Re: what kind of boat?
It's good to start asking questions before jumping in and buying something, but before you go much further there's a lot of questions you need to ask yourself. Where will you be using the boat (lake, river, ocean, open water, swift water, etc.)? What will you be using it for (cruising, skiing, fishing, etc.)? Will you be towing it or keeping it in the water? If you're going to be towing, how far? How much can your tow vehicle handle?<br /><br />Boats are a lot like cars and trucks. You can get a Chevy or a Cadillac, a RAV4 or an Excursion. They are all vehicles and they all do a job, the issue is whether it's the right job for the vehicle (boat). You really need to determine what you'll be doing before you determine what to look for. Also, a BIG factor will be your budget. It's easy to spend upwards of $50-60K for a fully rigged 21ft. aluminum boat or as little as $10K for a 17ft. open bow Bayliner.<br /><br />Start going to boat shows and looking at what's available. Talk to friends who have boats (yes, everyone has opinions about boats and boaters love to offer opinions).<br /><br />After you narrow down what you'll be doing, start asking more detailed questions of owners and dealers.<br /><br />Boating is great fun!
