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A warning (or two) about used boatsLike most, you are probably thinking about trying to get the biggest boat possible for the least amount of money. If you are thinking of doing this by purchasing a used boat, beware. Unlike a car, there is no lemon law for boats, especially when buying from a private party. Additionally, there is no “Car Fax” service available for boats where you can view the history of a pre-owned boat’s insurance claims and the like. Even if there were such a service, it would be impossible for it to inform you of how well its previous owner or owners kept the boat. Such a report would not tell you how many times the engine needed repair or was left sitting in salt water for days or weeks. It would not tell you of makeshift repairs of damaged hulls or floors or electronics. It would not tell you how many summer days the boat was left uncovered and unprotected from the sun, and how many winter nights the boat was left dry-docked, but uncovered and piled in snow. Or even worse, how many animals made your new cabin their winter home before you purchased this so-called big boat at a fantastic price. Even if the engine sounds okay to you during your sea trial (yes, you need to demand a sea trial – an on-water test-drive before you buy), there’s a good chance with a 5 to 10 year old boat, that sometime in the first few years the engine will probably die. This will cost thousands to replace if it is just a single-engine I/O (inboard/outboard) boat. What about the hull? When inspecting the boat, the hull may either have a nice glossy finish, or be impossible to inspect at all if it's in the water at the time. You need to have a professional surveyor inspect the hull for hidden damage so that you don't end up with a hole in your hull. |
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