Buying a Boat

size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">See if you can get the maintenance records and review how the boat has been maintained in the past. Also look for reccurring problems.

See if you can find the previous owner(s) and ask about the boat.

Check both the BUC and NADA books to determine value range for this model and year. You can get these books at any boat dealer or a bank that does boat loans.

If you are looking at an inboard/outboard make sure the tilt motor works properly.

If you are looking at an outboard look under the cover for excessive corrosion.

This should keep you busy for a while and frustrate the seller, but I've seen too many people burned by what appears to be a good deal. Like anything else, if it appears to be too good to be true it probably is.

This is just a quick list of things to consider when contemplating the purchase of a boat. It's not meant to take the place of employing the services of a qualified marine surveyor. A professional surveyor will check far more areas than we have the space to discuss here.

No matter where you buy your boat, remember that you, as skipper, are responsible for having the required safety equipment which is determined by the class of your boat. Do not assume your boat came from the showroom or factory with proper navigation lights, etc.

To Buy Or Not To Buy - That Is The Question

Many times it just doesn't make sense to own a boat when you can lease, rent or charter one. Several years ago, when I was the proud owner of a large sail boat, my marine insurance policy was up for renewal. Unfortunately, I was also the owner of a career and, as many of us tend to do, was absorbed in my work and rarely had time to use the boat. When my insurance bill came, I thought perhaps I should calculate how much this asset, that I was neglecting, was costing me. During the prior two years the boat cost approximately $6,000 every time I used it.

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