Month: October 2020

The day will eventually come when you need to replace your boat. Whether you are close to a new purchase or simply want to explore options for getting rid of your craft, we’re here to assist you. Read on to learn how to get rid of an old boat.

If you’d like to purchase a new craft, design one to fit your exact needs with our Build Your Scout tool. You can add features for fishing, sporting, entertainment, and more to best enjoy your boating experience!

Sell It

The first option, and probably the most popular, is to simply sell your boat. Even if it’s not in great shape and doesn’t have much remaining value, you can likely get something for your boat. Consider a trade-in with a dealer, or place your boat for sale on listing sites to see if you have any viable offers.

Donate to a Marine School

Vocational schools are constantly looking for donations to help their students. Contact regional schools and community colleges to see if you could donate your boat. This option could bring a tax incentive, so it may not be a total financial loss.

Salvage Yards

Salvagers are often interested in older boats to use for parts. They can either use the parts themselves or sell the parts to other boat owners. Many salvagers will pay you for a boat that isn’t even working, although the price will be low and you may have to pay for shipping.

Repurpose

Boat hulls and other parts can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, a wooden boat hull makes a great garden bed. Think creatively and you may find a way to repurpose your old vessel.

To the Dump!

If no other option will work, you can simply take the old boat to the dump. You’ll need to contact your local waste facility and talk to them about disposing your boat. You’ll likely pay a disposal fee, and you may need to separate the boat from the motors.

Looking to Replace Your Old Boat? Consider a Scout!

We hope these options on how to get rid of an old boat assist you. If you’re hoping to replace your old craft, consider Scout Boats, one of the top manufacturers in the world. We design all of our luxury crafts in-house, using advanced technology and sophisticated techniques to create a high-level of performance and ride comfort. From small crafts for fishing over shallow waters to luxury offshore fishing vessels, we have something for everyone. Plus, you can customize your new craft to fit your exact needs using our Build Your Scout tool. Upgrade to the boat of your dreams today!

Living on a boat can bring an unprecedented level of independence and excitement—any time you choose, you can take to the water for cruising, fishing, or travel. While it can be a thrilling and interesting lifestyle, you need to prepare and organize thoroughly to maintain comfort and stability. Read on to learn how to live on a boat.

If you’d like to purchase a new craft, design one to fit your exact needs with our Build Your Scout tool. You can add features for fishing, sporting, entertainment, and more to best enjoy your boating experience!

Choose a Boat with Enough Space for Storage and Comfort

If you plan to live on your boat for an extended period of time—and we mean months, years, or even decades—you need to have a large boat that will provide plenty of space for all of your items while providing enough room to stretch your legs. If you move from a large house to a 45-foot boat, you will have smaller closets, smaller seats, and fewer cupboards. Even if you are moving into a large boat, you’ll need to declutter and downsize a lot of your items.

Learn Basic Electrical, Plumbing, and Maintenance Skills

Maintenance on a boat can be even more complicated than maintenance in your home, and there are far fewer experts who can handle the issue for you. Before moving into your boat, make sure you have some basic plumbing and electrical knowledge so you can keep the boat in ideal condition. Simple maintenance skills can go a long way towards making your boating lifestyle more enjoyable.

Know Your Costs

Living on a boat must be more affordable than living in a house, right? Not always. Maintaining the boat, making boat-loan payments, paying fees for waste management, and many other costs can quickly increase the price of your dream life. To manage expenses, make a detailed budget, and stick to the costs. Remember that costs like boat insurance can be just as much as, if not more than, homeowners insurance, so don’t assume living on a boat will always be more affordable.

Focus on Safety and Security

There are many safety issues to consider when living on a boat. Can you lock the cabin? Will children and pets be allowed onboard? It there a safe walking area from the dock to land? Who will you call in an emergency? All of these issues and more need to be addressed before you move.

Purchase a World-Class Vessel from Scout

We hope you better understand how to live on a boat. To enjoy your new lifestyle, you need a comfortable, reliable, and luxurious vessel. Nothing fits this description better than a Scout. The 530 LFX is the perfect example of a boat practically made for living onboard. It has refinement on every square inch and features advanced technology that keeps you entertained and connected while living on a boat. You can even design a craft to fit your exact needs with our Build Your Scout tool! Get started today.

Whether you like to ski, fish, or simply cruise the local waters with your family, purchasing a boat may be a great idea. Some buyers have the financial strength to buy a boat with cash, using their savings to make the purchase. Many others, however, will need a boat loan. The process is just as easy as many other forms of financing, but a little research on the subject will go a long way. Here’s how to get a boat loan.

Know Your Options

The first step is to understand the main options for obtaining a boat loan. When you are shopping for a boat, you can choose loans from a boat dealer, your local bank, or a lender who specializes in marine financing.

Organize Your Financial Information

Next, you need to organize your financial information so lenders can make a faster decision on approval. Take an afternoon to organize bank statements and information on your existing debt load. Any paystubs or tax records will also help, as these verify your income. It’s useful to pull your credit and make sure you have strong enough score for a boat loan.

Define Your Budget

When shopping for a boat, it’s easy to let the price get out of hand. If you don’t define exactly how much you can afford, you may end up with a much larger boat payment than you can comfortably fit into your budget. Decide on a maximum monthly bill for the boat loan and don’t let it go over this number.

Shop for Boats

Next, you get to head to the dealerships and start looking at boats. This is the fun part, so enjoy the process and take your time to find the exact craft that works for you. When you meet with a dealer or seller, be sure to inform them that you will need financing to make the purchase. 

Shop for a Boat Loan

Once you have selected the boat and come to an agreement on price, you can start to shop for a boat loan. Whether you finally choose a loan from a bank, credit union, or directly from the manufacturer or dealer, you owe it to yourself to shop for rates and secure best possible terms.

Apply for the Loan

Once you have a boat in place and a loan selected, you can make the application. Assuming you are approved, you can start enjoying your boat right away!

Purchase a World-Class Vessel from Scout!

We hope you better understand how to get a boat loan. If you need a high-quality boat loan to purchase a Scout, let one of our excellent dealers help. We are dedicated to working with only the finest dealerships in the country, ensuring that when you buy a Scout, you also receive a world-class experience!