BOATERS BLOG
Intro: If you’re excited to hit the sea, familiarizing yourself with financing and boat loans can be one of the essential steps to beginning your journey on the water. Whether you’re interested in a cabin cruiser, motorboat, or sailboat, knowing what you want to get is the most important part of any boat loan. The National Boat Owners Association, or NBOA, is here to help you find the right loan offer for you so that your new aquatic adventures can begin soon and easily.
The application process is actually simpler than you would think. Like with many vehicle purposes, the vessel itself serves as collateral for the loan, so you’ll want to make sure that you pick a boat that fits your lifestyle and falls within your price range. A down payment will often be required, usually ranging from 10% to 20%. The lender will likely assess your income, debts, credit score, etc., to ensure that you meet the guidelines for securing a boat loan.
The Financing Process
Looking into financial institutions and their satisfaction ratings may help form a list of recommended institutions to research further or contact. Asking friends and family with boat loan experience for advice and information can help, and the internet is full of customer experiences and knowledge. Once you know what you’re looking for and what the lenders are looking for in loan applicants, you can compare the institutions and their policies to find an offer that fits your needs.
Finding the Right Lender for Your Loan
The interest rate and loan types are crucial to consider. Fixed-rate loans are the simplest because the interest rate remains the same for the duration of the loan, making it preferable to more risky loans like variable-rate loans. Getting a fixed-rate loan can be particularly beneficial because you don’t have to worry about an interest rate increase later in the payment process. Don’t let a Variable Rate Loan’s lower initial interest fool you into thinking that it’s cheaper than a fixed rate loan, as that may not be true.
Knowing a lender’s APR, or annual percentage rate, gives you a better insight into their lending practices and the cost of borrowing from each institution. Generally, it is higher than the actual interest rates due to the inclusion of loan fees and accumulated interest on past loans. It can help to measure the difference between the interest rate and APR at an institution to gauge how many fees and charges accompany the loan itself. Institutions may add as many fees as they deem necessary, which may vary depending on the institution.
Picking a Term and Applying
Once you have found a suitable loan type, interest rate, and down payment percentage, you must decide on a term. Research the maximum loan term at each institution. Many loans are ten or up to 20 years. The longer the term you choose, the smaller the loan payment will be. While this can make payments more manageable, it can also take you longer to pay off your boat loan. Once you have all this information, you can start the application process for the loan that seems best for you.
Being equipped with these tools, you should be able to find the perfect loan for you. But don’t stop there. NBOA has a Marine Financing Center that offers competitive rates and terms. We can get you the ideal offer with fast approvals and get out on the seas in no time. Whether you’re purchasing a new or used boat or refinancing your current loan, we can assist you in finding the perfect boat loan with us regardless of credit. Additionally, we offer competitive rates, longer terms, and financing for a wide range of model-year vessels from brand new to up to 20 years old. NBOA is here to make your boating experience the best that it can be.