Boston Boat Dealership

REASONS TO USE A BOAT DEALER IN BOSTON

• Lower initial maintenance costs: New boats don’t require as much maintenance - plain and simple. Used boats can be like a pandora’s box of issues so if you’d rather avoid that then start with a new boat that has a warranty.
• Warranty work will be easier: Dealers liaise directly with the manufacturer for warranty service so you don’t have to. The backlog of work can get pretty bad in season so you want to be sure you get your boat in early.
• Boat maker experts: No one else will be able to guide you through the ins and outs of all of the different models to help you find the right one. They will know the history of the manufacturer as well and be able to help you find older models that suit your needs. Every manufacturer is different and every year is different so you’ll benefit from having an expert help you navigate everything.
• Customization of your boat will be easier through the dealer: If you want a boat with extra features then the dealer can order it for you from the manufacturer. There is a lot of paperwork involved so it’s well worth it to have them handle everything for you.
• Easy access to marine lenders: You should be able to get help finding a boat loan through the dealer you are working with. You should get pre-approved for a loan before you go to buy, but the dealer should be able to help you find a lender to work with.

HOW TO FIND BOAT DEALERS IN BOSTON

Boston proper won’t have too many boat dealers but the surrounding area, particularly to the south, will have tons. You’ll have the best luck looking in coastal towns to the south - towns like Quincy, Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate, and all the way down to Duxbury. This is where most boating happens in the greater Boston area and there are plenty of dealers to meet the demand. If you are looking for a sailboat dealer, then these areas will also be good but you may even want to try Maine or Rhode Island. As you move out onto Cape Cod there will be plenty of dealers as well since this is also a major boating area. This area also has lots of marinas which tend to be affiliated with dealers or they will know where you can find them. Marinas are a good source of local knowledge so it’s worth making an inquiry. The 800lbs gorilla in the boat dealer business is MarineMax, so chances are that there is one near you, but don’t overlook the smaller guys. The first place you should probably look is online though. There will be plenty of reviews that you can read online but make sure to avoid the puffer pieces that were clearly written by the owner. These are usually very obvious and contain almost no details about the services rendered. Asking friends who have similar boats to the one you want to buy is also a great source of information. Word of mouth still reigns supreme in this industry and is the best way to find what you’re looking for. This page will only show dealers within a 50mi radius of Boston, so if you are looking further south or just further outside the city, go to the Mariner Exchange Dealership Search Page and enter in your location to search for boat dealers near you.

TIPS ON BUYING FROM A BOAT DEALER

• Service, Service, Service: Can’t emphasize this enough - if they don’t have a good service department then don’t bother. If they don’t provide services, then that’s ok, but they should have someone to refer you to for warranty service. You want a dealer that can help handle any warranty related work during the first several years you own the boat.
• Last year's model is just as good and can save money: Unless there was some groundbreaking innovation this year, then the boat probably isn’t that different from last year’s model. People have been building boats for thousands of years and it hasn’t changed too too much in the last 40 years, so last year’s model will probably be just fine. You’ll be able to get a better price on last year’s model.
• Boat shows are fun and make buying easy: The New England Boat Show is a great place to get your feet wet and compare dealers side by side. You can see different brands up close and compare them.
• You should look online first: Go to the manufacturer website before going to the dealer and read about the different models out there. This way, you can go in there armed with all of the information you need and the dealer will be able to help you find the right boat.
• Winter purchase: That harsh New England winter is good for bargain hunting. The dealers will be sitting on inventory and will want to get rid of it. Demand is low in the winter so it should be easier to get a favorable price.
• Closer is better: For the service reasons mentioned above, you want to find a dealer that is as close as possible to where you actually boat. This way warranty work can be done with ease and you may not need to transport your boat at all.