Boat buying guides
Buy the right used boat, at the right price
Straight answers for used-boat buyers: what to check, what it costs, which questions to ask and when to walk away. Every guide links to its sources.
Buying a used boat
How to buy a used boat: 12 steps from first search to closingHow to buy a used boat without regret: set a real budget, screen listings, inspect, sea trial, survey, negotiate and close with a clean title. Step by step.
Used boat inspection checklist: what to look for before you buyA one-hour used boat inspection: hull, deck, helm, cabin, bilge, electrical, engine room and cold start, with rough repair costs and walk-away signs.
How much does a boat survey cost, and what do you get?A pre-purchase boat survey usually runs about $20 to $25 per foot, plus haul-out and extras. What you get, how to hire a surveyor, how to read the report.
Boat sea trial checklist: what to test, and the numbers to write downHow to sea trial a used boat: dock checks, rpm and temperatures at each step, the wide-open throttle test, the hot engine room check and walk-away signs.
22 questions to ask when buying a used boatThe questions to ask a boat seller on the phone and at the dock, what a good answer sounds like, and the answers that should make you walk away.
Boat buying scams: how to spot a fake listing, a stolen boat or a flood boatFake listings and escrow scams, wire fraud, stolen boats and engines, flood boats and fake documentation letters: the warning signs and a safe way to buy.
What it really costs to own a boat: every line of the yearly billThe true cost of owning a boat: slip, insurance, haul-outs, service, fuel, repairs and depreciation, with four sample budgets and why the 10% rule misleads.
How much is a used boat worth? How to work out a fair priceAsking price, market price and your price: find sold comparables, use value guides and the survey value, then subtract what the boat needs to set your offer.
How to negotiate a boat price without getting playedHow to negotiate on a used boat: your walk-away number, answers to common sales lines, the written offer, the counter and renegotiating after the survey.
Buying a boat from a private seller: title, bill of sale and liensBuying a used boat in the US: the written offer, escrow, checking a state title or Coast Guard documentation, maritime liens, the bill of sale and closing.
Financing a used boat: loan rates, terms and the insurance you needBoat loan rates in 2026, what longer terms really cost, lender rules for older boats, agreed value vs actual cash value insurance, and marina contracts.
What type of boat should I buy? Match the boat to the life you'll livePontoon, center console, cruiser, trawler or sailboat? Nine questions to answer first, a mission-to-boat table and the easiest first boats for new buyers.
Fiberglass boat problems: soft decks, wet core, blisters and rotten transomsHow to find the costly problems in a used fiberglass boat: wet deck core, rotten stringers and transoms, blisters, teak decks, fuel tanks and leaky windows.
Used sailboat buying checklist: rigging, chainplates, keel, sails and engineWhat to check on a used sailboat: rigging age, chainplates and mast step, the keel joint and grounding damage, sails, rudder, the diesel and a sail trial.
How to read a boat listing: red flags, seller phrases and missing photosRead a used boat listing like a mechanic: what a good one includes, what 'runs great' and 'needs TLC' really mean, photo red flags and a 5-minute score.
Where to buy a used boat: listing sites, brokers, dealers and private sellersWhere to find good used boats, who you're dealing with (brokers work for the seller), the best time of year to buy, buying far away, and repo auctions.
Nine first-time boat buyer mistakes, and how to avoid every oneWhy so many first boats are sold within five years, and the mistakes behind them: buying for the dream, budgeting for the price, skipping the survey and more.
Used pontoon boat buying guide: tubes, deck, engine and what to checkWhat to check on a used pontoon or tritoon: tube damage and corrosion, soft plywood decks, furniture, the outboard and bracket, the trailer, two vs three tubes.
Model guides
Used Sea Ray Sundancer buying guide: what to check on a 240 to 370What to check on a used Sea Ray Sundancer 240 to 370: sterndrives, exhaust risers, cooling, twin engines on bigger models, soft decks, leaks, sea trial.
Used Bayliner Ciera buying guide: is a budget cruiser a good buy?What to check on a used Bayliner Ciera: the sterndrive, wet transoms and stringers, soft decks, cabin leaks and the trailer, and when a cheap one is worth it.
Used Boston Whaler Montauk buying guide: 150, 170 and 190Why the Boston Whaler Montauk holds its value, and what to check on a used one: the outboard, water-logged foam, the transom, hull repairs and the trailer.
Used Grady-White buying guide: what to check on a 20 to 26 footerWhat to check on a used Grady-White 20 to 26 footer: outboards, transom and stringers on older boats, the under-deck fuel tank, cabin leaks and electronics.
Catalina 30 buyer's guide: the known problems and what to checkBuying a used Catalina 30? Check the compression post and mast step, deck core, the Atomic 4 or diesel and exhaust elbow, old spreaders and the keel joint.
Used Catalina 22, 25 and 27 buying guide: a cheap first sailboat, checkedWhat to check on a used Catalina 22, 25 or 27: swing keel cable and pivot pin, rigging, deck core, the outboard or inboard, sails and the trailer.
Used Hunter 33 and 36 buying guide: the B&R rig and what to checkWhat to check on a used Hunter 33 or 36: the backstay-less B&R rig, mainsail chafe, deck core, the diesel, saildrive seals and interior leaks.
Used Grand Banks buying guide: what to check on a 32, 36 or 42 ClassicBuying a used Grand Banks 32, 36 or 42? Wood or fiberglass, teak decks, fuel tanks, Lehman and later diesels, window leaks, wiring and engine access.
Used Mainship trawler buying guide: the classic 34 and the 390 and 400What to check on a used Mainship 34 (1978-88) or Mainship 390 and 400 Trawler: the diesel, holding tank, old wiring, soft spots, leaks and systems.
Buying a classic Taiwan trawler: Albin 36, DeFever, Marine Trader and moreClassic Taiwan trawlers are the cheapest trawlers you can buy. Check fuel tanks, teak decks, laminate, wiring, build year and twin engines on DeFevers.
Used Nordic Tug buying guide: what to check on a 26, 32, 34 or 37What to check on a used Nordic Tug 26, 32, 34 or 37: the engine and records, shaft, cutless bearing and keel, window and door leaks, trim and thrusters.
Used Ranger Tug buying guide: what to check on an R-25 to R-31What to check on a used Ranger Tug R-25 to R-31: inboard diesel or outboards, service records, the trailer and tow weight, electronics and hull repairs.
Buying a used catamaran: Lagoon, Leopard and the ex-charter questionBuying a used Lagoon or Leopard catamaran? Check charter logs, both engines and drives, rudders, bridge-deck structure, hatches and every system.
Engine guides
How many hours is a lot for a boat engine?What boat engine hours mean for outboards, sterndrives and diesels, why low hours can be worse than high, and how to check an engine before you buy.
Buying a boat with a sterndrive: MerCruiser, Volvo Penta and OMC checksWhat to check on a used sterndrive boat: bellows, gimbal bearing and U-joints, gear oil, manifolds and risers, cooling, compression and orphan OMC drives.
Buying a used outboard motor: what to check on four-strokes and two-strokesHow to check a used outboard: service records, compression, gearcase oil, cold start, trim and tilt, salt corrosion, serial numbers and two-stroke issues.
Ford Lehman 120 and 135: what to check on a classic trawler dieselTrawler with a Ford Lehman 120 or 135? What to check: cooling system and exhaust manifold, oil leaks, cold start and smoke, oil analysis and rebuild history.
Cummins 6BT and 6BTA marine diesels: what to check before you buyBuying a boat with a Cummins 6BT or 6BTA? Start with the aftercooler records, then heat exchangers, raw-water pump, smoke, oil analysis and the rating.
Caterpillar 3208 marine diesel: what to check before you buy the boatBuying a boat with Cat 3208 diesels? Why the rating matters most, and what to check: cooling and aftercoolers, smoke, blow-by, oil analysis and hours.
Detroit Diesel two-strokes in boats: what to check on a 4-53, 6-71 or 8V-92Older Hatteras, Bertram or motor yacht with Detroit two-strokes? Why you need a Detroit-savvy surveyor, and what to check: leaks, smoke, cooling, rebuilds.
Yanmar marine diesels: what to check on a used sailboat or powerboat engineBoat with a Yanmar diesel? Check the rating against its use, service records, exhaust elbow and raw-water cooling, saildrive diaphragm, mounts and load.
Buying a sailboat with an Atomic 4: fuel safety, cooling and what to checkBuying an older sailboat with an Atomic 4 gas engine? Check fuel safety and the blower, ignition protection, ethanol, cooling corrosion and the carburetor.