Choosing A Boat

Looking to hit the water this summer in a boat that you can fill with your friends and family? Maybe you want to go fishing or you’re looking for a platform that lets you relax in the sun and do some swimming. You might just want to go as fast as you can, skimming over the surface and feeling the spray on your face and the wind in your hair. Whatever your desires, it’s important to narrow down a few determining factors before you make such a big purchase. The fine folks at Riva Marine and Motorsports of the Keys know a little something about boats, so here’s a list of questions for you to consider before you make your decision.

What Are Your Plans?

Boats offer you so many possibilities for water-based activities, but each one is generally specialized for one or two purposes. You’ll want to determine what you plan to do with your boat before you go out and buy one. If you’re interested in socializing and relaxing, you should make sure you get a boat with a roof or shaded area to get out of the sun, plenty of comfortable seating and maybe even a kitchen in the cabin. Pontoons with their wide decks make excellent entertainment and relaxation vessels. For watersports, you’ll want to have a boat that’s big enough to tow and capable to get up to high speeds.

For fishing, you’ll want a whole array of features that enable you to bring in a good haul. That includes storage for your fishing gear, rod holders to allow you to troll or cast more than one line at a time and a livewell to keep your catches fresh until you reach the shore. Center console boats can make excellent fishing boats. For any adventure that requires being out overnight, you’ll want to have sleeping quarters, a lavatory and somewhere to prepare food.

How Much Space Do You Require?

Having enough room to do what you want to do and bring as many people as you want to bring is important to consider before you make your decision, too. While a small center console boat might serve you and a friend for a few hours of day cruising or angling, you’ll want something much more substantial if you want to have sun protection, space to move and more people on board. Meanwhile, if you buy a large pontoon and you’re the only one on it, you’re just wasting fuel and space. Match your boat’s size to your group size.

Where Are You Going?

Your final consideration before purchasing a boat is to consider where it is you wish to go. Here in Florida, we’ve got the ocean and the gulf surrounding us, along with inland waterways, so there are plenty of options. Going out on the open ocean demands a much hardier and larger boat capable of withstanding saltwater corrosion and rough waves. If you’re trolling in shallow waters, you’ll be better off on a small flat-bottomed boat with an outboard motor. V-shaped hulls are best for cutting through deep waters. If you plan to go to many different bodies of water, you’ll want to find a boat that can handle in shallow and deep water and has the power to get you where you need to be. Perhaps you end up buying more than one boat after you learn what works for you on the lake isn’t well-suited to the ocean, but start out with a boat that works well for the places you spend the most time in and the things you like doing most.

Whether you’re after a fishing boat, a pontoon or a bay boat, we’ve got the styles you’re looking for in both new and used models. Come down to our dealership to check out our excellent selection of center console boats, jet boats and more. Riva Marine and Motorsports serves Key Largo, Florida as the premier boat dealership.