| When buying a used boat for the very first time most | | | | and affect the efficiency of the propeller. |
| people will agree that it is better to buy your first boat | | | | Boat Storage: Find out if the boat was stored inside or |
| through a dealer who has a good/sturdy reputation. If | | | | outside when nobody was using it. The best storage is |
| you have not bought a boat before it is hard to be | | | | dry but if it is outside and well-kept, then that is alright |
| trust the private sellers and their so-called deals. | | | | too. |
| No matter where you buy your used boat or who | | | | Upholstery: Look for signs of the colour fading and |
| from, there are some things that you need to be | | | | ripped seams. |
| aware of ahead of time. | | | | Boat Extras: If you ask if anything else comes with the |
| History of Boat Maintenance: Request for a history of | | | | boat, you will be often surprised what extras the boat |
| the maintenance/repairs so you can find out what | | | | owner has to give you. |
| much work has been done to it in the last few months. | | | | Boat Appraisal Guides: Look for the boat that you |
| It will also let you know that the owner has been | | | | want to buy in your local boat appraisal guide or |
| keeping up with looking after it. Get the name of who | | | | N.A.D.A. The Guide will let you know if the boat you |
| made the repairs on the used boat and ask them | | | | want to buy is at the current market value. If the value |
| what future work will need to be done on it in the | | | | is lower than in the guide, you need to ask the owner |
| future. | | | | why is he is selling the used boat for less than the |
| Boat Inspection: Have a marine mechanic do a boat | | | | book value. See of his answer makes sense. Who |
| inspection before buying the boat the used boat Sure it | | | | knows, you may have found yourself a really good |
| can be an expensive testing but it saves a lot of grief | | | | deal. |
| later on. If you decided to inspect the boat yourself | | | | When buying a used boat or used car, you really need |
| then should at least check the spark arrestors and | | | | to know what you want and how much you want to |
| plugs, the alternator, belts, hoses, strainer, blower, shift | | | | spend on it. Try to not let emotions get in the way. |
| cables and engine alignment | | | | Traveling on the Road with Boat: Last but not least, is |
| Hull Condition: Checking the condition of the hull of a | | | | your vehicle strong enough to pull the boat on a trailer? |
| used boat is important. You need to check for | | | | I have seen too many cars that try to pull an over |
| mismatched paint, gel blisters, dry rot, and holes. Walk | | | | sized boat behind them up steep hills and they just did |
| around the boat, tapping on the hull all over to make | | | | not make it to the top. Entertaining for us to see the |
| sure the wood/material is solid. | | | | mud spraying from the spinning tires...but not pleasant |
| Propeller of Used Boat Look at the propeller. Are there | | | | at all for the poor boat owner who cannot get his boat |
| cracks or nicks? Is it bent or warped? All these things | | | | over a hill. |