For those who are considering a boat, if you are going used, you have to know where to buy, and you must find a reliable seller. Taking the time to research, learn about local dealers as well as private sellers, and learning as much about the boats you are considering before you buy them, are some of the things that buyers have to do, if they want to find the top running boats, and those that are in the best possible condition, even when they choose to buy them used.
Consider a larger dealer –
Although you might be paying a little more, dealers are more trustworthy than private sellers (about 99 % of the time). Not only do the larger dealers have hundreds of used boats to choose from, but they are also going to have the best known brand names. Dealers will also give you a full report of the previous owners, information about the boat, how old it is, how much use it has gone through, and the conditions it was used in. Additionally, if you are comparing a few dealers, you might get them to bring down the pricing a bit, especially if you have found similar used boats at different dealers.
Look below the waterline –
When buying used, you have to look at the boat, and this means every last inch of the boat. You want to see the boat in and out of the water. Looking below the water line might show some unseen paint chips, marks, dents, or other problems you would never see, if you only saw the boat on water before you bought it. The deeper an inspection you do, the more you will learn about the boat ands it history before you buy it.
Check the engine –
Just like buying a used car, you want to test out the engine and give it a test drive. You have to make sure the boat is in exceptional running engines, especially since a boat engine is far more expensive to replace than a car’s engine. A reputable dealer is going to give you a test drive, especially if you are a serious buyer. If the engine has a dipstick you also want to pull it out and make sure the oil is clean, and if not, make sure the dealer changes it prior to the sale.
Make a deal –
If you are truly interested, and you want a boat, negotiate on the price. Even if the price says there is no negotiation, it will never hurt to ask; you might be surprised at what dealers will say, especially if they are trying to sell the boats as quickly as possible to bring new pieces in to their dealership.
