Buying used question

[Mingle]

I'm looking for a used boat right now and I've had several sellers tell me that we can't take their boat out for a test drive because they haven't registered the boat and/or trailer. I can understand why they wouldn't do that as a boat is not something you need every day like a car but on the other hand, is it normal to buy a boat without even knowing if the thing floats? Seems kind of risky to me but it seems the majority of sellers have the expectation that they can sell it anyway. I've already passed up the option to buy two boats that I liked because of this.

Cheers
Mitch

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Buying used question

As far as I'm concerned, I DO NOT buy ANY vehicle that I can NOT test drive. ESPECIALLY a boat. +, I'd have it looked over by a professional. It's ALOT of $$$ to invest, just to find out too late that you have a problem !!!!!

Boats are NOT cheap to run, nor maintain.

We bought a new boat, and just today at the loading ramp, a guy told me that I was, "Too picky" with my boat. I looked at his (it was filthy, and trashed out inside, with trash, etc.), and I just simply said, "I don't want mine to look like yours !!!!!!!"

 

[External Combustion]

Re: Buying used question

No demonstration of fitness, no purchase. One would not purchase a used vehicle without a test drive. There are too many other good deals out there without taking this obvious unecessary risk.

At this time especially it is a buyers market. The owners of the used goods are trying to pass off the registration fees to the buyers. In your mind it should be "nice try, but no deal!"

 

[tommays]

Re: Buying used question

It depends on the boat and your ability to find problems or be willing to pay a qualified marine surveyor

In a perfect world you would be buying the boat based on the final GOOD performance at a Sea Trial


In lower priced boats this becomes harder to do because the cost can be REALLY high and for the most part there sitting and often NOT in running condition (This means keep looking )


For example the Sailboat i just bought AS IS was in a guys front yard with the mast down

JUST paying for a marine surveyor (500) and getting it splashed and the mast set up would have gone into about 1200 dollars (1700 dollars total) on a 7000 dollar boat ,and if it did not work out it would had had to go home again

BUT i have owned the same sailboat before and was able go over the boat and take the risk

Right now there are so many boats for sale if you keep looking you should be able to find one that can be water tested BUT your generally committed to THAT boat if it runs correctly

It did have a happy ending BUT i had to look at 17 identical used boats through broker listings and narrow it down to two boats in my area and then pick the better boat which is NOT so easy on a 27 year old boat

And i had to consider things like the boat i picked had a rusty 1981 trailer and the one i passed on had a brand new trailer ,things like this make it hard to remain objective

 

[mrainey889]

Re: Buying used question

I think you have your answer, walk away. I just ran in to this same issue with a friend last weekend. Boat was forsale, my buddy wanted to buy it, but the owner refused to register it. Said we could take it out on the lake, but he would not come with us and said any fine we get would be our problem. We offered to let the owner buy 30 day temporary tags and he would not do that either. We walked away.

Think of it this way, the tags for the trailer and boat are probably under $300. If they really want to sell the boat, this is chump change.

Would you try to sell a car to someone without having in date plates on it?

Later,
Mike

Mike

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Buying used question

Personally, I consider any boat that I can't take on a test run, with the owner present, as a project boat, not a boat I can use immediately. The smart seller will take the time to get current on registration and tags and make sure everything is working on the boat.

The last boat I sold, via a Craigs List ad, was sold to the first person to look at it. When he asked where he could see it, I told him which launch ramp to meet me at. He came. We launched the boat, so he could see how easy it was to launch that boat. I tied up to the courtesy dock, parked the truck and trailer,and we got in the boat. I hadn't started the engine that day, and told him so, so I went through the cold start procedure, and let the boat warm up a minute, while I described the extras that came with the boat, like life jackets, and ropes, and all the other junk people have to buy. The fuel tank was full, and I told him that, too.

Then, we backed away from the dock, turned around, idled out of the no wake zone, and I hit the throttle. As always, the boat jumped onto plane and we drove around a bit.

Then, we changed seats and the guy put the boat through whatever paces he wanted to.

When we got back to the dock. The guy pulled the asking price, in cash, out of his wallet. I signed the registration papers. We connected the trailer to his truck. He didn't have a 1 7/8" ball, so I gave him the drawbar and ball from my vehicle (I must have 10 in my garage, since I buy them at garage sales whenever I find them). We loaded the boat on the trailer, and I showed him how to secure it and how to install the transom saver. Then he went his way and I went mine.

All this happened within six hours of my posting the ad.

That's the service I want when I go to look at a used boat. Anything less and the price I'm willing to pay goes down.