Wifey B: Involve wife in the selection from the start. Two people will see and appreciate and be bothered by different things. It's a second home and traditionally the one leading the home selection is the wife. It's a boat and traditionally the one leading the boat selection is the husband. Now these roles are changing and my hubby and I are the contradiction.
Simple things, like one of you is more inclined to service the engines so that one will be the one who is more concerned with the engine room. One of you is more inclined to cook probably and that one will be the one to better evaluate the galley.
We recommend chartering some too. We did. You find what you like and don't plus if one of you is going to end up not liking the whole deal then you'll find that out perhaps.
And don't do it to a fixed timetable, sort of like all of your boating. Our purchase about to happen took us almost 3 years to decide on. The boat we're choosing wasn't out there when we started. We also came close to what we think would have been a big mistake. A wonderfully laid out boat that all the owners say to buy, it's great, do it, we love ours. But then you talk to them about problems and their punch lists are a bazillion miles long and so many problems and you can't fathom why they still love it so, but you realize you couldn't deal with that.
Together, you will find the ideal boat for you, but it won't happen immediately as you have to figure out what is important. There are things you won't even think of when you start the search. I remember one boat that looked great online and on paper. Well....duh....do they mention headroom. I can't find it. We ask. Don't know, they'll check. Finally, 76". Ut oh. Hubby will almost fit. We had no idea until we started how much problem headroom would be.
Now, I know this sounds sick, like a disease or something, but we love looking at and evaluating and learning about different boats.
Now sometimes you'll feel like you're doing this
But ultimately, you'll do this.
