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Once you’ve decided on a platform that suits your needs, spend some time reading print and online re-views to help you narrow the fi eld down to one or two makes and models that you really like. Online reviews are available on boats.com and other sites, including YouTube. In print, look for reviews in magazines that cater to your style of boating.

Balancing the Budget

There’s a well-worn but accurate saying that the two happiest days in a boater’s life are when he buys a boat—and when he sells it. Boat Trader is standing by to help on both of those days, especially at this time of year when families get together and start thinking of fun things to do,  like getting a boat and going fi sh-ing, or trading up to a bigger, more comfortable ves-sel, or downsizing to a more manageable one.

If you have your feet up by the fi re and you’re scrolling through boat listings or circling classifi ed ads while the lights are twinkling and visions of largemouth bass or holiday wahoo dance in your head, here are tips on buying and selling used boats that will help max out your happy factor either way.

Whether you’re eyeing an old, beaten-up fi berglass skiff for crabbing or you’re dreaming about a fast fl ats boat or center-console, buying a used boat is an ex-cellent way to stretch your boating dollars. By pur-chasing a previously owned vessel, you can often get a nicer, better outfi tted vessel than you’d be able to aff ord compared to buying new.

Buying Tips

What’s Your Type?Among the fi rst things you’ll want to do is decide which type of boat you’re after, as well as the general size range you’ll consider. Anglers will often home in on center-console, dual-console, bay, bass, and fl ats boats, while folks who plan to do some cruising will seek out express, cabin cruiser, and cuddy cabin de-signs.

You’ll need to decide how much money you have to spend, and whether you’ll fi nance the purchase or pay with your own money. If you’re fi nancing, we’d suggest working with a bank ahead of time to get pre-approved for a loan that you know you’ll have no problem pay-ing back each month. If you’re paying with your own money, consider what you can aff ord without deplet-ing essential household accounts such as savings and retirement. Remember that your boat will come with other expenses that can be potential budget-busters. Slip fees, engine maintenance, fuel, upkeep, and unex-pected repairs can easily obliterate your monthly bud-get.

While you’re looking at a boat’s systems, study how you’ll access important parts, and take into account how much work you’re going to be willing and able to do yourself. Factor in any professional service work in the boat’s fu-ture. Melissa Logan photo.

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The Internet has made everything from booking an airline ticket or ordering a pizza to binge-watching every episode of Gilligan’s Island easy. It’s also made searching for and finding the perfect boat relatively simple. We’ve mentioned  Boat Trader,  boats.com, and YachtWorld, but other online resources can help, too, including free listings sites and Internet chat forums like The Hull Truth. You should also use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to your ad-vantage.

Think about whether you want to buy a boat that’s in good to excellent condition, or save money by getting one that needs some love, with the plan of fixing it up. The danger for used-boat newbies is agreeing to purchase an old, worn-out boat at a rock-bottom price without having an understanding about how much time and money repairs will require. That $5,000 boat purchase can quickly balloon beyond your means if you underestimate repair costs.

Once you’ve found a boat or two to check out, you’ll want to prepare for meeting with the sellers. This first look is one of the most important steps in the buy-ing process, and a time when you’ll want to keep your emotions in check. While the process should definitely be enjoyable and exciting, you don’t want to get over-enthused. This can cloud your judgment and impair your ability to look at the boat objectively.

First and foremost, how does the boat look? Is it clean, or has it been left uncovered and abused? What do the bilges look like? Is the canvas in good shape, or torn and tattered? Open up lockers and stowage areas—are they neat and well-kept or messy and in disarray? How does the bottom look? Are the engines shiny and clean or covered in dirt and grease? These initial visual clues can tell you a lot about how an owner has cared for a boat. Another issue, especially important in used boats, is your access to important parts. A hard-to-reach hose-clamp or wire terminal may be fine for the early years of a boat’s life, and then need replacement or maintenance—right after you buy the boat.

You can also ask the owner some questions that will help you ascertain how the boat was used such as, “How often did you use her last season?” or “When was the last time you had her out?” This can give you an idea if the boat has been sitting unused for an extend-ed period of time, which can lead to problems.

Also probe with questions like, “Who maintained the boat?” and “Do you have maintenance records for the engines?” and “Where was the boat stored during the winters?” The answers to these questions will give you an idea of how much or how little TLC the boat has re-ceived. And always ask, “Why are you selling the boat?”

All that said, perhaps one of the biggest mistakes used-boat buyers make is passing on a used boat pur-chase because the vessel is not absolutely perfect. Prospective buyers should expect to do some work to make their new acquisition look good, inside and out. Remember, you’ll generally enjoy a substantial sav-ings over a new boat by purchasing a used vessel that needs a little care.

If the boat is still a candidate after the first go-over, you’ll want to take it on a sea trial to assess the condi-tion of the engine(s), steering, and other mechanical systems, as well as to see how the boat performs.

Finding the Perfect Match

Put on Your Game Face

You may be able to save considerable money on a purchase price by buying a boat that needs a heavy cosmetic upgrade — but of course those savings have to be weighed against repair costs. Neil Rabinowitz photo.

You’d be surprised how often pieces of essential gear included in the sale go missing at the last minute—think electronics, safety gear, and fishing gear. Next, give the entire boat (and trailer, if included) a close in-spection to ensure that no damage has occurred since the vessel was surveyed. If everything checks out, then it’s time to wrap up any final paperwork and make sure that you’ve secured necessary documents such as title, boat and trailer registration, documentation, main-tenance records, warranty papers, etc. No matter the price paid for the boat, always ensure you’ve got a bill of sale; you’ll need it to re-title and register the boat. It’s also handy to have if any sort of dispute arises after the sale.

The only thing left to do is take your new pride and joy home and enjoy it. If you’ve done everything correctly, you’ve got a boat you love and you’ve saved a signifi-cant amount of money versus what you’d have spent on a new boat.

After the initial examination and sea trial, it might be a good idea to get a pro involved to assess the condi-tion and value of your potential purchase. The bigger the boat and the more complex its systems, the more important this is. That’s where a surveyor comes in.

A professional surveyor is a person who’s been trained over many years to carefully examine boats and spot hidden problems and defects with a vessel’s structure and systems.  They also are qualified to place an esti-mated market value on the vessel for the purposes of insurance and financing.

The cost of a survey will depend on how large the ves-sel is, as well as how complicated its systems and struc-tures are. For example, a 23-foot open center-console isn’t going to cost you as much to have surveyed as, say, a 34-foot trawler. You can plan on a basic survey costing about $500 to $700, while a more complex sur-vey can cost as much as $1,000 to $1,500 or more. For that money you’ll get a detailed written report describ-ing the boat’s systems and structures, as well as any defects or problem areas the surveyor finds. The report should also include a reasonable market value.

Survey Says…

If you’re borrowing money to buy a used boat or plan to have its value fully insured, the decision of whether or not to hire a surveyor will usually be made by your bank or insurance company—or both. The bank wants to make sure its collateral (the boat) isn’t a hunk of junk or overpriced. The insurance company not only needs a value on the boat, but also wants to make sure it isn’t going to sink or catch on fire when you take it out for the first time.

Sealing the Deal

Selling TipsSo, the time has come to put your boat on the mar-ket. Maybe you want to cash out of your investment to finance a bigger boat. Maybe you’re downsizing. Maybe your company is moving you to a place with no boating. (We have name for that place: Hell.)

No matter why you’re planning to sell your boat or where you’re planning to advertise, the general moves you need to make it sell as quickly as possible and for as much money as possible apply to all situ-ations, even if you’re selling through a broker — but especially if you’re selling it yourself. Here they are:

1. Good-quality digital photos are cru-cial, and the more, the better.

Before the exchange of money, make sure that any gear that was included in the purchase price is still on board.

Each photo is worth a lot of words. True story! An ill-focused shot of a boat sitting on a trailer with a blue tarp over it will not excite anybody.

Boats that were brand new a few years ago, like this 2014 Stamas 289 Tarpon, are now showing up on the used market at reduced prices.

A good professional surveyor will point out things that need fixing or upgrading, and will provide a full written report. The more complex the boat, the more important it is to hire a surveyor. Doug Logan photo.

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If possible, use a shot of your boat underway. (Some people use promotional photos from the boat-builder; they’re better than nothing, but they can make a buyer suspicious that you’re not showing them the real condition of your own boat — which is true, you’re not.) Take shots of the boat in and out of the water, from the bow, stern, beam, and quar-ters. Show the bottom. Take multiple shots of the deck, cockpit, transom area, and accommodations belowdecks, focusing on diff erent features. Take good shots of the engine or engines, helm station, electronics, and installed gear like bilge pumps, toi-lets, and anchors. Open lockers and take shots of the insides. You get the idea: If you were buying a boat instead of selling one, wouldn’t you want to see all the details?2. However, BEFORE you take photos, clean up your boat.

A boat with shiny gelcoat, polished  aluminum and chrome fi ttings, and a clean bilge will sell faster and for more money than one that looks dingy and dirty. If this were really obvious, there would be no photos of dingy and dirty boats for sale. Honestly, a single weekend of elbow-grease getting these things in order can make thousands of dollars of diff erence in the sale price of your boat.

3. Get your personal stuff off the boat.

Buyers want to see nothing but clean surfaces, clean cushions, and empty stowage spaces – where they can put their OWN stuff . Those clever signs that have always made you laugh, like Buoys and Gulls over the door to the head, or The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves? Take ‘em down.4. Be specifi c in your ad copy, and leave out the buzz phrasesMany sellers assume that because they love to see their fi shing gear and crocheted pillows and kids’ toys and wet bathing suits hanging around the boat, then buyers will, too.  But they’re wrong. Buy-ers want to see nothing but clean surfaces, clean cushions, and empty stowage spaces – where they can put their OWN stuff . Those clever signs that have always made you laugh, like Buoys and Gulls over the door to the head, or The Beatings Will Con-tinue Until Morale Improves? Take ‘em down.

5. Set a realistic price from the very beginning,and be ready to back up and defend your num-ber with facts. A good way to zero in on your list-ing price is by doing some research in the NADA Guides online. For step-by-step instructions on us-ing the NADA Guides for both boats and engines, Google  “Boat Prices with NADA Guides,” published by boats.com.

Following these ‘best practices’ will ultimately speed up the sale of your boat, and probably net you more money in the sale.

Many sellers assume that because they love to see their fi shing gear and crocheted pillows and kids’ toys and wet bathing suits hanging around the boat, then buyers will, too. But they’re wrong.

Psychologically it can be diffi cult to spend time working on something you’re planning to sell. But a weekend of elbow-grease restoring and shining your boat’s gelcoat can make an outsize diff erence in the selling price.

News & Notes continued...

FWC approves historic plan to conserve imperiled speciesThe Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is moving forward with a groundbreaking attempt to achieve conservation success with dozens of imperiled species throughout the state. At its meeting in St. Petersburg, the FWC ap-proved the Imperiled Species Management Plan, a capstone on fi ve years of work developing the plan, and over a decade of revising the listing process. In the plan, the details of conserving each of Florida’s 57 imperiled species are coupled with the broader approach of restoring habitats and addressing other large-scale issues essential to the long-term survival of multiple fi sh and wildlife species.

“Our charismatic species get a lot of attention, but the animals covered by this Imperiled Species Management Plan need attention too,” said Commissioner Chuck Roberts. “All of these species are very important to long-term resource manage-ment here in Florida.”After adopting a new conservation model in 2010 that requires a management plan for imperiled species, the FWC em-barked upon a process of collaboration with stakeholders and the public. Three drafts of the plan were presented for review, generating hundreds of comments on each draft, and leading to changes in the plan. Experts from outside the FWC also participated in Biological Status Reviews that evaluated which fi sh and wildlife species should be designated as imperiled.