2nd Post: Used Boats

Anyway, enough about me; let’s get back to the subject of how to buy a boat. Like most, you are probably thinking about trying to get the biggest boat possible for the least amount of money. If you are thinking of doing this by purchasing a used boat, beware. Unlike a car, there is no lemon law for boats, especially when buying from a private party. Additionally, there is no “Car Fax” service available for boats where you can view the history of a pre-owned boat’s insurance claims and the like. Even if there were such a service, it would be impossible for it to inform you of how well its previous owner or owners kept the boat. Such a report would not tell you how many times the engine needed repair or was left sitting in salt water for days or weeks. It would not tell you of makeshift repairs of damaged hulls or floors or electronics. It would not tell you how many summer days the boat was left uncovered and unprotected from the sun, and how many winter nights the boat was left dry-docked, but uncovered and piled in snow. Or even worse, how many animals made your new cabin their winter home before you purchased this so-called “big boat a fantastic price.” Even if the engine sounds okay to you during your sea trial (yes, you need to demand a sea trial – an on-water test-drive before you buy), there’s a good chance with a 5 to 10 year old boat, that sometime in the first few years the engine will probably die. This will result in anywhere from $5000 to $10000 if it is just a single-engine I/O (inboard/outboard) boat.

What about the hull? Well, the first thing to consider is whether the boat was kept in freshwater or salt. The correct answer from the selling party is that it was ALWAYS used and docked in fresh water. Salt water on a boat is like an incurable cancer – it eats away at everything over time – the engine, the hull, the chrome in your cockpit, and the electronics are all affected by the sea and its spray, and even the air if a boat is used regularly in salt water. Knowing that the seller of the boat you are buying also knows this fact, can you be sure that they are telling you the truth about where the boat was used and stored? If they were not the original owners, can you be sure the previous owners were as trustworthy as these fine folks that are currently trying to sell their boat to you?