[hilary33]

Searching used boat websites like YachtWorld or BoatTrader is one of the easiest ways to view many boats in a short period of time. It’s great for getting a sense of the market, understanding boat prices and valuations, and seeing what’s out there. I have spent many, many hours on Yachtworld, but strangely every boat we have made an offer we found through other means. One of the drawbacks of YachtWorld is that it is so popular that competition is a bit fiercer and can drive the price up a bit. The same goes for BoatTrader, but often the prices on these used boat websites are more realistic than in smaller market sites like Kijiji or the classifieds.

[Tritonio]

Without a doubt, the best place to buy used boats online is in the wilds of Kijiji, Craigslist, and the classifieds. We have found many boats for sale on Craigslist that never appeared anywhere else online, but there are a few secrets to scoping out the very best deals. Many cities use Kijiji more than Craigslist and it is worth checking as well. Sometimes the word ‘boat’ won’t even be in the posting and the posting will be miscategorized, so search a variety of terms including misspellings. Make a list of words associated with the type of boat you are looking for and go through them one by one. It can be tedious, but the dividends of finding a post nobody else will are high. Check out the classifieds on boating magazine sites.Often times these are posted online (not just print), like Old Boat Magazine’s classifieds page. Don’t forget your local newspapers as many have online classifieds, which are worth checking and won’t show up in a simple google search.

[genjix]

Boatyards are the best place to buy used boats offline (because no one else thinks to look there!). There are a slew of boats in almost every boatyard that have been abandoned by their owners for one reason or another. Or the owner just got tired and gave up. These often need a little work, but can be bought for a song. more

[bitplane]

The secret to finding a great deal is often just knowing where to buy a boat (or at least where to look!). There are many ways to go about finding boats for sale, from skulking around boat yards to compulsively checking Yachtworld 30 times a day. We’ve found employing a blend of strategies has allowed us to quickly isolate a pool of suitable boats, while avoiding buyer burnout (see: frantically driving around attempting to view 6 boats in a weekend). In our view, these are the best places to buy a used boat.

[Richard]

For a bigger, more expensive boat it pays to hire an expert—for a few hundred dollars a professional marine surveyor will conduct a condition and valuation (C&V) survey and sea trial for you, and show you any issues they spot on the boat. The surveyor performs the same service as a house inspector you’d hire before making that purchase. here

[Anthonyse]

Have the seller show you any features of the boat, and then splash it an go for a long enough ride to warm up the engine and check that all systems are working—the engine starts easily and sounds smooth; the trim functions; the lights, electronics, instruments and audio system are working; and pumps for live wells and bait wells do their thing. here

[manixrock]

That said, thousands of boats change hands between owners every year, usually without an issue. Here are some tips that can help make your deal a good one.

[juliahollis89]

Ask some basic questions to pre-qualify your seller, such as: more

[Asheara]

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[Anon136]

Buying a boat is always an exciting time, and for the best experience possible, it's always a good rule of thumb to work directly with a professional boat dealer or manufacturer (both of which have a wide selection of affordable entry-level models at reasonable prices); however, we understand that some boat buyers may opt to buy a used boat from a private seller in an attempt to save some money over the price of a new boat.

[ByteCoin]

If you feel good about the seller and still like the boat, set up an in-person viewing.

[andika]

For smaller boats kept on a trailer, there’s some advantage to seeing the boat at the seller’s home or business—if the seller’s garage, for example, is clean and organized it’s likely the boat has been well maintained. If the place is a mess, it could be a red flag. more

[cbrendanjarvisi]

Transportation – Not all insurance companies cover shipping or transportation. Verifying with your insurance carrier can save future headaches in the event of a claim. You’ll also want to make sure your tow vehicle is equipped with the proper hitch, ball and electrical connection. Additionally, it’s important to have the proper paperwork for the states you’re traveling through should you get stopped by law enforcement.

[macje6645]

The most important rule when considering a purchase of this nature is to make sure that you do not send your money to a seller without seeing the boat in person and meeting the seller. It’s shocking how many people will send their money to a prospective seller without seeing the boat in person. This applies to new boats as well. If you discover an issue on a new boat after purchase it may not be something covered under warranty. [links]

[Max Stirner]

Payment – Once you have inspected the boat and documents it will be time to pay the seller. The best way to pay is via a personal check or wire transfer. Some sellers will request cash or cashier’s check which is understandable. Paying in cash will prohibit you form being able to document the payment beyond the bill of sale. Cashier’s checks are fine, although if the check gets lost it can take a financial institution up to 90 days to credit the amount back to your account. The wire transfer is optimum in that it provides a track record for the payment and the seller does not have a hold on the funds waiting to clear.

[lucky]

If there is a payoff on the boat, always make sure that you (or your lender) are paying off the boat directly and an Authorization for Payoff form is on file with the bank. This ensures that the lien release/titles are sent to you (or your lender) directly.

[tcatm]

If you are financing the boat, request to have your lender wait to transfer funds after you have seen the boat in person and met the seller. They should be able to wire the seller the same day that you are there.

[BitLex]

The two main reasons that people travel out of state are price and selection. A great price is a good reason to travel however only when the pricing isn’t offset by the cost of travel, shipping and time. Lack of a specific boat availability is another reason people will look to travel out of state. Both of which make sense when you simply can’t get what you want in your own state.