7 questions that could save you thousands.
A quick guide to spending your money on the right marine equipment.
When you’re buying a boat, it’s easy to get caught up on the flashy bits that catch your eye. Plush cabin. Spacious deck. Powerful outboards etc. But behind the ‘bling’ sits an electrical system that makes everything tick. And if it’s not fit for purpose, you could have issues that ruin your boating experience, and cost a bundle to remedy.
Answer these questions before you buy.
Before you buy a boat or any piece of marine electrical equipment – the most important question to ask is “How do you use your boat?”. For example:
Are you a day tripper?
Are you on the water for weekends or weeks at a time?
Do you stay inshore/close to home?
Do you go further offshore, say to Great Barrier?
Do you go long distances, say Auckland to Bay of Islands?
Do you fish in shallow water, targeting snapper?
Do you fish out wide, targeting tuna or marlin?
The way you use your boat determines what you need.
The answers to these questions can make a huge difference to the type of electrical system you require and the equipment you need.
If you use your boat for days at a time, you’ll need good power generation (solar or diesel), smart regulators, inverters and ample battery storage. Compare this to a day tripper who requires a simple battery pack to keep things running.
Likewise, a serious marlin fisherman will need more advanced fish finding technology and more powerful transducer than a snapper fisherman who stays in close. If you’re navigating at night or over long distances, again, you’ll need a different radar from the boatie who never ventures past Motuihe.
A note on purchasing second hand vessels.
If you’re buying a boat second hand, make sure you do your homework first. What looks impressive (and very affordable) on paper, may end up costing a large sum to fix.
We sometimes see this with people trying to save money by importing a second hand boat. Americans and Europeans typically boat during the day, then re-charge in the marina overnight, so these vessels tend to come with smaller battery packs. If you plan to take this sort of set up away for a weekend or longer, the battery capacity would soon run down, causing a variety of failures. American boats also run on 120 volts, which means we need to make modifications to meet the NZ electrical standards to plug into shore power. This can be quite costly.
Spend your money wisely by seeking expert advice.
Buying a boat or a new piece of marine electrical equipment isn’t cheap! But with the right advice, you can make informed choices and spend your money wisely. The key is talking to a marine expert who can understand your requirements and recommend the right set-up and equipment for your lifestyle, your budget and your boat.
About to buy new equipment? Give us a call.
If you’re looking at new marine electrical equipment or a new boat, don’t make the mistake of jumping in before you buy. Get in touch and we can offer specific advice that points you in the right direction.