5 Tips When Buying During Boat Show Season

Published: Sunday, January 3, 2021
By: John Tiger

Boaters’ thoughts are always turning to spring, even in the dead of winter. Boating and fishing season is right around the corner, right? In that vein, most boaters look forward to off-season boat shows, and with good reason. 2020 was, thanks in large part to the COVID pandemic, one of the best years in the marine business; 2021 is also forecasted to be pretty strong for boat and outboard sales.

There’s a lot of pent-up demand for new equipment, as the 2020 season emptied the showrooms. Many boat manufacturers are still filling orders for customer sales, and on-the-lot boats are very hard to find in most markets. This has spilled over, naturally, to used boat sales—which are also very strong. The takeaway is: if you want a boat, you need to be shopping now!

Due to the COVID lockdown measures, many (if not most) national and regional boat shows are canceled or postponed for 2021. In late October 2020, the NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association, the leading trade organization for the North American recreational boating industry and the show producer for multiple annual boat shows) announced the 2021-cancellation of some major shows, such as Chicago and Minneapolis, while others on their roster proceed with caution or are being postponed. (See www.nmma.org/shows/calendar for details.)

While these cancellations and postponements are disappointing, it is possible that local shows will still go on. These shows always provide plenty of new rigs and gear to see from dealers local to your marketplace.

If you’re in the market for a new or used rig, here are five tips for boat show shopping:

Do your homework before you go. Learn about which dealers will be displaying, their deals, what they are offering as show incentives, and which boats will be featured. Research what type, size, and power package you're interested in and focus on those you plan to review. It doesn't hurt to visit the dealers beforehand, so you're familiar with their offerings, salesmen, and approach.
Check your finances. This means check your cash reserves, your credit rating, and available credit, if necessary. Do some quick math on just how much boat you can afford. If you need to finance some or all of your purchase, there’s not much worse than getting hooked on one particular model featured and trying to take advantage of a limited-time show special only to find out you can’t swing it.
Don’t forget used rigs. Though these are also in short supply from the 2020 boom selling season, checking carefully will still yield excellent buys in the “used but not abused” market. These would be used rigs that were likely purchased in the early 2000s to the mid-20-teens that did not get used much but are now for sale. Look them over carefully, as you don't want to buy someone else's headache. Watch for sun bleaching (could mean expensive Gelcoat reconditioning), evidence of sinking (water stains, rust, mold, etc.), and damage (cracks, damaged rub rails, etc.). There are a lot of excellent used rigs out there. It just takes patience and a little research to land one.
Don’t skimp on the trailer. Remember, the trailer is your boat’s home for a large portion of its life. Get a trailer that matches the boat and is large enough and strong enough to carry its loaded weight. The trailer also helps with resale value; get one that's visually attractive, so it compliments your boat.
Take your time. Despite the reduced inventory and increased pressure to "buy now," there's no reason to rush unless you’re ready. Go early, do the legwork, study the literature, and make your decision on your time. Be mindful that some dealers will stick to their guns on show-special pricing and financing, however. If you're sure about what you want, and the deal's right, dive in and buy!