What to Look for When Buying a Used Boat | And Not Buy a Lemon!
Buying a used boat is all about good detective work. And there are some things to look out for when you're thinking about a used boat purchase.
Used boat buying can be a little tricky. Yes, the brand of the boat and motor play a role in overall quality, but it's much more than that.
Buying a used boat from a reputable dealer like LAKEN let's you know that a pre-purchase inspection was done and there may be a warranty included. But buying a used boat from a private party will have another set of issues. You need to know whether it has the potential for future problems that will end up costing you a lot of money.
Sometimes boats are for sale because they've been a big problem for the owner or the owner thinks it will have big problems in the future. Unlike buying a new boat, the used boat market can be riddled with lemons.
So before you buy a used boat, make sure you follow these tips and checklist to buy a quality boat and even negotiate the purchase price. We'll explain how to spot clues about previous damage and common problems that can end up costing you money in the future, so you can avoid buying a lemon.
Tips on What to Ask a Used Boat Seller
Buying from a trusted dealer is the best way to go about buying a used boat. The dealer will have done some of the due diligence for you, like a pre-purchase inspection, which we can do at Laken through our service department.
But if you're looking to buy from a private party instead of a dealer, you will need to ask a few more questions to try to avoid buying a lemon.
Does the boat have a clean title for trailer and the boat?
Where was the boat used?
What are the engine hours?
Are you the original owner?
What is broken?
Is the motor under warranty and if so is it transferrable?
Viewing the Boat
You will need to get ready to meet the seller once the boat is in its place for inspection. This first look is an essential step in buying and a time where your emotions are heightened. Although it should definitely be enjoyable, you should not feel too empathetic or overwhelmed. It might cloud your judgments or affect your view of a given ship objectively. Take a pause before you start to see the boat and ask yourself a few questions. What are the looks of the boats? Does the building remain unprotected or abused?
How To Survey A Used Boat
The hull of a boat is the main part of the boat. If the hull has cracks or damage, then the boat may need repairs that cost a lot of money later on.
Keep in mind that none of these inspection points alone are deal breakers, unless it's really bad. But you want to get an overall idea of the past and future condition of the boat which will let you know if it's in good shape to buy.
If you do notice issues during your survey, or inspection, stop and ask the seller questions. Make sure you're satisfied with the answers. If so, continue moving through the used boat buying process.
Exterior Hull Inspection
The first place to start is the outside of the boat. If the boat is in the water, ask that it be brought out of the water for your inspection.
Checklist For Hull Inspection
Damage on the rub rail where the boat meets the dock
Cracks in the hull, either superficial or structural
Broken or missing components
Cracks or osmotic bubbles on the hull bottom
Discoloration where repairs have been done
Boat hulls aren't usually perfect because they sit in the water most of the time. But inspect the boat for visual damage and keep an eye out for little bubbles called osmotic blisters. These are a sign of corrosion and coating failure. You don't want to find these.
Look for osmotic blisters - they are a red flag!
Exterior Drive Checks
The outdrive should have very little damage to the lower unit. And look for signs that the propeller has been abused or damaged by hitting the bottom of the lake. The main concern is corrosion. It's ok if it's dirty, but if you see a lot of grade metal or pitting then you need to ask questions.
Tips to Inspecting the Exterior Drive
Push the drive form side to side checking for excess movement, this is a sign of worn out drive components
Trim the drive up and check the rubber bellows, these should be soft and supple not cracked or torn
Move the drive tip down and look for excessive oil or dripping oil from the seals
Prop Inspection
Every prop has 1 stamp from the manufacturer, which is normal. But if the prop housing has multiple serial number stamps, this means it has been repaired. For example, if there is 1 serial number on the prop housing, it's been repaired once. If there are 2 serial numbers, it has been repaired twice.
Engine Compartment Checks
It's OK if the engine compartment is dirty, but look for mechanical issues with the hoses, battery, and belts.
Check and squeeze the hoses. If they are cracked or worn, they will cost you money in replacements later on
Look for rust and signs of corrosion. If the engine has been submerged because it was in a flood or it sank, then this is a pretty big problem. You'll see lines where water has sat for an extended period of time.
Check underneath the engine for rust or signs of corrosion
Check condition of the battery looking for cracking or corrosion
Battery Inspection
Batteries have an average lifespan of 5 years. Check that the terminals are clean and are not rusted or have signs of corrosion. Make sure the battery is not cracked or leaky. Also, make sure that the battery fits easily in the battery tray. A defective battery can spark and cause fires.
Check The Engine Serial Number
Before you go to see a used boat for purchase, ask the seller for the engine serial number. Call your local dealer and ask them to run it through the manufacturer's database. It will tell you where the boat was initially sold and if any warranty claims have been made on it.
Interior Checks
The interior is where you'll be spending most of your time, so make sure it looks nice and it's showing signs of wear and tear.
Touch the vinyl, it should be soft and pliable. This is a sign that it has been cared for properly.
Gently use your hands to pull seams of the upholstery apart, looking for holes and any stuffing that is coming loose
Look in every storage department for animal nests or damage
Check For Soft Spots in floor
Walk the floor looking for soft spots. Soft spots are a where water absorbed into the wood coring of the floor. This is especially common in older boats and it is a sign of future problems.
Touch all the hardware looking for cracks and loose components. Make sure everything feels tight.
Engine
The motor needs to be in decent shape otherwise it can cause problems later that cost a lot of money, or it can leave you without a running boat.
The biggest problems you may find while surveying the motor are corrosion or signs of water immersion.
If you don't know much about boat motors, it might be best to have a mechanic come with you for the inspection. And if you do find problems, it's a good idea to return with a mechanic.
Engine Hours
Many older boats won't have a gauge to track engine hours. But if the boat does have an engine hours meter, it's a good way to get an idea of boat quality.
But engine hours are good to know but they aren't the whole picture. The type of engine hours a boat has is a better indication of quality.
If a boat is driven hard, like always used for tubing or water sports, then it's engine hours are going to be harder on the motor than a boat that is mostly used for cruising.
100 boat engine hours is equivalent to 2,500 miles of driving in a car
Also be wary of ultra-low engine hours. This means the boat has been sitting a lot. This can indicate that there were mechanical issues with it or that it wasn't being cared for and maintained.
If the used boat you want to purchase has high engine hours, it might be fine if most of the hours were used for cruising or fishing.
Lake Test or Sea Trial
Always insist on a lake test, or 'sea trial.' This is basically a test drive and is something you should never skip during the used boat buying process. It is the best way to see if a boat is in good shape or not and will help show you any problems that you can't plainly see during inspection.
Professional Boat Surveys
If you do find issues during your survey, consider having a professional boat surveyor or mechanic inspect the boat before you purchase it.
Generally a surveyor is a person trained for the examination and inspection of a boat, its structures, and systems. They are also permitted to assess a vessel on a financial and insurance basis. The cost of hiring a professional surveyor is determined by the size of the boat and the complexity of its system and structure.
Trailer Inspection
Many States require that boat trailers have a safety inspection. If the trailer comes with teh boat, make sure inspection labels are current.
Check the frames to make sure there is no damage to the brakes or suspension system, or any corroding components.
Check tires for rotting or gouged areas
Check the bearings for damage. Silver grease indicates wheel bearing damage and milky colors indicate moisture in the bearings and bearing shafts
Final Thoughts
If you want to buy a used boat, make sure you do a thorough inspection and don't be afraid to touch the boat and get a little dirty. You need to see the bottom of the hull, look in the engine compartment, walk the deck, touch all the hardware, see the battery, and take the boat out for a test drive to see if it's a good boat purchase.
Don't be afraid to walk away, but also don't be scared off by things that aren't actually big deals.
A used boat will never be in the great shape a brand new boat is in, but with a good survey you can decide if it's in good shape or not. If you do find anything wrong while inspecting the boat, don't be afraid to hire a professional surveyor to inspect before you buy a used boat.
The purchase price can usually be negotiated if you find problems that will cost you money in the future.
Check our used boat inventory here and know it's been given a thorough pre-purchase inspection.