See full version: Boat Prices and Boat Values
When determining a boat price you need to account for your individual boat’s unique perks and flaws, including those that go beyond maintenance and wear and tear. How reliable has the engine been through the years? Has the boat been garage-kept, or left out in the sun? Does it have bottom paint? here
Boats that live in freshwater almost always carry a higher value than those which have been used in saltwater. [links]
Unless your boat is new or just a few years old, you’ll likely need to go with an agreed value or actual cash value policy because insurance companies will rarely offer replacement value policies on older boats. And in all of these cases, you personally won’t play much of a role in determining the valuation of your boat. More likely, the insurer will let you know what value they’re willing to place on the boat and you may or may not have the option to push for a higher valuation, possibly depending on what you’re willing to pay in premiums. Once again, however, it seems that book value plays a significant role.
How and where you can find an accurate value for your boat, to determine boat prices and insurance values.
If you’re trying to price a boat in order to sell it as opposed to insure it or just figure out its worth, make sure you check out How to Price My Boat For Sale. Boat values don’t track nearly as close from one hull to the next as cars do, from one to another. This is generally because there can be such a huge range in overall condition, upgrades, and maintenance, depending on how an owner cared for and improved his or her boat. So taking a number of small factors into account is necessary. more
To set a realistic price, you must educate yourself about the market for your particular boat. Start by checking the boats for sale on boats.com, as well as other sites where prices are shown. Unless it is one-off, custom, or very specialized, there will be other boats like yours for sale. more
Your starting price can make or break the sale of your boat.
While auto pricing is closely tied to "blue book" value, boat values are not nearly so cut and dried. A pair of center consoles that came out of the same mold on the same day might have very different values three years later, depending on upgrades, maintenance schedules, and the factors mentioned above. Prices also fluctuate with season, and how anxious the seller is to move the boat. As a benchmark, it's a good idea to check your boat values with the Boat Trader Price Checker tool. more
How do you define "like yours?" If several of the same model and year are available, it will be easy to compare—the only variables left are maintenance and options. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Things like salt water or freshwater use or extra equipment will affect your value. For a more unusual boat, look at the asking prices of boats the same type, size, and age. more
As you check on pricing, it’s important to remember that boat value is subject to a lot of variables. Along with power choices and features, geography will play a role because dealerships have different levels of expenses depending on where they’re located. And when it comes to used boats there’s obviously a huge range of factors to take into account, ranging from the boat’s condition, to how much use it’s had, to where and how it’s been used, to what (if any) warranties it may still carry. [links]
These guides can only show history and don’t include current pricing, so they’re most helpful for determining the value of used boats. However, even when you’re shopping new they can help put the value of a boat into context—pay particularly close attention to the outlined NADA boat values. [links]
We have a list of links for NMMA Certified Boat Brands & Manufacturers to help lead your search. here
Before you even begin to negotiate a final deal, make sure you’ve already gone through all of the above research and come to the table armed with solid background knowledge. Boat dealers know that today’s buyers are savvy, can research boat prices, and have probably already talked with their competition. They know just what their overhead costs are and what level of profit they need to make to stay in business. Ask an honest dealer what the bottom-line price is, and you’re likely to get a straight answer. [links]
A good place to start is making sure you’re buying from a Marine Industry Certified Dealership. more
Some boat manufacturers offer a “builder tool” on their website, and many include pricing. Some will offer to email you a quote after you complete a “virtual build.” These often allow you to price different features and options and can be very helpful in determining the value of the package you’re looking at. here