TalkingBoating.com

eBay, originally called ‘auctionweb’, and eBay Express are premier online shopping and auction portals run by eBay.Inc.

The founder of the site, Pierre Omidyar built this runaway-hit site keeping in mind the following assumptions:
People are basically good.
Everyone has something to contribute.
An open environment brings out the best in people.

The main site ebay is catered for the US viewers. However, there are greater than 23 subsidiary sites under ebay operating in various countries for the benefit of their respective citizens. There are also specialized sub-type ebay sites tailor designed for specific uses. For instance there is a specific site that caters to users who are contemplating on buying boats.

Buying a boat on ebay—or any other item for that matter—on eBay is as easy as a child’s play. One needs to have a desktop or a laptop with an Internet connection; preferably broadband for faster coonectivity and one can sit relaxed and log on to the respective ebay site where in you are asked to register yourself. This registration calls for providing information including name, sex, date of birth, marital status, postal street address, e-mail address, phone number, social security number, etc. One can register with a unique user id and a password of your choice. After one such full registration an account is created on the site with the desired user name.

Once this is done, you may enter the word ‘boat’ in the search box on the website and hit the key button. If you wish you could even choose whether you want the boat to be in the United States (the default) or anywhere else in the world. Of the list that comes up, you will have to choose the boat of your choice depending on your paying capacity. You then click on the ‘description’ button to review the details about the selected boat and see an image or two of the same. Once you are satisfied with the review, price and all other conditions you may then click on ‘buy now’ button and follow the on-screen instructions diligently. However, if you have any doubts about the item (boat here) and its condition you may click on “ask the seller” button wherein you have option to type in your doubts and seek clarifications for seller. In the latter case, you postpone buying till you get the sellers’ reply and you are satisfied with them. But there are seller ratings and the product ratings that should clear most of the apprehensions to buy the item.

The advantage of buying a boat on eBay is that you do not have to fish out for the reliable sellers of boats, and commute to their seller’s addresses, and then make a selection after comparing and contrasting them. It’s very easy as everything is crystal clear, you pick a boat type and price and see seller and product rating and get your doubts clarified and then buy it; with a click on your mouse or touch pad left button sitting in the comforts of your home, Buying a boat on ebay is so cool and easy, just like buying an item from your departmental store.

Buying boat is a big investment. However, it is not smart to buy boat with self-finance even if you are financially sound. In stead avail a loan to buy boat and pay minimum amount every month.

Nowadays, securing Boat Loans is fast as well as easy. Majority of the financers or lenders have online companies and person who would want a boat loan can shop online looking through several sites and do the homework to get the best deal. There are companies that process your loan request in as fast as 3 days’ time. There are different schemes with different repayment schedules and interest rates. Look for the best proposition that works for you. Usual repayment for a boat loan could be anywhere between 5 years and 20 years. It depends much on the cost of the boat. There are financers that work with you to plan a repayment schedule convenient for you.

Types of Boat Loans

As you shop for your loan, make a list of the financers and then narrow down to few that offer greater flexibility. In this manner you are assured to get great deal for your boat loan. Similar to other loans even for buying boat there are various types of loans. These include: Fixed Rate Boat Loans, Adjustable Rate Boat Loans, Simple Interest Loan and a Balloon Payment Loan. However, You need to know which is the best for you in the existing loan market scenario. FRMs have no risks involved; however, if you are a risk taker, you may opt for an ARM.

After choosing the financial institute as well as the loan type there are certain important things to bear in mind. Be prepared to provide information about and boat you are contemplating to buy. These include your name, contact address with contact phone number and your monthly income and bills. This helps financer to determine if you can be a repaying party or not. Information on boat will be boat description, its cost, title and registration, etc.

Boat Loans’ Terms

Work the loan term (medium or long) and it is very important because the longer the term, the lesser will be the monthly payments (with interest rate slightly higher than the short term). So it is but very important to work on the term of the loan. You should also know that your boat loan also calls for some processing fee. Although, the fee amount varies normally a standard percent of your loan amount is levied for the purpose.

Is Down Payment Important for Boat Loans?

Additionally, be clear of your down payment. Most of the financers will want a down payment of 20-25% of purchase price of the boat as your down payment while it maybe slightly on the higher side, you can shop for those who are happy with 15% and yet offer you good interest deal. Remember you need to pay some fee additionally for a boat surveyor. The surveyor appraises the value of your boat (in case if you are going for a used boat loan). For procuring loan for used boat, be sure that the boat you are going to buy is clear of legal litigations such as forfeiting the docking fee. Boat loan closing also calls for some money and you need to check with your lender of it. Finally when all docs are clear you can see your boat in the dock.

With sailing holidays increasing in popularity day by day, yachts are no longer the white elephants that they used to be. While many people still think that spending money on buying a yacht is akin to throwing away money into the sea, yachts are turning out to be great investments for people who are savvy enough to see their potential as a money making device. Yachts nowadays should be compared more to houses rather than cars and other vehicles because of the reason that they are making more money for their owners than what has been spent on them. By the time a well kept and well maintained yacht is sold off by its owners, it has generally made its owner more money than what has been lost on maintenance, upkeep and depreciation.

So if you are thinking of spending your hard earned money on buying a yacht for yourself, then you should start looking at it as an investment rather than as expenditure. For one, because of the rapidly increasing popularity of sailing as a hobby and a pastime among people who earlier let it well alone, yachts are no longer depreciating as much as they used to. The scenario in the yacht buying market, especially when it comes to nicely fitted and properly maintained vehicles is one where the seller is the king.  The demand for such vessels is more than the supply at times nowadays, since a large number of people want to buy yachts that have proved themselves in the water rather than spending money on a new one. This is not to say that depreciation is not influencing the value of yachts during resale at all, but even this is being compensated many times over by the money that yacht owners are nowadays making through their yachts.

Most yacht owners let out their boats willingly to people who want to rent or charter them for sailing holidays. While this might look like a method of making ends meet to the unassuming onlooker, it is actually a method of minting money by the ton. Let’s take for example a luxury super yacht which was bought for somewhere between a twenty to thirty million dollars and requires another one and a half to two million for its yearly upkeep, docking and maintenance. Such a yacht, when rented out, will be able to earn for its owner anywhere between $250,000 and $400,000 a week. So even if a yacht like this is rented out for just two to three months a year, it not only earns its keep, but also manages to make the owner some profits.

If people put their yachts up for renting throughout the year, then the vessel will not only be able to pay for its cost and maintenance, but will be able to start making profits within three to four years. Thus you can easily see how a properly managed yacht can not only provide its owners pleasure, it can also turn into a money making machine. However, the earning capacity of a vessel varies from boat to boat, and depends on a large number of factors ranging from size, maintenance and mileage to facilities, installments and the crew. Keep these things in mind when buying your boat and you will be easily able to manage a deal where your yacht serves you not only as a leisure machine, but also as an earner and an investment.