Buying a used boat has many benefits, but isn’t completely risk-free. If you’re looking to buy a used boat, it’s important you know exactly what your moneys getting you or you could run into some dodgy deals. You should make sure that you get all information before handing over your cash, and ensure that the boat has been well looked after and is in good condition. Knowing which questions to ask can be very helpful to find out exactly what you’re getting.
Ownership
One of the first things you’ll want to ask is how many owners has the boat passed through, and how long the current owner has had it for. This will give you an idea of how much use the boat has had and how long it’s been in circulation. If the current owner has any information about past ownership, such as what the boat was previously used for, then make sure they pass this on to you.
Hours on the Clock
Boats don’t have a miles clock as other vehicles do, their usage is measured in hours. Knowing how many hours the boat has done will give you a good idea of how much it has already been used. If you’re unsure how to measure usage in hours, compare it to other boats for sale you come across, or look up convertors to roughly tell you how many miles the hours will translate to. On average, a marine gasoline engine will run for about 1,500 hours before the engine burns out and needs to be replaced.
Services and Repairs
You should also enquire about how many times the boat has been serviced, when its last service was and if it’s had any repairs. Ask for maintenance reports – this will show you in detail how much work has been done to the boat. Don’t always assume that repairs mean the boat has been misused; in fact, repairs show that it has been cared for and the previous owner has invested money into keeping the boat working and in good shape.
Problems
This is similar to knowing about services and repairs, but you should always clarify that there are no on-going problems that haven’t been dealt with. If the boat has been recently services, it’s less likely that there will be, but if it hasn’t you should be a bit more wary. Always ask to take the boat for a test before buying to make sure it’s all in working order – if the owner is hesitant about this, don’t buy the boat.
Warranty
Always remember to ask about the boats warranty. If it has one, ask if it’s transferrable. If it is, you’ll want to get all the documents and information about renewal. A warranty is a great add on with a used boat, giving you re-assurance that any problems can be fixed without huge pay-outs.
Sale Reasons
Finding out why the boat is being sold will be a good indicator as to whether it’s going to be suitable for you. For example, if the previous older finds it too small or not fast enough for their purposes, you should consider whether these will be problems for you too. A lot of the time, previous owners may give vague answers for selling so as not to put prospective buyers off, so you may have to be a little persistent to get the full reason.
There a ton of benefits to buying a used boat, but you do have to make sure you’re getting something reliable and worth your money. Asking these questions is a great way to judge the condition of the boat, although you should also make sure to do a first-hand inspection and test the boat for yourself before buying. Taking the time to be thorough is definitely worth it – no one wants to buy a broken boat!