Considerations When Purchasing Used Boats For Sale

The most basic and probably the most important is to get a marine survey, it lets you know what condition the boat you are contemplating buying is in including any underlying faults that may not be readily apparent on the surface or a quick test run. Marine surveys can be quite costly (although if you think of it as part of the expenses of buying a boat it seems less steep), so making sure you get a reliable and trustworthy marine surveyor is another important factor in this process. A recommendation of a friend of someone who is experienced with used boat buying can be helpful here. If you do not have anyone who can recommend a surveyor there is very useful ‘find a surveyor’ page on the yacht designers and Surveyors Association website; you can search by region or by surname.

Something to be aware of, even though it is pretty unlikely, is that you may accidently be about to buy a stolen boat. You can avoid this by asking for a title document proving ownership (something like VAT status, although it is likely that owners may not have these types of documents as registration is not required unless it is sailed internationally). Something you can look out for that may be a sign that it is a stolen boat is if the hull identification or registration number has been altered in any way. If you have any suspicions then you can check this stolen boats website which lists boats and marine equipment stolen in the UK. This is one of the reasons to draw up a buyer’s contract when you have decided you want to buy a particular used boat.

You can find templates of buyer’s contracts online; both you and the seller sign them and you both keep a copy. Not only does this serve to prove ownership but it also provides proof of sale. Important questions to ask when buying the boat is when exactly do you become responsible for the boat and its upkeep (i.e. things such as mooring fees and insurance) and when the payments due are. These may seem like pretty basic points but if this kind of thing isn’t made clear or slips your mind you could run into difficulties.

I had a colleague who was looking for a used broom boat for sale. One he came across looked suspicious and he ended up contacting the police.

By: Paul Smart

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Paul Smart is a broker of used boats for sale in Norfolk and the UK.