Introduction
Whatever the type of boat you are buying, be it a
dinghy or a super yacht, the same general rules apply.
Follow these principles and you can buy your boat with
confidence.
New or used?
After you've decided what type of boat to buy, the
next step is to decide whether you want to buy a new or
used boat.
Buying a new boat from a dealer will avoid many of
the difficulties that are associated with buying a used
boat. For example, new boats will come with a warranty
and you'll have more confidence that the boat you are
buying has not previously been stolen. The down-sides to
buying a new boat, however are that the initial cost is
much higher, the value will depreciate rapidly and new
boats are generally less well equipped than used boats.
Buying a new boat
If you choose to opt for a new boat, you can often save
money by buying around the end of July, just before new
models come out. At this time, many dealers will lower
their prices to clear out old stock making way for the
new. Of course your boat may not be the newest model for
very long if you go down this route.
If you're undecided on the make and model of boat,
then visiting boat shows is an excellent way to compare
several types. A boat show may also allow you to haggle
the best deal from a selection of rival dealers.
Buying a used boat
If you'd prefer to save some money and buy a boat whose
value will not drop so sharply, then buying a used boat
is the sensible choice to make. The rest of this article
is devoted to tips on buying used boats.
If you are buying a used boat from a private seller,
it will generally come with no warranty, so you need to
check it out carefully to avoid making an expensive
mistake. Many brokers and dealers sell used boats as
well as new, and may offer a limited warranty. Whilst
this may provide some peace of mind, the broker/dealer
needs to make a commission on the sale and this will be
reflected in a higher price than if the boat was being
sold privately.
Before you even inspect the boat there are a few
checks that you can make to ensure you don't waste your
valuable time and effort:
Check out the builder of your chosen boat
Is it a highly regarded brand? Are they still
trading? If not, it may prove difficult to obtain
replacement parts when needed.
Why is the boat being sold?
This question can give you some clues as to how well
the boat has been looked after before you even see
it. If the boat is a repossession, it may
indicate that the boat has not been looked after; if
the owner didn't keep up payments to the financer,
then he may have shown the same lack of
care for the maintenance of the boat (of course this
is a generalization).
If the boat is being sold because the owner is
moving up to a larger boat, then this might indicate
that the owner is a real boating enthusiast, and
thus may have taken greater care in the upkeep of
the boat.
If the reason for selling is that there's a problem
with the boat, then be aware that if you buy that
boat, you will be the new owner of that problem!
Find out if the boat has a full maintenance log
This should list all services, repair, and oil
changes. If it's missing, it can be hard to tell how
well the boat has been looked after.
Does it have all the equipment you need?
For example, navigation, lights, winches etc. If not
present, you will have to buy that equipment
separately, so build that into your budget.
What was the main use of the boat?
The purpose that the boat has been used for may have
an effect on its condition. For example, boats that
are used mainly for fishing tend to run up a large
number of engine hours.
Inspecting the Boat
The next step is to arrange a viewing. This is a
vital part of the buying process; it enables you to see
what you are getting before you part with any money.
It is recommended that you use a surveyor to carry
out a detailed inspection of the boat. You may want to
be present at the survey so that you can ask questions.
At the moment, anyone can call themselves a marine
surveyor, so it is important to make sure that yours is
accredited by the relevant authority (see
the list at the end of this article).
Using a surveyor will give you peace of mind, and
your finance company and insurance company may insist
upon it. You should never rely on an old survey - new
problems may have occurred since it was carried out.
If you are experienced and confident enough, you may
be able to perform an inspection yourself. Here are some
things to look out for:
- Has the boat been looked after well? Start by
looking at obvious features such as the gel coat,
woodwork and upholstery. If these haven't been
maintained then there's a good chance the rest of
the boat has not had much care either.
- Check all wooden decking and interior woodwork
for any soft spots.
- Are any parts of the exterior paintwork poorly
matching? This may indicate a previous accident
which, in itself, may not be enough to dismiss the
boat, but if the owner has not already mentioned it
to you, then what else have they not told you?
- Check that all the control cables (for steering,
throttle etc.) are in good working order. The
steering and transmission should move freely.
- Look for water lines inside the boat or on the
engine. These would indicate that the boat has
flooded in the past.
- Open and close all the hatches and sea cocks to
ensure they're in good working order. If there are
any water marks inside the hatches, it would
indicate that they are no longer water-tight.
- You should test out all the systems such as,
bilge pump, winches, freshwater system, lights,
heater and air conditioning, generator, stove etc.
- Check that all hardware is attached firmly, and
that electrical items and connections are free from
rust.
- Examine the hull all over, taking note of its
general condition and looking for any dents, cracks
or chips in the gel coat if applicable. Tapping a
fibreglass hull lightly with a rubber hammer,
listening for voids, can help reveal any blistering
or delamination. Any fittings that go through the
hull should be checked to make sure they are tight
and won't leak.
- Find the hull registration number, and make sure
it is present, doesn't look like it has been
tampered with, and matches the number on the boat's
registration and title documents. Missing or altered
hull registration numbers indicate that the boat may
be stolen. It is crucial that you ensure that you
are not buying a stolen boat; if you do, you risk
losing the boat and your money.
Check out the stolen boats
lists below.
- It may not be practical to view the boat out of
the water, but if possible, it'll allow you to
continue your hull checks below the waterline. You
can also check that the keel runs in a straight line
from fore to aft, and that the propeller, shaft and
rudder are straight; do they show any signs of a
collision accident? Look for signs of cavitation,
this manifests itself as an erosion of the surface
of the propeller blades - an indication of poor
performance. Make sure that the propeller and shaft
do not wobble.
- On a sailing boat, check that all the sails and
rigging are in good order.
- If possible, it may also be worth contacting the
boat's previous owner, to get any further
information; as they no longer have any interest in
whether the boat is sold or not, they may be more
likely to give you an impartial viewpoint than the
current seller.
Engine checks
If you don't know a lot about engines it would be best
to get a mechanic to look over the engine for you.
- You should check for the presence of oil in the
bilges - a sign of an oil leak.
- Check for any oil leaks around gaskets and
hoses.
- Inspect the level and condition of the oil. A
milky appearance to the oil is a sign that water may
be leaking into the engine. A burned smell or any
grit in the oil, are additional indications of
mechanical problems, whilst a chalky residue on the
engine or drive would signal that the engine has
been running hot.
- Pull out one of the spark plugs and examine it
for age. If it's old, perhaps the engine hasn't been
serviced as often as it should.
- Examine all the hoses and belts. Are they
cracked or degraded? Smell for fuel leaks from
hoses, and check that the fuel tanks are sound.
- Are the engine mounts sturdy?
- Do the sacrificial anodes (if applicable) need
replacing?
- Compression check the engine.
Sea trial
If everything is up to your standards, it's time to take
the boat for a test drive.
Before you start the engine, you should check to make
sure if the engine is already warm; if the engine has
trouble starting or smokes a lot when cold, the seller
may have warmed-up the engine prior to your arrival to
disguise such problems.
You should check the bilges, both at the start and end
of the trial; you're looking for any evidence of an oil
leak.
See how the boat performs when moving around. Is the
steering responsive? Experiment with hitting waves from
different angles, looking for excessive pitch or roll.
Try out these factors whilst above and below deck.
Test that all the instruments are working correctly, and
run the engine for long enough to see if it'll overheat.
If you're trialling a sailing boat, put the sails up,
and see how she manoeuvres under wind power alone. Try
out different points of sale. Examine the mast and
rigging under load.
If the boat does not pass on any of your tests, you
do not necessarily need to rule it out, as long as you
are willing to put some time (and money) into putting
things right. Any imperfections can be used as
bargaining tools to try to negotiate a lower price.
Get it in writing
If you decide to purchase the boat, it is best to get
everything put down in writing in a Sales Agreement.
This should state the terms and amount of payment, and
detail any pre-sale repairs that have been agreed on -
making clear who is responsible for carrying them out
and paying for them. It should also list which
accessories are included and the delivery and payment
dates.
Beware of fraud
There are a few things to watch out for to make sure
you are not the victim of fraud when you buy a boat:
- Does the price seem too good to be true? If so,
it probably is. The boat may either be stolen or the
seller may take your deposit and never be
contactable again.
- Make sure that you get the real address of the
seller; you should be suspicious of anyone who only
uses a PO Box.
- Verify all the contact details of the seller. If
there is an email address, make sure you can get a
reply from them. Get a telephone number for them and
make sure it works.
- If the boat is in a different country to the
seller, be extra cautious, and take even more care
if either are outside of your own country.
- If anything just doesn't seem right, don't
dismiss those feelings until you've checked them
out. Often your instincts are correct.
- Check the Yacht Registry concerned
Further information
Stolen
boats lists
Check internet lists of stolen boats to make sure that
the boat you are buying is not listed on any of them.
Here is a sample/selection of such web sites:
Boats-yachts.net is not responsible for the content of
external web sites.
Boat price guides
It is important to check that you are not paying "over
the odds" when buying your boat. Here are some useful
sources of boat price information:
Or simply search the internet
Some
accreditation authorities for marine surveyors
Remember, if you are enlisting the services of a
surveyor, make sure that they are accredited by a well
known authority. Some examples are listed below:
Boats-Yacht.net provides this guide
for informational purposes only and cannot accept
responsibility for losses arising from its use. We
strongly recommend the use of a properly accredited
marine surveyor.