How to Buy a Used Boat From a Private Seller: Your Complete Guide
Buying a boat that is brand new can be very expensive. It’s not uncommon at all for people to spend more than $100,000 when they buy a boat fresh off a lot.
For this reason, you might want to learn how to buy a used boat from a private seller. You can buy a boat that is used for just a fraction of what a new one is going to cost you.
Prior to purchasing a used boat from a private seller, though, you should take the time to figure out how to buy a boat in this way. You can avoid getting scammed and end up with a great boat in your possession when you know how to buy a used boat from start to finish.
Continue reading to see exactly how to buy a used boat from a private seller.
Begin by Deciding Which Type of Used Boat You Want
Before you even think about trying to figure out how to buy a used boat from a private seller, you’re going to need to make a decision on what kind of used boat you want to buy. There are lots of different options that you can choose from.
You should start by deciding between a flat bottom boat and a deep V boat. You should find out about the pros and cons of each option so that you’re able to make a smart decision.
Narrowing down the options that you’ll have as far as used boats are concerned will make searching for a boat easier on you. You won’t have to worry about looking around at boats that aren’t going to meet your demands.
Look Up Used Boat Listings in Your Area
Once you have a better idea of what kind of boat you want, you should start to scour through the used boat listings in your area. You should be able to find used boats for sale in a variety of ways.
For instance, you can look up used boat listings in your local newspaper. You can also find used boat listings on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, and other online marketplaces.
Don’t be shy about turning over every single stone when you’re in pursuit of a used boat. You should be able to track down a great used boat in no time by exhausting all the different options that you’ll have.
Inspect a Used Boat That You’re Interested in Buying
After you find a used boat that piques your interest, you should call the private seller who is trying to get rid of it and schedule a time to see it. And when you show up to see the boat, you should do your best to inspect it from top to bottom to see what kind of condition it’s in.
If you’re not great with boats just yet, you might want to bring along a boating enthusiast or even someone who specializes in working on boats to lend a hand with this portion of the process. They’ll be able to inspect the boat that you want to buy and tell you whether or not it’s worth buying.
Arrange to Take a Used Boat Out for a Test Drive
In a perfect world, you want to be able to do more than just inspect a boat when you arrive to check it out. You also want to be able to take it out for a test drive if you can.
During a test drive, you’ll be able to get a much better feel for how a boat drives. It’ll give you a good sense of whether you’re going to enjoy driving around in a boat if you and when you buy it.
Test driving a boat might also uncover some potential problems with it. If there are issues with a boat that a private seller didn’t tell you about, it could serve as a huge red flag. You might want to walk away from a boat in this case.
Take a Look at the Title for a Used Boat (and Look Out for Any Liens That May Be on It!)
In addition to looking at a used boat and test driving it, you should also ask a private seller if you can see the title for it. It’ll be important for you to make sure that the title for a boat doesn’t have any liens on it.
If it does have liens, you’ll typically want to walk away from a used boat before you even think about buying it. You’ll be asking for trouble if you get involved in this type of situation.
Negotiate the Price for a Used Boat and Put Together a Purchase Agreement for It
If you love everything about a used boat and decide you want to buy it, you and the person selling it will have to negotiate a deal. You should attempt to come to an agreement with them with regards to what you’re going to pay for a boat.
As long as you can hammer out a deal, you’ll then have to put together a purchase agreement for the boat and sign it. It’ll allow you to take possession of a used boat and get it put into your name.
Know How to Buy a Used Boat From a Private Seller Before Getting Started
Buying a boat from a private seller will usually help you get a better deal on it than you would be able to get otherwise. But it can also be a stressful process if you don’t know how to buy a used boat from a private seller.
Follow the steps listed here to work your way towards buying a used boat from a private seller. It should keep you on the right track as you set out to invest in a used boat.
Do you want to get some tips on how to properly care for a used boat once you buy it? Find them by poking around on the rest of our blog.
