There is a boat for everyone and one for every budget. To get the most out of your boating experience, it is important to find the right boat for you.

First, consider what activities you want to do onboard the boat, what types of waters you will be boating in, and who will be joining you on your adventures.

Narrow down your choices to two or three categories of boats.

Use this loan calculator to determine how much you can afford for your monthly payments.

Now comes the fun part... shopping. Whether you are shopping for a new or a pre-owned boat, it is a good idea to shop new first at one or two of the hundreds of boat shows across the country. Boat shows offer an excellent opportunity to see what is out there with regard to boats and boating equipment. They also are a great source of family entertainment, education, and boating community resources, which is why novice and experienced boaters return to local boat shows year after year. There are different things to consider while shopping for a new boat vs. a pre-owned boat, but most dealers have strong inventories of both.

To supplement your boat show shopping experiences, use this tool to find a dealer near you. Interview a few dealers. The dealer who wins your business should be the one who goes out of his or her way to make you feel comfortable with your boat and the entire buying process. Further, the dealer should have a reputation of service. You are creating a long term relationship with this dealership. Consider their service department and warranties as well as price as you search for that perfect boat. You may also be interested in reading about what other boaters are saying about different boats (feel free to share your thoughts too) in our boating community section.

Once you have found that dream boat, you will need to start considering things like registering your boat with your state's Department of Natural Resources and insuring your boat prior to taking delivery.