How Big a Boat Do I Need?
Like most boat questions, it depends. Small boats are fun, easy to handle, and relatively inexpensive if you do your homework before buying. Bigger costs more, especially with boats. As you move up in size you require a bigger power plant to move you through the water, whether it is made of steel or canvas. I will leave it to you to experience the sticker shock on a 40-foot boat vs. a 30-footer, but be prepared. The single best answer for what size is right for you depends on how you will use the boat. If you have kids or lots of friends, too small will get old in a hurry. If you are looking for something to enjoy alone or with just that special someone you will probably regret the handling issues and maintenance involved when going too big.
Once again, the art of boat buying is all about compromise. Remember the opportunity cost of what you think you need and choose accordingly.
Beware of the very real syndrome of two foot-itis. Ask any boater who has owned more than one boat and chances are each new vessel was a little bigger than the last. “If she was just a little bigger I could _______” is heard a lot in marinas. Avoid this problem from the beginning by choosing the boat that fits you and yours from the start.The green implications of size should be clear as day. The bigger she is the more fuel she will use and the more soap you need to clean her. Bigger boats need bigger everything; from dock lines to fenders, boat slips to trailers, the list goes on. Unfortunately so many of these peripheral products are made from plastic, petroleum and a wide assortment of unfriendly materials. Like most green decisions, once you make one it leads to more, each of which has a noticeable impact on the world around you.
