Buying a Good Secondhand Boat

When you have the money, buying a new boat can be great. But otherwise it can wind up a payment that you don't need to burry yourself into. It's times like this when budget can warrant buying a used boat. If this is your first buying a boat, it might even be wise budget aside, since if you don't like boating after all, you have less invested into it.

While their not always brand new looking, buying a secondhand boat can suit most boating needs for less, sometimes dramatically less. It really comes down to; does it float, move, and look like it does? Does it have hope with a little cleanup as far as appearance as well? That's what really matters.

When you are by the water, have a look as well. You often see all the smaller boats moving around, having fun, or fishing, or often with a skier in tow. What about the nice boats, some very large? Is there anything happening in them? Why do they buy a boat simply to leave it anchored and stay at the office?

Another thing to consider, when you get a new boat, within 2 years, half your boats value can depreciate. This may mean more down payment on a loan too as a bank doesn't want to risk a loss at auction after repossession. They often have a few problems too. Many owners fix these problems and when selling used, there is now a track record as well on it.

Some used boats won't really have that much use either. Some people buy a boat, and then seldom use it. It's not hard to find used boats with less than 200 hours operating time on their engines. Very few boats ever get as much time in use as road vehicles.

There will be some scratches and dings on a secondhand boat. With the lower price, it won't necessarily hurt as much when you add your own, though these can be repaired as well. Overall what you pay will vary, though if you do want to make the boat look like new, do it the best and it should last longer.

Often, used boats can come with all the necessary equipment too (which on a new boat you need to purchase separately). These include an anchor and dock lines, cushions, life jackets, extra parts, marine radio, and other items.

Really the biggest question though is how well its last owner took care of the boat. Look for signs of hard use, or not storing it properly. Or maybe shallow operation with the prop too deep for extended trips. There are many possible bad habits in boating that take their tolls. It would be wise to have someone knowledgeable look over a used boat before buying. In the end, you will glide across the water with it, so make sure it does what you want and will for some time.