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There are many boats out there on the market, with

something for everyone. If you are new to boating,

selecting the right boat can be hard. There are

boats for every purpose on the water, all you have

to do is find the one for you.

To help you in your quest, we'll go over the several

types of boats available. This way, you'll know

the differences when you head out to buy one of

your own.

1. Vessel

The vessel is the most common name for a boat, as

it's the description used or capable of being used

on the water. Basically, it's another name used for

a boat or anything capable of being on the water.

2. Power boat

A power boat is any boat or vessel that's propelled

by machinery. Fishing boats are great examples,

as they are powered by motors or engines.

3. Houseboat

A houseboat is fitted for use as a living vessel or

for leisurely cruising. Normally, a houseboat will

include living accomodations such as sleeping

quarters, kitchen facilities, and even a full bath.

The cruising models are normally propelled by

power.

4. Sailboat

A sailboat is any boat that's under sail along with

no mechanical means of propulsion. The modern

sailboats range from one person boats to luxury

yachts that can accomodate several people. They

are divided into three basic types:

1. Daysailer - This is a small boat that's

designed for comfortable sailing without sleeping

accomodations. It offers a roomy cockpit and can

also contain an outboard auxillary engine as well.

2. Cruiser - Cruisers are medium sized or

large boats that contain a cabin with sleeping

quarters, toilet, food area, and usually an auxillary

engine that's built inside.

3. Racer - Racers are boats built for speed

and ease of handling - normally at the expense of

comfort.

5. Zodiac

The Zodiac brand of high performance aluminum boats

are some of the most popular in the entire boating

industry. These boats are constructed with a

conventional rigid hull with increased buoyancy and

stability. The deep V hulls offered by these boats

are made to take any weather. They are well known

for their prowess and are used all over the world

for commercial search and rescue operations.

6. Catamaran

These boats come with twin hulls. They provide

safety, comfort, speed, and stability that's

unmatched by single hulled boats. Popular with

boating, they offer you a new twist to hitting

Almost all boats are constructed on a production

basis, as this is the most efficient means of

production. There's only one set of molds and many

boats being built from the mold, reducing the cost

of tooling per boat. Normally, there are a limited

number of options to make assembly line production

more efficient in terms of cost.

Leaving the ranks of production boats, there are

several types of custom construction. There are

many boats built with a limited budget, which is

normally by amateurs. If you don't want to build

the boat yourself, the next level available is

what sailors call "semi custom" boats.

These semi customs are normally built by small or

mid sized shops out of one set of molds so the

hull and decks could end up being identical. The

builders will however, allow the owner to pick

out the interior and other options.

The true custom built boat, or one of a kind boat,

is specifically designed and built from scratch

for a single customer with an unlimited budget. A

true custom boat is a one on one project, and

can get very expensive before you know it.

Before you decide to go out and buy a custom boat,

you should give the used market another look. Those

who have built custom or even semi custom boats

in the past do put them on the market for sale at

some point or another.

This is a much less expensive way to go, simply

because you won't be paying a professional to design

the boat from scratch. You can find used boats that

offer one of kind features and options, all you have

As you are probably already aware of, inflatable

boats are very popular today. Each distinct group

of inflatable boat is designed for a specific use

and therefore equipped with different components

and equipment.

If your looking for a small boat to get you from

your ship to the shore, a typical inflatable boat

is the best answer. If you are looking for a

medium sized boat for diving or swimming, there

are many choices in that area as well. For recreation

or rescue work, there are large inflatable boats

available as well.

Dealers

The location of a reputable dealer is very important,

as you don't want to travel too far to get an

inflatable boat. Whether you need parts, repairs,

or just technical support - a close dealer can also

be a close friend. As a new boat owner, you may

also have questions, need to claim your warranty,

or just need regular servicing. No matter how

you look at it, a close dealer is always better

than having to travel.

Prices

Many years ago, inflatable boats were the most

expensive types of boats and only a small amount

of people could even afford them. The reason for

this, was the use of exotic materials and the

numerous hours of hand labor that went into their

construction.

Today, there are machines that do a majority of

the construction work. Zodiac and its sister

company Sevylor, are the leading low cost producers

today thanks to technology. You can even finance

an inflatable boat if you need to, making them

available to almost everyone now.

Warranty

You may have heard claims from all competitors,

with each one promising they have the best or even

the longest warranty. A few years ago, a company

offered a lifetime warranty - although they soon

disappeared shortly thereafter. Many manufacturers

will use an attractive warranty to substitute for

quality or even proper boat design.

In the back of your mind, you should be sure that

the company you buy from will be around long enough

to deliver on their warranty. Zodiac has been

building inflatable boats for over 50 years, and

offer a limited 5 year warranty on their inflatable

boats. Therefore, Zodiak is one of the best you

can buy today.

With all inflatable boats, you should know which

type you want before you purchase. You can always

look around and see what each dealer offer, then

plan your purchase accordingly. An inflatable

boat is great to have, especially for those who

own big ships and vessels. You can't go wrong with

these boats either - as they serve many different