Can you please inform me the proper process to purchase a used boat? I've searching and found many interesting listings but they are mostly far distance from my location. How would you guys approach this? If you have purchased a used one, what did you do and what would you do if you have to do it again? Thanks! :smt038
Proper procedure to purchase a used boat
- Thread starter jcrew912
- Start date
Southpaw II
Active Member
You might want to be a little more exact about what type of boat you are considering. The course of action would be quite different dependent on size. for one, you may drive to the boat, and trailer it home. For another you may deal with surveyors, a broker, a trucking company, a crane service, and State permit authorities.
Kameroo
Member
Also, in general, check with your state to learn their licensing and registration requirements with or without a lien, and for in-state or out-of-state transfers. Ask them if you will need to pay sales tax. If it is USCG documented, you'll have to go through that process as well.
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,155
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
It is certainly ok to use the internet or broker's listings to search for boats. However, a boat is a sizable investment and the due diligence for determining the boat cosmetic, structural and mechanical condition rests with the buyer. Certainly you can delegate some of the due diligence to hired agents like surveyors or mchanical technicians, but that is really hard to do for the cosmetic side of things.
Depending upon how old a boat is, its condition is critically important, and its worth in the used market is directly related to its condition. It isn't unusual to find a 50% swing in values just based on condition alone. The whole question of condition and a boat's worth to you as they buyer is the sum total of a great number of things......like a surveyor may note a slight rip in a cockpit cushion......its a $50 repair, not enough to have much of an effect on total value, but it might take $3000 to replace the cockpit vinyl because the plywood inside the seats is rotten as are the threads holding the cushions together. Same is true with the canvas. Take all the little cosmetic blemishes and deficits and they might not add up to much in terms of value, but correctly handling all of them may be way more than you want to deal with.
The only way to protect yourself from condition problems and do proper due diligence, is to personally see any boat you contemplate making an offer on. If you are not willing to travel, then shop close to home, but I wouldn't contract to buy a boat unless I looked at it in person.
Certainly a broker can send you photos, but are they current? Are they even of the boat he's got for sale? Were they taken before the last storm that scuffed up th isinglass and deck? In 2006 I looked at photos of a boat for a CSR member....they looked great, boat was clean and looked almost new. When the buyer finally went to see the boat, it turned out the listing photos were from the 2004 listing when the present owner bought the boat. It didn't look like the boat had ever been washed or waxed and the bilge was full of oil and antifreeze from leaking or broken engines. (it was a 2002 410DA). It happens........protect yourself by personally looking at a boat before you agree to buy it.
Once you do your part and its the right boat, then find a surveyor and a mechanical technician and survey both boat and the engines/transmissions/generator and arrange for the survey and a sea trial to be done at the same time.
This also means a second trip for you to go back to the boat for the surveys and sea trial.
Do it this way and your chances are good that you will not buy a dog with hidden flaws. Certainly, many people agree to buy a boat sight unseen, but the risks are substantially greater and there are nearly always susprises in store for you when you finally do see the boat.
Good luck with your search............
Depending upon how old a boat is, its condition is critically important, and its worth in the used market is directly related to its condition. It isn't unusual to find a 50% swing in values just based on condition alone. The whole question of condition and a boat's worth to you as they buyer is the sum total of a great number of things......like a surveyor may note a slight rip in a cockpit cushion......its a $50 repair, not enough to have much of an effect on total value, but it might take $3000 to replace the cockpit vinyl because the plywood inside the seats is rotten as are the threads holding the cushions together. Same is true with the canvas. Take all the little cosmetic blemishes and deficits and they might not add up to much in terms of value, but correctly handling all of them may be way more than you want to deal with.
The only way to protect yourself from condition problems and do proper due diligence, is to personally see any boat you contemplate making an offer on. If you are not willing to travel, then shop close to home, but I wouldn't contract to buy a boat unless I looked at it in person.
Certainly a broker can send you photos, but are they current? Are they even of the boat he's got for sale? Were they taken before the last storm that scuffed up th isinglass and deck? In 2006 I looked at photos of a boat for a CSR member....they looked great, boat was clean and looked almost new. When the buyer finally went to see the boat, it turned out the listing photos were from the 2004 listing when the present owner bought the boat. It didn't look like the boat had ever been washed or waxed and the bilge was full of oil and antifreeze from leaking or broken engines. (it was a 2002 410DA). It happens........protect yourself by personally looking at a boat before you agree to buy it.
Once you do your part and its the right boat, then find a surveyor and a mechanical technician and survey both boat and the engines/transmissions/generator and arrange for the survey and a sea trial to be done at the same time.
This also means a second trip for you to go back to the boat for the surveys and sea trial.
Do it this way and your chances are good that you will not buy a dog with hidden flaws. Certainly, many people agree to buy a boat sight unseen, but the risks are substantially greater and there are nearly always susprises in store for you when you finally do see the boat.
Good luck with your search............
- Oct 12, 2006
- 1,974
- Boat Info
- "On Vacation"
2006 40 Sundancer
Raymarine E125 & HD Radar + Garmin 5208
- Engines
- QSB5.9 380 Cummins
"Can you please inform me the proper process to purchase a used boat?"
It's just like getting married.
Start by finding the right one (without becoming infatuated with the 'wrong' one) get to know her as best you can before the acquisition, get to know her 'more' after acquisition, enjoy her whenever you can and hope you don't have to spend too much to 'fix' any problems.
More seriously.. NADA and other online sources also give you some numbers upon which to assess the value of the boat but I have found their prices to be higher than reality, especially this year. Before we bought our boat, we talked to someone with the exact same boat and walked around it to see how they 'fit' in it. I was concerned with size, resale value, price, quality, usability and maintenance (not in that order). I decided to buy the biggest boat I could afford but to get one that was still within the warranty period offered by Searay and Mercruiser. My Gimbal bearing went after 17 months and was covered by warranty. Outdrives are an issue in salt water but I'm doing what I must to mitigate that problem.
It's just like getting married.
Start by finding the right one (without becoming infatuated with the 'wrong' one) get to know her as best you can before the acquisition, get to know her 'more' after acquisition, enjoy her whenever you can and hope you don't have to spend too much to 'fix' any problems.
More seriously.. NADA and other online sources also give you some numbers upon which to assess the value of the boat but I have found their prices to be higher than reality, especially this year. Before we bought our boat, we talked to someone with the exact same boat and walked around it to see how they 'fit' in it. I was concerned with size, resale value, price, quality, usability and maintenance (not in that order). I decided to buy the biggest boat I could afford but to get one that was still within the warranty period offered by Searay and Mercruiser. My Gimbal bearing went after 17 months and was covered by warranty. Outdrives are an issue in salt water but I'm doing what I must to mitigate that problem.
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Thanks for the info. I am searching for 280DA, 290DA or 290 Amberjack. Only reason I'm looking at 290 is to get V-drive (as I heard it's better for salt water use). I've been looking around for awhile now (not actively) but found a 290 Amberjack that has a V-drive in FL. I wanted to know what other people would do if they found a potential boat far distance. Any other helpful insight will be greatly appreciated.
Boulder GT3
New Member
I used a surveyor to do a visual check on boats I was interested in before I travelled. They would do it for $100 and send a pretty detailed email summary of what they saw. I did it twice and it was more than worthwhile as it saved a day of my time to look at each one. In both cases, the boats were stinkers. Had they been solid I would have also known if I had a surveyor I liked.
Looking for boats is a PITA with all the false expectations that get set. Good luck.
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,155
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
At about $5/loaded mile, the Florida boat really needs to be a cream puff! Also, be careful with AJ's from Fla........condition will be critical since most of those boats have been fished, and fishing can be hard on a boat.
Georgia SeaDawg
New Member
I recently bought mine 8 hours from me. Found her on the internet, after viewing many, many boats locally and far away. After the inspection and sea trial, I settled on her. I got it USCG certified, and paid a trucking company to bring it back. I shopped that around as well. Make sure you get a reliable company, not a fly by night company. It was well worth it. It's really not brain surgery, but you need to make sure you find the right people to help you make the right decision. At least that way it's not too big of a gamble.
Sea Gull
Well-Known Member
Can you explain what you mean by this?:huh:
- Oct 12, 2006
- 1,974
- Boat Info
- "On Vacation"
2006 40 Sundancer
Raymarine E125 & HD Radar + Garmin 5208
- Engines
- QSB5.9 380 Cummins
I assumed this means that it passed the USCG or Auxiliarry safety check? There's no certification that I know of...?
mwph
Well-Known Member
- Jul 8, 2008
- 3,229
- Boat Info
- 1998 250 DA
- Engines
- 7.4L, B3
Spend more time reading post here on CSR than you do reading propaganda supplied by a broker. Once you've settled on a boat use the advanced search feature to read/learn about specifics. Not just specifics about the boats systems but stuff like surveys & closing the deal itself. As you can see in the above posts, there are some seriously knolegeable guys here. Without a doubt one of the best resources you'll ever find.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Georgia SeaDawg
New Member
USCG documentation. Fill out the proper paperwork with the USCG for formal documentation. It is not required, but many do.
Bel_Mar_Pointe
Member
Lots of great advice so far.
It is important to know the boat you're looking at from afar. Tour a similar boat in your area, research what accessories are available or were added and ask lots of questions.
I really wanted a Four Winns 318 that was located in Michigan (I'm in Seattle area) and went as far as putting money down pending a survey, but the deal fell through. The following day a brand new add popped up for a deal that looked too good to be true on a 300DA. I immediately called, drove the 300+ miles to check her out and wrote out a deal on a cocktail napkin as I sipped a Corona on the dock. :thumbsup:If I had not done the research on 29'-31' cruisers, I would probably not have made an immediate decision and lost a great deal.
I'm not in the position to trade up but looking at the deals out there lately makes me salivate.
It is important to know the boat you're looking at from afar. Tour a similar boat in your area, research what accessories are available or were added and ask lots of questions.
I really wanted a Four Winns 318 that was located in Michigan (I'm in Seattle area) and went as far as putting money down pending a survey, but the deal fell through. The following day a brand new add popped up for a deal that looked too good to be true on a 300DA. I immediately called, drove the 300+ miles to check her out and wrote out a deal on a cocktail napkin as I sipped a Corona on the dock. :thumbsup:If I had not done the research on 29'-31' cruisers, I would probably not have made an immediate decision and lost a great deal.
I'm not in the position to trade up but looking at the deals out there lately makes me salivate.