Buying a Boat

Used boats don't come without problems either and to find that perfect one can be a time consuming headache. If you are spending a considerable amount of money on a boat you might want to consider having it surveyed by a qualified marine surveyor. I stress qualified because at this time anyone can call themselves a marine surveyor. Ask at the local marina for a recommendation and make sure that they are a member of either, or both, of the marine surveyor associations. You can call the National Association of Marine Surveyors - NAMS or the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors - SAMS and they can recommend a surveyor in your area.

Become A Boat Detective

Whether you employ a surveyor or not, you should know some of the things to look for if you have decided to buy a used boat. A keen eye, a good ear and a checklist will lead you to potential problems. Some of the things to look for are:

1. Mismatched paint. This could indicate that the boat has been in an accident and had repairs made. Although this in and of itself may not disqualify the boat, if you were not told of the repairs what else might you not have been told about?
2. Does the keel run true in a straight line fore and aft? Is is straight horizontally?
3. Do you see any apparent water lines inside the boat or on the engine. Look for a line that separates a rust free area on the engine and an lower area with a lot of rust. This could indicate that the boat took on water.
4. On an inboard, does the shaft turn true or does it wobble? What about the prop - any nicks or cracks?
5. Take hold of the prop and try to move it up and down and sideways. You should not be able to move it much. If you can, you have a
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