Every year, millions of people make New Year’s resolutions, hoping to get a positive change or some life improvements. The common themes each year include a more active approach to health and fitness, improved finances, and learning new things for personal and professional development.

For those who love the sea and boats, surely one of the New Year's resolutions might be buying their own boat. When it comes to buying a boat, there are plenty of exciting options to choose from.

Here is a handy checklist to help you go through all the options. First of all, you should think about how do you intend to use your boat, or how often will you use your boat in one year period. Let’s start with some basic questions:

New or used boat?

First of all, consider whether you want to invest in a new or used boat. The new boats are very tempting. Everything is intact and fresh. You can choose from many items to be delivered straight from the factory. With brand new sailboats, you can choose from different things like engine power and mainsail systems to the number of cabins and interior layouts. Most manufacturers offer different designs for each boat model. You can easily arrange the number of cabins or salon designs as well as the kitchen equipment right from the start. But you need to know that new ships, therefore, cost more money than used ones.

On the other hand, used boats can be very well preserved, and in excellent condition and at the same time, their price is not so unattainable. It is also already known that every new ship must pass some so-called 'childhood diseases'. Little breakdowns that are almost inevitable and may not cost a lot of money but are nerve-wracking. For used boats, you will skip that part, which can save you a lot of time and nerves.

What brand to choose?

If you are not loyal to a particular brand, the choice is really wide. In the end, either the technical characteristics of the boat or perhaps the design you prefer will be crucial here. When it comes to boat charter on the Adriatic coast, several common brands are represented to a greater extent, such as Bavaria, Beneteau, Jeanneau, Hanse and Dufour. And not to go into the details of the similarities and differences between different manufacturers you probably have some of the preferred models. Basically, it is important to know that the model you choose fits your needs. So, think about how often you will use the boat. Will you mainly use it with your family for the summer holidays or is it more important that your boat is prepared for friends and parties? Depending on that, you will know whether you need a boat with more cabin space or more cockpit space. Consider also the ease of maneuvering of the ship and how much help it will require. As you may know, the crew you choose is the most important part of your sailing journey.

Where will you place your boat?

If your choice is the Croatian Adriatic coast, then you must be aware that the number of berths in marinas is quite limited. Also, if you want to rent your boat, you must know that the vessel must be moored in the marina and not in the sports port or some other berth. When choosing a home port, consider the location and traffic connections. How easy is it to get to the marina by car? The next thing you need to pay attention to is the equipment of the marina itself. Does it have a crane, and can you make some adjustments on your boat in the marina itself? Will you be able to do regular annual maintenance without having to transport the boat to another location? Are there various services and stores available at your chosen marina that you may need? All those questions will help you to choose the right marina as a homeport for your boat.

Yacht charter management - yes or no?

All those who have their own boat will tell you the same thing. Having your own boat is a great thing, but it is not always easy and simple. There are too many things to worry about. And if you are one of those who has a lot of business and family responsibilities and because of that you do not have enough time even to sail, then you should consider yacht charter management. Yacht charter management is a program that will allow you to have your own boat that will be maintained by a professional team. At the same time, you will be renting a boat, thus covering the high costs of maintenance and accommodation at the marina. You also need to know that standard charter management programs in Croatia have some limitations, such as high commissions rate or inflexible and restrictive conditions when the owner wants to use the boat. We at Euronautic have decided to avoid all these limitations by creating our four steps yacht charter management program, and you can quickly check how it works here.

In the end, no matter which variant you choose, it is crucial that you make a New Year's decision that makes you happy. You know what you will get, and it is only up to you to take the first step towards making that wish would come true. The first step is to contact us, and we will help you. All the information you want to know, and the recommendations of our current owners are at your disposal. We will be happy to go through all the stages of buying a new boat, but also take care of it in the best possible way.

Let us take this opportunity and wish you a happy and prosperous New Year. May the coming year be full of happiness, health and business success.