There are places where buying a boat is a hobby, and then there is Florida, where boating is, well, life.
From Jacksonville, down to Key West, and around to Pensacola, the water is not a distant weekend idea. It is just beyond the bridge, beside the marina, at the end of the canal, waiting at the sandbar, and stretching east toward the Bahamas. From the Intracoastal Waterway to Biscayne Bay, from Jupiter’s inlets to Fort Lauderdale’s New River, Florida offers one of the richest boating environments in the world.
That also makes Florida one of the most exciting places to shop for a boat and InterMarine happens to have the best boat brands for Florida waters.
As the capital of the boating world, every boat manufacturer and yacht shipyard sends their newest models to South Florida to test the market. It's no wonder the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show generates more money for the county than a Super Bowl!
At InterMarine, we know Florida boating because this is our home and we are boaters. Whether you are a true beginner wanting to be educated on boating in general or a seasoned yachtsman looking to buy your next luxury cruiser, stop in and discuss your plans with one of our expert yacht brokers. According to MarineSource.com, there are more than 23,000 boats for sale in Florida on the market making it a bit overwhelming at first to narrow down a decision. This is where the knowledge and expertise of our team really shines.
Every buyer eventually arrives at the same important question - Should I buy a new boat or a used boat?
"It doesn't matter if this is your first boat purchase or your tenth, the question to buy new or pre-owned is always relevant," said Patrick Galipeau, Vice President of InterMarine Boats. "Of course your budget is always a factor when deciding, but you also must look at things like warranty protection, how often you plan to use the boat, as well as what's happening in the market. There are times where, vombined with factory incentives, buying a new boat makes more sense than buying pre-owned."
Below: The new NAVAN T30 is a great luxury center-console option for South Florida boating.
At InterMarine Boats, we have been a South Florida boat dealer and yacht brokerage firm since 1995, specializing in new and pre-owned boat sales. Our team help buyers navigate both sides of the decision of deciding the purchase of a new versus used boat. As an authorized factory dealership for brands including Prestige Yachts, Jeanneau Powerboats, Beneteau Swift Trawler, Four Winns, NAVAN, Bayliner, Chaparral, and Cranchi, as well as access to incredible pre-owned boats for all lifestyles on the water and experience levels.
Below are several considerations when deciding to buy a new boat versus a used one...
BOAT SHOPPING IS JUST DIFFERENT IN FLORIDA THAT OTHER STATES
Florida changes the conversation when it comes to buying a boat.
In many parts of the country, boats are seasonally enjoyed. In late fall, things shut down completely and boats are winterized until it gets close to Memorial Day. Boats launch in spring, haul out in fall, and spend half the year tucked away. In Florida, boating is a 12-month pursuit. That is one of the great advantages of owning a boat here, but it also means the boat’s condition, equipment, maintenance history, and suitability for local waters matter more.
A Florida boat may spend its life in saltwater, under intense sun, in warm humidity, and in an environment where corrosion, gelcoat fading, upholstery wear, engine hours, bottom paint, electronics condition, and hurricane-season storage history all deserve careful attention. Insurance costs, for example, tend to vary greatly for the same boat in Florida versus up in the Northeast.
That does not mean a pre-owned boat that's spent its life in saltwater and the Florida sun should be avoided. Florida has one of the most active pre-owned boat markets in the country, and many brokerage yachts are professionally maintained and cared for by a captain or management company.
Likewise, buying new in Florida has its own appeal. A new boat offers the confidence of the latest designs, the most recent construction standards, modern electronics, fresh systems, full factory and engine warranties, along with the oppurtunity with certain brands to customize it to your tastes.
WHY BUY A NEW BOAT IN FLORIDA OVER A USED ONE?
There is an indescribable pleasure in stepping aboard a new boat. The engines are clean. The electronics are the latest and greatest. The upholstery on the seats is perfect. No grime in the bilge pump. Every switch, hatch, cushion, screen, pump, and fitting begins its life with you.
For some buyers, that alone is enough to persuade them to buy a new boat over a used one. Below are 5 reasons why you should choose new versus used.
1.) You Get the Latest Design, Technology, and Efficiency - Boat design has advanced quickly in recent years. Modern hulls are more efficient, cockpit layouts are more versatile, helm stations are more ergonomic, and onboard systems are increasingly intuitive. A new boat may offer features that older boats simply do not have, such as joystick piloting, integrated multifunction displays, digital switching, improved fuel efficiency, advanced outboard technology, refined cabin layouts, better sound insulation, improved seating systems, and expanded social zones.
2.) Warranty Coverage Adds Peace of Mind - One of the most compelling reasons to buy new is the warranty protection you get over the hull, engines, and electronics on your boat. Other components like a Seakeeper Gyro, for example, also have their own warranties. InterMarine Boats has one of the best service departments in South Florida, so if you should have a warranty claim, our techs are certified in the engines we sell. That peace of mind is especially valuable for first-time buyers in particular.
3. You Know the Boat’s Complete History - Every boat has a story and when buying new, you are the author from the beginning. There are no questions about how the engines were broken in, whether the boat sat unused for long stretches, whether maintenance was skipped, whether previous owners stored it properly, or whether it ever took damage in a storm. The boat has not been modified by unknown hands, patched after an incident, or exposed to years of sun and salt. That clean history has value.
4. If You Want To Finance Your Purchase, A New Boat Might Be Easier - Financing depends on many factors, including the buyer’s credit profile, the boat, the engines, the lender, the down payment, and current market conditions. But in general, new boats can sometimes present a simpler financing path because lenders are evaluating a new asset with a clear manufacturer’s retail price, current model-year documentation, and warranty coverage. There are usually no surprises with a new boat purchase like there could be with a used one, particularly if you're buying from a private owner. Your InterMarine Sales Professional may also have access to manufacturer promotions or financing programs that can make a new boat more affordable during a sales event.
5. You Want To Make A Statement On The Water - Let's face it, sometimes making a statement with your boat or yacht is a requirement at South Florida's most popular marinas, sandbars, and restaurants. Nothing defines your status on the water like a brand new boat. Make it loud with upgraded speakers, make it wild with a custom wrap around the hull, and add an extra engine to that center-console with custom-painted cowlings. Now the only thing missing is a t-shirt with your boat and boat name on it!
Below: A new Italian-made luxury yacht certainly makes a statement from Jupiter to Miami.
InterMarine’s new-boat inventory spans categories such as motor yachts, motor catamarans, cruisers, center consoles, walk overs, day boats, and pontoons, with boats ranging from smaller runabouts to large yachts. That breadth matters because the right boat for Jupiter sandbar days is not necessarily the right boat for cruising to Bimini or hosting clients in Fort Lauderdale. The team at InterMarine can help translate your boating plans into the right hull, layout, propulsion, equipment, and ownership plan.
5 Reasons Buying A Used Boat Might Make More Sense
If new boats offer peace of mind and the latest design, used boats offer something as equally enticing - opportunity! The brokerage market can open doors to larger boats that are similar in cost to the smaller, new vessel, along with more features, premium brands, and immediate availability at a price point that may be more approachable.
Florida’s used boat market is especially loaded because so many boats are bought, sold, traded, upgraded, and relocated here. For a buyer who knows what to look for, a used boat can be a very smart purchase.
1. Pre-owned Boats Often Offer More Boat for the Budget - The most obvious advantage of buying used is value. A pre-owned boat may allow you to move up in size, power, equipment, or brand compared with a new boat at the same budget. A buyer considering a new day boat may discover that a lightly used cruiser is within reach. A family shopping for a new center console may find a pre-owned model with upgraded electronics, a trailer, fishing accessories, and additional options already installed.
Buying used may allow a previous owner to absorb some of that initial depreciation while you enjoy the boat at a more favorable price.
2. The Boat May Already Be Equipped - A used boat may come with valuable additions that the original owner paid for, such as upgraded electronics, canvas, covers, outriggers, underwater lights, stereo systems, Seakeeper stabilization, improved upholstery, added refrigeration, fishing gear, davits, tender equipment, or spare parts.
On a new boat, those options can add up quickly and this may save you money in the longrun.
3. Used Boats May Be Available Immediately - New boats are sometimes available from dealer inventory, but in-demand models can involve wait times, incoming allocations, or build schedules. Used boats, by contrast, are often available now, excluding any service work that comes up in the survey. Lenders and insurance companies may sometimes require some service before a purchase. If the right pre-owned boat is already in South Florida, surveyed, sea-trialed, financed, insured, and closed efficiently, you may be enjoying the water sooner than you would with a custom-ordered new boat.
4. A Well-Maintained Used Boat Can Be a Proven Performer - There is something reassuring about a boat with a documented service history, known performance, and owner feedback.
A good used boat has already answered many questions. How does it run? How does it handle? What fuel burn does it see at cruise? How does the layout work in real boating conditions? Have any early issues been corrected? In the yacht brokerage world especially, a well-documented vessel can be highly attractive. Service records, maintenance logs, survey reports, engine data, and ownership history all help buyers understand what they are purchasing.
5. In Some Instances You Can Sell The Boat For What You Paid - It doesn't always happen, but depending on the right boat that becomes available on the brokerage market, there are instances where you can resell it for the same amount (or close to it) that you paid for the boat originally. Depending on the make and model, boat's condition, any improvements or equipment added, and of course, the current state of the market,
Florida has a way of making boat ownership feel inevitable. One day you are looking at listings online, the next you taking delivery of your boat and heading out on your first adventure.
The best boat purchase is not always the fastest one either, but rather the one that fits you and meets all of your needs. At InterMarine Boats, our team helps Florida buyers compare new boats, pre-owned boats, and brokerage yachts with a clear understanding of how each option fits their lifestyle, budget, and long-term ownership plans. Use our Contact Us form online and our team will reach out promptly to discuss your boating plans.
May 25, 2026
