If you’ve ever purchased anything as expensive as a yacht, then you know you can’t rush in and buy one without doing extensive and proper research. To make sure you're happy with your purchase for years and even decades to come, you’ll want to pore over options and brands. So if you’re currently browsing Chicago yacht sales, what are the qualities you should consider before you purchase?
Bigger isn’t always better. In fact, it’s better to buy a yacht that fits your lifestyle and your needs rather than one that measures the greatest number of feet in length. Looking through Chicago boats for sale, you’ll see yachts measure between 60 and 90 feet or more in length, but these boats have to dock somewhere. If you want to travel but your destination’s port doesn’t accept yachts your size, you’ll have to go elsewhere.
Chances are you’re purchasing a yacht as a luxury item. As such, you will probably want it to have all the “bells and whistles,” but just as with size, adding amenities can also add high unnecessary costs. Those extra features can also become liabilities if the yacht is a rental, and you may not want to deal with the headaches, even if your yacht is just for you and your family.
For example, you may want a yacht with lots of electronics, such as flat-screen TVs, video game consoles, Wi-Fi hotspots, lighting systems, sound systems, and more. While these can undoubtedly make for a fun time on the water, you’ll have to replace these items if they break and upgrade them as they become obsolete.
If you want a motor yacht — though it does make boating much easier — it means you will have an engine and propulsion system to maintain. Rigging and sails are tried and true but certainly require more experience (and often people) to operate. You need to figure out whether you’ll have a crew on standby or if you plan to make some solo excursions.
A yacht is quite obviously an expensive purchase, so you definitely don’t want it to fall apart after just a few years of ownership. Make sure you’re purchasing from a reputable company and a reputable dealer. Your yacht, when properly maintained, should give you decades of trouble-free performance.
If you plan on shopping for a used yacht, make sure it’s from a seller you can trust. Always get the boat inspected before you purchase, too. If you plan to buy a new yacht, that’s even better, but a yacht is an investment either way, so treat it as such!
