Boating Magazine's Insider's Guide to Buying a Powerboat: Featuring Tips and Traps for the Smart Boat Buyer

What did it tell me ?

- There is approx 30-35% markup on price of a new boat
- you get a good deal if you get 12-15% of that in negociating.

What else?
Nothing much but common sense, and repeated info.

An organised person could generate the checklists themselves with or without the help of this book or a couple of boating magazines.

Anyone who has purchased a new or used car would go through the same tactics with the dealer/seller.

What would I reccomend instead ?

I also purchased "The Complete Idiots Guide to Boating and Sailing" which gave me a better (but still reasonably high level) introduction to boats/buying.

What has really impressed me is my latest purchase (reccomended from Amazon Reviews) and that is the so called "Bible of Boating" Chapmans Piloting. It sounds a bit high-brow, but covers everything and anything a novice or experienced person could want to know. It is letter sized hardcover with 650 color pages - well worth thirty five bucks. Buy that and forget wasting thrity bucks on three empty paperbacks.


Outstanding!   December 5, 2002
Mr. Lamy's book has alleviated many of the fears I had regarding the purchase of a new/used boat. His thoughts on how to deal with sales people is priceless. This book should be read by any person interested in buying or selling a small power boat.
I would love to see him write a book on general maintenance.


Outstanding Book   July 29, 2002
After reading this book it's very evident that the author has purchased and sold a number of boats. He offers an insight into both new and used boat sales with well thought out scenarios that will help you get the boat much cheaper. It's well worth the money to purchase this book if you're out looking for a new boat.


solid book   June 4, 2002
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

covers a lot. talks about construction, types of boats, what's best for you, opinions on some makes and models, and of course how to negociate. he's a salesman so you really do get some inside info. if you're just getting into boating it's perfect. i just bought my first boat (a used boston whaler) and i was very confident going in. helped a lot.


Excellent for Boat Buyers   July 4, 2001
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I have never owned a boat and this book opens the eyes of the new comer to boating when it comes to buying a boat. Lots of good tips for the buyer, and even someone selling a boat could be helped by this book.

The writer is concise, and he puts in lots of lists to help with the buying project. Follow the list and you will do a lot better in looking over the prospective boat. Simple terms are used, and the terms that are common to boating are explained in an easy to read fashion.

The best part of the book is how the author explains the insiders tips for buying a boat. The title isn't kidding. The writer really lets you in on the scoop of how the boating dealerships work and how they get you to buy a boat a their price. He warns the reader that there are no standards in the boating industry (at least nothing comparable to the auto industry) and he points out how to arrive at a competent buying decision. What to look for in the sea trial is an excellent portion of this buyer's manual.

I recommend this book to anyone new to boating who is even thinking about purchasing a boat.