Take These Items With You When Buying a Boat at a Boat Show (Or Dealership)

When is the best time to buy a boat?  Well, that depends on your situation.  If you’re looking to get into something fast and it’s the middle of summer, then you’re at the mercy of the dealer and what they have in stock.

If you’re planning ahead, which is what I recommend, then you have time to shop during boat show season.  The heart of the season is January-March as this is when most dealers come together and display their products at the local convention center.

If you’re in the market, these shows are one of the best places to purchase your new boat.  That’s because they should really be called “boat sales”.  One of the biggest incentives that dealers offer for visiting their booth at a show is discounted pricing, or, show pricing.

So if you’re planning to buy and have located your local boat show, there’s no better time or place to strike.  With all that said, do you know what items to bring with you to make the buying process as easy as possible?

I’m going to run through the list of must-bring items that you need to have if you’re planning on buying a boat at a boat show.  Bringing these things with you will ensure a smooth transaction.

Don’t Over-Complicate The Process

What I'm going to tell you is true for most boat shows, but as always, the disclaimer is, this is subject to vary depending on the show and the dealer.  Nonetheless, this is what you can expect out of nearly any show you attend.

If you’re planning on buying a boat, bring all the items you would take with you to purchase a vehicle.  A form of identification and a payment method, it’s that simple.  The caveat is, you will most likely not be taking the boat home with you that day as you would when you purchase a new car.

Don’t bring a boat trailer or drive your tow vehicle just because you think you’ll need to pull something home.  If you buy a boat or a PWC at a show, you will not have immediate access to it even if it’s a boat that the dealer has in stock at that time.

In-Stock VS Production Slot

When you buy a boat at a show, you’re either buying a boat that the dealer has in stock or you’re buying a production slot.  The in-stock boat might be on display at the show or sitting in the dealer’s showroom.

If that’s the case, most dealers will close the sale within 7-10 days of when the show ends.  At that point, taking possession of it depends on where you live.  For instance, if you live in Florida and purchase an in-stock boat at a show, you may want to take possession of the boat upon the close of the sale.

If you live in Indiana and it’s the middle of winter, that may not be the case.  Most dealers will offer to store the boat for you until the weather improves after you close the sale.  While most dealers offer this, it is not guaranteed and depends on the dealership.  This is something you should discuss with the dealer at the show.

Even if you plan on storing the boat with the dealer until spring, they will still want to close the sale within that 7-10 day timeframe once the show ends.  If you purchase a production slot otherwise known as ordering a boat, the process will change slightly.

Build Sheet

If you go this route, you will be expected to pick out the exact boat you want to order and put a deposit down.  To make this part of the process easier, bring in the build sheet you put together on the manufacturer’s website while researching online.  

Most brands have a build and price tool that will let you choose things like options and colors, and then offer a printable version of that build sheet once it’s complete.  Bringing this along will help the dealer understand exactly what you want to order.  Once the show is over, the dealer will then send the order to the manufacturer to be scheduled.

From there, the process will vary depending on the brand you chose.  The way it happens here is, once the order is confirmed at Barletta, the dealer will then lock you into the build.  This is the time to change any of the colors or options you want on the boat.

Once that’s done, some dealers will ask for an additional deposit as there’s no going back from here and they want to know that you’re committed to that boat.  Once the manufacturer builds and invoices the boat, the dealer will likely ask you to come in and close the sale.

Now, the countdown to delivery day starts.  The lead time will depend on many factors at the manufacturing level.  Check out this article on lead times for a better understanding: When Will I Get the Pontoon Boat that I Ordered?

Bring a Deposit

Whether you’re buying an in-stock boat or ordering one from the factory, you will be expected to put a deposit down.  The average ballpark deposit for any boat you purchase at a show will typically fall between 10%-20% of the total price.

It is a red flag if the dealer asks for an insignificant deposit amount.  Taking a larger sum of the total price will protect both you and the dealer because that boat will be yours.  No one else can come along and outbid you.  

Bring any form of payment that will allow you to pay this type of sum.  Most dealers take credit cards, but if you’re going the cash route don’t forget that checkbook.  

Financing 

Most dealers do offer in-house financing, which means they will run your credit report.  Be prepared with information about your credit score and make sure going in that it will be in your favor to finance a boat.  Don’t waste your and the dealer’s time if you plan on financing but your credit score says otherwise.

If you plan to finance through your bank, bring your pre-approval paperwork with you to the show.  This will make things easier once you sit down and go over the numbers with the dealer. 

Know Your GVWR

If you are also looking to purchase a boat trailer, you should know that it varies from show to show if the dealer includes trailer pricing in with the price of the boat.  Some will offer this as a package deal.

Others will not, but will most likely be willing to work with you to include a trailer if you want.  Discuss this while negotiating the price of the boat and you might be surprised at what kind of deal you come away with.

In that case, if the dealer has to order a trailer for the boat you chose, you should be prepared with information on your tow vehicle.  You will need to know how much your truck can tow and if it makes sense for you to go this route.  That’s why you should be aware of your vehicle’s GVWR ahead of time. 

Boating by Next Summer

It’s very popular to purchase a boat from a boat show.  You typically can’t beat the prices that are offered during the show and it’s a great time to see and compare many different makes and models. 

Whether you score a boat on display or order your dream boat, you should be on the water by summer.  Make sure to do your research before January hits so that you don’t miss your local show, and check in with your local (where you boat) dealer to make sure they’ll be in attendance.  

At larger shows that have many different dealerships exhibiting, you may run into dealers that are not as close to where you boat.  Make sure to shop only at your local dealer’s booth and this will ensure that you will have a service center to turn to once the boat is in your possession.

Other Boat Show Articles

Ask These Questions When Shopping at a Boat Show

Boat Show Checklist (Download and Print) 

Don't Make These Mistakes When Shopping at a Boat Show