The seller
22 questions to ask when buying a used boat
The right questions tell you more about a used boat than the listing does. Ask the first nine on the phone before you drive anywhere, and the rest at the boat, ideally while you're both looking at the thing you're asking about. Listen to how the seller answers: open, specific answers with dates and receipts are a great sign. Vague answers, irritation or "it's all in the listing" tell you something too.
On the phone: the ten-minute screen
- "How long have you owned her, and why are you selling?" A clear, believable reason (health, a move, a bigger boat already bought) is a good start.
- "Where has she been kept: in the water, on a lift, on a trailer, indoors?" Storage affects everything from the bottom to the electronics.
- "How many hours on the engines, and when was the last service? Do you have the receipts?" "Recently" isn't a date.
- "Has she ever been sunk, flooded, in a hurricane, or in an insurance claim?" Ask directly, and later get the answer in writing in your purchase agreement.
- "Is the title or documentation in your name, and are there any loans on her?" If the seller isn't the owner of record, slow down.
- "When was she last hauled and surveyed? Can I see that survey?"
- "Is there anything that doesn't work right now?" Every boat has something.
- "Can I see a cold start, and would you let me do a compression test and take an oil sample?"
- "Can we take her out for a sea trial before any deposit?"
If the seller can't or won't talk on the phone at all, read our guide to boat buying scams before going further.
At the boat: questions and what the answers mean
| Ask | A good answer sounds like | A red flag sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| "Show me where the seacocks are." | Walks you to each one and works it | Doesn't know, or "they're fine, never touch them" |
| "When were the impellers, belts and hoses last done?" | A date and a receipt | "Recently" |
| "What did the last survey find, and what did you fix?" | Shows the report and the invoices | "Nothing worth mentioning" |
| "Has she ever run aground or hit anything?" | An honest story and repair records | A long pause, then "nothing serious" |
| "Where has she leaked?" | Names the spots and what was done | "She doesn't leak" |
| "What's the hardest job you've had to do on her?" | A real story; shows they worked on her | "The yard handles it" |
| "What would you fix next if you kept her?" | An honest list | "Nothing" |
| "When were the fuel tanks last inspected or replaced?" | Records, or knows their condition | "Never had a problem" |
| "Who's your mechanic? Can I call them?" | Gives the number happily | Reluctance |
| "Any unpaid bills at a yard or marina?" | "None, and I'll put that in writing" | Changes the subject |
| "What's included in the sale?" | A clear list | "Whatever's aboard" |
| "Why is the price where it is?" | Reasons, comparable boats or recent work | "That's what I need to get" |
| "When was the standing rigging replaced?" (sailboats) | A year and a rigger's name | "It's original but it's fine" |
One weak answer is a thread to pull. Three is your answer.
Why the unpaid-bills question matters
Under US law, someone who provides "necessaries" to a vessel, such as repairs, supplies or dockage, on the owner's order gets a maritime lien on the vessel itself.1 Maritime liens don't have to be recorded to exist, and they can survive a sale, even to a buyer who didn't know about them.2 That's why you ask, get the answer in writing, and check with the marina and yard. Our guide to title, bill of sale and liens explains how to protect yourself at closing.
Questions to ask yourself
Before you ask the seller anything, answer these honestly:
- Does this boat fit how I'll really use it, and where I'll keep it?
- Have I budgeted for owning it, not just buying it? (See what it costs to own a boat.)
- Would I still want this boat if the survey finds $5,000 of work?
- Have I looked at enough boats to know what a good one looks like?
Common questions
What should I ask a private seller versus a broker?
The same questions, but a broker may not know the answers first-hand. Ask the broker to get the owner's answers in writing, and ask to speak with the owner or their mechanic.
Is it rude to ask for receipts?
No. Organized owners are usually proud of their records. A folder of receipts, a logbook and the original manuals are worth driving a long way for.
What if the seller says "it's all in the listing"?
Listings are ads, written to sell. Specific questions deserve specific answers. A seller who won't give them is telling you something. See how to read a boat listing.
Sources
HullVet guides are written by the HullVet team with AI help, from the research behind The Honest Boat Buyer's Kit, and facts are linked to their sources. They're general education, not a marine survey or legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and prices vary by state and change over time, so check what matters for your boat.