Fun Sailing Videos on YouTube - Are you in one of these?
boat, boating, yacht, sail
The lowly trailer - a not commonly thought of or appreciated necessity of boating.
Boat Trailers - Necessity or Luxury?
Getting your boat from one great boating location to another requires the use of a very seldomly thought of utilitarian device called a boat trailer. Selecting one that suits both your needs and your boat is sometimes a difficult decision - not all trailers created equal.
In simple terms a boat trailer is a frame with wheels that is designed to transport your boat across land behind a vehicle. But in actuality there are many more factors to consider when looking for the right trailer for your boat and boating habits.
Different Types of Boat Trailers
It is always a good idea to find out a little about the different types of boat trailers and then to undertake some research on the one that you think will best suit your needs. Just like boats, trailers come in many different shapes and sizes, from super deluxe race boat trailers with chrome mag wheels and all of the options - to very simplistic utilitarian models with no bells or whistles. Most boaters shoot for something in between.
There are two main types of powerboat trailers - bunk style slide-ons and roller trailers. Sailboats require special trailers because it has a deep keel and a high winch stand. These trailers are usually custom made for each sailboat. Powerboat trailers can be adjusted to fit your boat when the right model is purchased.
Have a budget in mind and an idea of what works and what doesn't work for your boat, before you actually go out ready to buy. One of the first things to consider when you are choosing your trailer is the size of your boat. Before making your first call, know the dry and loaded weight of the boat, the beam and the length. Then read the trailer manufacturer's label, usually found on the toungue of any trailer to see what the maximum weight and size the trailer can accomodate is before you buy.
Boat trailer purchases decisions involve making sure you select adequate features.
Decide early which type of construction your require, aluminum or galvanized steel. Aluminum will last much longer, especially in a salt water environment, but may be overkill for a fresh water boating area.
Types of lighting (LED or Incandescent) are a factor to consider and are required by law. The lights, bearings and axle need to be water tight as they will be submerged when the boat is launched. Some trailers will have a frame-mounted spare tire. Spring type, torsion or leaf will also be a consideration, along with a fresh water flushing system for the brakes.
Mechanical boat trailers require the use of a manual or electric winch to get the boat from the water on to the trailer. Slide on trailers make it very simple to just drive the boat up upon the trailer, this feature makes loading and unloading much easier.
Some trailers will have electronic brakes and others have surge brakes others have no brakes at all. For larger boats, or if you plan on a lot of travel with your boat, good quality brakes are a very good investment. In a salt water environment, stainless steel disc brakes are the best choice.
The best advise we can give the trailer shopper is to ask questions at the local boat ramps. Observe what manufacturers trailers are most commonly used by the local guides and avid fishermen. These people use their boats and trailers more than the average boater and the best quality trailer is a necessity for them.
In our area of Florida, the most commonly found trailers are not even a national brand name. But these Aluminum Slide-On trailers are the easiest to use and best trailers most local boaters have ever used. This may be true in your area of the country. Just look around, you will see them being pulled out of the water at boat ramps every day.
The lowly trailer - a not commonly thought of or appreciated necessity of boating.
boat, boating, yacht, sail
13 Easy Tips For Selling Your Boat
How To Sell Your Boat?
1. Reach out and touch someone - No one expects you to take out an ad on the Super Bowl to sell your boat, but you do need to spend money if you intend to sell your boat. Determine what you can afford to spend to market your boat and commit to an effective marketing program. Use a combination of the Internet, local shoppers and boat classifieds listings in local papers.
2. Mr. Clean - A clean boat is much closer to sold than a dirty one. It's amazing how much money some boaters will spend to market their boat then they don't even clean it up properly. If your not willing to do it right, pay a professional detailer a few hundred to clean it up right.
3. Whisper Sweet Nothings - Many boaters over look those little things that make a used boat appealing to a used boat buyer. Remember that most new boats don't come with all the frills. These little things can go far in securing a sale for your used boat. Keep in mind that mentioning that you include a radar, fish finder, downriggers etc. often spur a new boat buyer to think twice about the new vs. used market.
4. One Ringy Dingy, Two Ringy Dingy - Have you ever called a seller and found that they weren't home or they had an answering machine. If you are serious about selling your boat, answer the phone. If you're not going to be home, then forward your calls to a cell phone. Don't have a cell phone ... get one! If you don't answer the phone when the prospect is ready to buy, you just wasted a whole lot of money for nothing...
5. the Price is Right - More boaters make mistakes in pricing their boat too high for the market. Do a search on the internet for similar boats and be sure yours has some advantage over the others. It may be price, or it may be features. If it isn't one or the other then you're keeping your boat for another year!
6. Fun, Fun, Fun - When the customer comes out to see the boat, make the experience fun. Have a poster on board with photos of your fun experiences on the boat. People buy based on emotion, so give it to them. If you are selling a fishing boat, don't take all the equipment off the boat, have the rods in the rod holders, have photos of all the trophy fish you caught out for them to see and discuss. Share your experiences with your customer.
7. Say Cheese - If you don't show photos on the internet of your boat, don't bother. Very few people will buy a boat without seeing photos first. Would you look for a boat with just text? Take four photos and have them included in your listing. Photos should be exterior side view, rear shot, helm and interior.
8. That's my line, and I'm stickin to it - If your boat has had repairs, list them. Every used boat has seen it's share of dings and dents. Ignoring these will only create suspicion amongst your potential buyers. By listing your repairs, you avoid potential blunders later when a survey brings the problem to surface.
9. Cool hand Luke - If you don't have the stomach for people climbing all over your boat, only to criticize the condition or worse yet say nothing, then you need a Boat Broker. Brokers don't have emotional attachments, and they have more available time to meet with potential clients than you do. So if you don't have the stomach for it, hand it off to a cooler hand.
10. Don't be an Average Joe - Every other seller of used boat all say the same thing. My boat has a heater, fish finder, radar, etc. Use words to describe why these things are important. Remember many used boat buyers are inexperienced boaters and many are first time buyers who don't understand what these features do. Use words like "Eagle II fish finders identifies the depth of each fish and comes with temperature gauge and speed control allowing you to control your lure depth and speed" or "Heater provides three minute warm up of interior cabin for early morning or late fall cruising."
11. A Three Hour Tour - If your boat is in the water at the time you are selling, offer to take the potential buyer for a ride. State this in your ad and entice them to come out for a ride. Nothing works better to get the customer emotionally involved with your boat than a free ride.
12. And the Survey Says... - If you've owned your boat for more than 5 years, it is strongly suggested that you have a survey done on the boat before you list it. A survey can point out potential road blocks in the sale of your boat. This is especially true for Yacht and High Performance boats. Lets say you spend $500-$1000 to market your boat only to find out that a potential buy could not get financing because your boat have a problem due to their survey. Not only have you lost your advertising investment, but now you need to make the repairs. Doing a survey first can bring potential problems to the surface.
13. As The World Turns - Every boater who places an ad thinks that it will sell quickly. The reality is that boats take about 3 months to find a partner. That is provided the right person sees the boat. Be patient and most of all, be sure that when you get that opportunity to show your boat you haven't misplaced all the other tips we shared with you.boat, boating, yacht, sail
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Tessmer
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