New boater

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Kendal C

New member
Joined
Sep 12, 2026
RO Number
38288
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2
All,

Good morning my wife and I are getting ready to pull the trigger on purchasing a 2008 Regal 3060 Window Express, I’m setting up a survey, and personal inspection in the next week to ten days. Any recommendations on what to look for or at, this will be our first boat. I’d love to hear from other boaters pros and cons.

Thanks

Kendal
 
You’ll definitely want to attend the survey since it’s your first time. Surveyor will check systems in depth. May also want a mechanic to check engines. Also plan on sea trial. Watch the small stuff, it can give indications about the large stuff. With most sellers, plan on differed maintenance.
 
Do a short sea trial before surveying to make sure the boat is worth surveying and doesn’t have an issue that will prevent a full survey like running hot or vibration or … put that in the contract. Short sea trial then survey and full sea trial.
 
Attend the survey, obviously stay out of the surveyor's way, but a good surveyor is willing to have you attend and explain things as he goes along. That's almost a 20yr old boat, and while boats when maintained have a much longer lifespan than say a car, you have to expect to find some problems, hopefully minor. Learn your boat and become familiar with the various systems and any maintenance - the boat is never going to break on a Monday when you can call a mechanic - in addition to the pilot YOU are the mechanic, plumber and electrician on a cruiser like this - learn to fix minor things or you will spend many days at the dock waiting on the "mechanic".

After the survey, go hire a local captain to spend some time on the boat with you to get familiar with the operation. Take a boating course (you may have to depending where you live) or get your captain's license if that's your thing - just learn some things about boating/navigation/rules - it will make your boating much more enjoyable and safer.

When I bought my first larger boat 25yrs ago, after growing up around small ski boats, I hired someone to spend a day on my new boat with me, he also owned a 35ft cruiser and that day was worth every penny.
 
I know this sounds corny but check out the information that google AI provides.
 
BillK offered some excellent advice. What boating experience do you have? I hope you are at least, somewhat, a do it yourself kind of guy. If not, you need a fat wallet to pay for all the things that need to be done on a boat. I’m not talking about rebuilding an engine, but things like winterizing, changing oil and filter, replacing impellers, fixing simple plumbing and electrical issues, can easily be done by someone handy with a screwdriver and turning a wrench.
 
Welcome, keep us posted on your journey and best of luck...

Sea trial and survey are both must dos... And if you do move forward the advise to hire a captain for some lessons makes a lot of sense...
 
The first thing my wife and I did when we purchased our first boat was to sign up for a boating safety course conducted by the local Power Squadron group. Taught us a lot of introductory boating information which served us well as beginners.
 
Bob Ware said:
The first thing my wife and I did when we purchased our first boat was to sign up for a boating safety course conducted by the local Power Squadron group. Taught us a lot of introductory boating information which served us well as beginners.
Click to expand...
I’m a big advocate for both the Power Squadron and Coast Guard Aux. Taking their Boater Safety course is a very good idea and in many states, it is mandatory. After that, follow up with the Seamanship class both offer. Well worth the time and effort. Other classes are offered as well and worth looking into, especially their Piloting and Navigation classes.
 
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