Ron Hoover Marine buying experience?

[Texgirl]

We are in early stages of looking... I was considering a boat at a good dealer... texas marine.. and they will take you out on the water after you put a refundable deposit down to try boat, teach us about everything make sure we like it and its the one for us.... which is amazing for us especially being new boat owners. The boat at texas marine got sold like as we were looking... from another locations... snatched up that fast! UGH last one..

Wondering who else does this? Considering the hurricane line and Ron Hoover is the dealer in our area so I am not sure about their buying experience.. do they offer lake trials? Do most boat sellers and I just don't know it?

Thanks so much, KIM

 

[southkogs]

Like car dealers, boat dealers are all a little different. There are some who have small "puddles" they'll take you out on, and others that meet you at the lake. Some have good service, others ... well ... let's say that the jokers my dad bought his last boat from (boat I have now) are one of the largest in the area and wouldn't stop back in that joint to ask directions. Lousy dealership is being complimentary.

You'll have to do a little exploring in your area to see.

 

[Texgirl]

Like car dealers, boat dealers are all a little different. There are some who have small "puddles" they'll take you out on, and others that meet you at the lake. Some have good service, others ... well ... let's say that the jokers my dad bought his last boat from (boat I have now) are one of the largest in the area and wouldn't stop back in that joint to ask directions. Lousy dealership is being complimentary.

You'll have to do a little exploring in your area to see.

Thank you... I kinda figured!!!

 

[ahicks]

Good dealer is hard to find. I have major trust issues, mostly due to incompetent help. Staff turn over is a big deal.

 

[Texasmark]

Before you buy a boat, take a US Coast Guard safety course. Side benefit is that it can help you to be aware of things that you didn't know matter in making your boat choice.

Next, go to launching sites on a Sunday afternoon and just observe. Amazing what you can learn while watching the general public in action with their boat. One of the biggest problems with boats has to do with getting them in the water and back out. You can see the differences in trailer types/amenities and how they aid in the launching/recovery. You can see what type of layouts are conducive to launching, docking, entering and exiting, how equipment/toys are stowed for their boating event and all that. Priceless experience.

Some dealers offer water tests. Had one dealer with a wet launching ramp at his store where you could launch and retrieve your boat, and see how it starts and shifts, if trolling motor equipped, how it works and all....just no room for any boat movement.

I would find a dealer that does offer the water test before you buy....a priceless experience. As I say below, once you decide and make your purchase, get a knowledgeable person to go along with you on your maiden voyage and show you some of the "ropes". The rest will come over the life of your boating experience. Good luck!

 

[Texgirl]

Before you buy a boat, take a US Coast Guard safety course. Side benefit is that it can help you to be aware of things that you didn't know matter in making your boat choice.

Next, go to launching sites on a Sunday afternoon and just observe. Amazing what you can learn while watching the general public in action with their boat. One of the biggest problems with boats has to do with getting them in the water and back out. You can see the differences in trailer types/amenities and how they aid in the launching/recovery. You can see what type of layouts are conducive to launching, docking, entering and exiting, how equipment/toys are stowed for their boating event and all that. Priceless experience.

Some dealers offer water tests. Had one dealer with a wet launching ramp at his store where you could launch and retrieve your boat, and see how it starts and shifts, if trolling motor equipped, how it works and all....just no room for any boat movement.

I would find a dealer that does offer the water test before you buy....a priceless experience. As I say below, once you decide and make your purchase, get a knowledgeable person to go along with you on your maiden voyage and show you some of the "ropes". The rest will come over the life of your boating experience. Good luck!

great advice.. I have seen some things at the boat launch over my life for sure! We do plan to take the course as well. thanks so much, KIM

 

[JimS123]

The last 2 boats I bought were from the Brunswick Corp. umbrella Their policy is that their dealers REQUIRE a water test before they will deliver it. I insisted that I was a 60 year boater and didn't need it but they wouldn't let me take the boat home until I complied.

Gotta love that policy.

I often bike ride on warm evenings to my launch ramp that is only 2 miles away. Sitting on the park bench next to the ramp provides me my humor diversion of the day.

Back in the 1960's when i was preparing for boat ownership, I read the "trailer boater book" and then sat at the launch ramp for hours watching all the boaters. The book told me how to do it and the ramp experience showed me how NOT to do it.

 

[briangcc]

Most reputable dealers in my neck of the woods will let you buy a boat on condition of a water/sea trial.

When I ordered my FourWinns, it was my first I/O so I asked the dealer for a water trial to go over everything. He showed me where everything was then pointed to the Niagara River and said feel free to launch it, call if you have issues. My first service with them was my LAST service with them - I took it elsewhere from that point on. And I let corporate know how that dealer "serviced" my boat. Last check, they're no longer selling FourWinns.

My Chap, the dealer went over the features and offered to water trial it. I declined as I already had experience with an I/O at that point.

 

[Texgirl]

Thank you for all of the responses.. really appreciate all of the advice I have gotten on this forum!

 

[achris]

I would go a little further and say that any dealer who didn't allow a sea trial is one you should be walking (running!) away from!

I treat boat dealers like car dealers. They are all out for just one thing, your money. They will say and do ANYTHING to get you to sign a contract and hand over a deposit. And once you do that, they will be of little help.

There's a guy in Australia with a youtube channel about cars, but he also deals with how to deal with car salesmen (and women), and I suggest you seek out his channel and have a good solid listen to his advice on dealing with these sales people. My wife and I just bought a new car, and following his advice we got a better deal than even he could have got us (his youtube channel is a vehicle to promote his car brokerage business). It was really a lot of fun 'working' the salesmen of the different dealers, with them thinking they were working us. Should have seen their jaws drop whenever we walked out without signing up... Best fun I've had in years.

The youtube guy is John Cadogan (the channel is called Autoexpert). I'm not really a fan of his style, but when you filter the 'ockerisms' the advice is solid (especially the bit about what time it is in any dealership 'showroom'. Always makes me laugh, and realise just how true it is!)

Chris.........

 

[racerone]

I remember going to the local launch ramp for free entertainment.

 

[Texgirl]

I would go a little further and say that any dealer who didn't allow a sea trial is one you should be walking (running!) away from!

I treat boat dealers like car dealers. They are all out for just one thing, your money. They will say and do ANYTHING to get you to sign a contract and hand over a deposit. And once you do that, they will be of little help.

There's a guy in Australia with a youtube channel about cars, but he also deals with how to deal with car salesmen (and women), and I suggest you seek out his channel and have a good solid listen to his advice on dealing with these sales people. My wife and I just bought a new car, and following his advice we got a better deal than even he could have got us (his youtube channel is a vehicle to promote his car brokerage business). It was really a lot of fun 'working' the salesmen of the different dealers, with them thinking they were working us. Should have seen their jaws drop whenever we walked out without signing up... Best fun I've had in years.

The youtube guy is John Cadogan (the channel is called Autoexpert). I'm not really a fan of his style, but when you filter the 'ockerisms' the advice is solid (especially the bit about what time it is in any dealership 'showroom'. Always makes me laugh, and realise just how true it is!)

Chris.........

I will check it out! Thanks so much! KIM

 

[Texgirl]

We are now doing a sea trial on a 2020 hurricane 218 ob... at a different ron hoover location next week.... so looking forward to that.. hoping for a good experience. Thanks so much again for all your advice !!

 

[Old Ironmaker]

If the boat doesn't get wet my money stays in my pocket. Besides the test run I always try and swing a limited warranty for the engine as well as the hull. A short run up and down the river or lake won't always show us what we are buying used. Moat used sales for boats and passenger vehicles are AS IS. I bought a Lund 11 years ago and owned it for 10 days. We took the boat out on the lake for about 30 minutes and every thing looked great. 2 days later I had the boat in the water for 5 hours fishing and she took on water through a crack in the hull I only noticed when I put the boat on the trailer. Far too heavy. Thank goodness I had the Marine dealer add a 14 day warranty to the 90 day out board warranty. The sales guy asked me "Do you think I would sell you a boat that leaked?" I said "If you know it doesn't leak prove it."