaller and less-available they become. September - December is also a great time to custom build a boat, since you will get the best price of the year on a boat that will be delivered before next summer's season. The disadvantage of a fall or winter purchase is that you may not be able to use your boat immediately.
Whether you buy in the winter, summer, or in the seasons in-between, there is a lot to consider. We hope that this blog and video are able to help you determine what would be best for you.
Stay Awesome!