Boat buying is a big-time purchase

Advertisement

For those in the market for a boat, the time is right to seek shelter from the sweltering Las Vegas summer on the water at Lake Mead.

Joe Yakubik, owner of Mastercraft of Las Vegas, said the most important part of buying a boat is figuring out your needs in advance. He suggests first-time buyers take time for a consultation before diving into the process.

"Consider whether you are going to use the boat as an individual or a family," Yakubik said. "Are you going to use it for sports on the water, camping, or just to go hang out for the day on the water? Once you know that, you'll know what type of boat you need."

Yakubik stressed that it's important to figure out what you want before buying because like cars, boats will lose value. Trading up can be costly if your first purchase isn't the right one.

For sports, Yakubik recommends a mid-sized boat, but said buyers need to keep in mind that the activities they plan and the number of people they expect to have on a boat will figure into engine-size needs.

"You might buy the boat with the smallest engine because it's the cheapest, and then find it doesn't have enough power," he said. "Spending the $3,000 to upgrade to a bigger engine is better in the long run than having to sell your boat and buy another."

For camping, boaters should consider storage and space needs. You'll need enough room to pack camping gear, but also consider that no one wants to be cramped on the ride from shore to campsite.

For simply hanging out in the sun, Yakubik said to consider the number of people you'll usually bring with you.

And don't forget all the little hidden costs of boat ownership. Like a car, boats require gas, insurance and regular maintenance, which can all be more pricey than those costs would be for a car.

There's also the expense of accessories, which can pile up particularly fast for a first-time buyer.

"You need life vests for every person on the boat, tie lines, anchors -- these are things you need just to operate on the lake," Yakubik said. "Then there's storage. Not all homeowners' associations let you keep a boat on your property, and if not, you could be looking at a few hundred dollars a month in storage."

There's also the cost of learning to operate your new toy. Since driving a boat is far different than driving a car, Yakubik suggests safety classes for first-timers.

There's also the used boat option, though Yakubik suggests always having a used boat checked out by a certified dealer or service center and taking it out for a water test to make sure it will actually meet your needs. He also suggested buyers rent a boat before buying one in order to get a feel for what they'll want and need in a model of their own.

Several boat shops in the valley offer full and half-day rental, and many of them will meet you at Lake Mead with the boat, including Skiwi Rentals & Repairs (568-8999), LM Marina Rentals (293-3484) or Get It Wet Rentals (558-7547).

Of course, if you happen to be looking for something a little more extravagant, Lake Las Vegas Resort does rent the La Contessa, an 80-foot luxury yacht, the Lady of the Lake, a 60-foot yacht, and its gondolas, which seat up to 16 people for private parties.

Mastercraft of Las Vegas sells and rents boats and water accessories, and is located at 115 Corporate Park Drive in Henderson (644-2628).

Maria Phelan is the reporter for the Green Valley and Henderson Views. Retail information appropriate for mention can be sent to mphelan@viewnews.com.