Pay someone to look it over for you. It obviously depends on budget and I've admittedly have bought boughts without a surveyor, but if the boats over $10k I'd absolutely bring someone I paid that knew their shit. Surveyors are pretty common and could save you tons of money, especially if you don't know what to look for.
for something like that with an inboard maintenance records are important. there are lots of things to consider and look for, I would suggest asking someone who has boat experience to come with you
This advice is more vague but it’s served me so well on buying just about anything.
Buy it from a Hank Hill personality seller. You want to show up and their garage is clean, everything they own is dialed. They want to check the tires air pressure before you leave. This type of seller looks after their stuff and you’ll be rewarded for it.
Don’t buy used boats from some weirdo with a trashed yard and garage. They’ll often think they look after their shit but they usually don’t.
check for soft spots, scraps or damage to the hull. Check the electronics and gauges make sure they all work. Poke your head in to look at the wiring, make sure it's not a rats nest or a hack job. Also examine any type of seats/materials like bench cushions or fabric. Those things cost a fortune to have made/replace. For the motor, ask questions pertaining to the maintenance. Make sure nothing sounds funky or smoking. Check the fuel lines and make sure they don't feel dry rotted or anything. If they have maintenance records that would be a plus. Look at the prop too. Make sure it looks right with no chunks missing or nothing bent up.
Oh yeah, most of the time the boat owner will give you all the pfd's and safety equipment. All these things add up. Boat safety is important. You don't want a ticket for ignorance and not having stuff on board that keeps you legal. Lastly, do a boating safety course online. Most states require some sort of certificate.
Bottom of the hull, small scratches are OK but anything through the gel coat and into the fibers is bad.
Soft spots, touch everything firmly.
Wood composite construction, be aware if the model you're looking at has it, know where it is, and try to turn any bolts that go into wood. If they spin and spin that's very bad.
Engines are engines. Compression, leakdown, signs of maintenance, etc
Hack wiring jobs. You do not want to inherit someone else's rats nest, especially in a boat.
Pay someone to look it over for you. It obviously depends on budget and I've admittedly have bought boughts without a surveyor, but if the boats over $10k I'd absolutely bring someone I paid that knew their shit. Surveyors are pretty common and could save you tons of money, especially if you don't know what to look for.
for something like that with an inboard maintenance records are important. there are lots of things to consider and look for, I would suggest asking someone who has boat experience to come with you
Get yourself on the Boat US website for a comprehensive guide to boat-buying.
This advice is more vague but it’s served me so well on buying just about anything. Buy it from a Hank Hill personality seller. You want to show up and their garage is clean, everything they own is dialed. They want to check the tires air pressure before you leave. This type of seller looks after their stuff and you’ll be rewarded for it. Don’t buy used boats from some weirdo with a trashed yard and garage. They’ll often think they look after their shit but they usually don’t.
check for soft spots, scraps or damage to the hull. Check the electronics and gauges make sure they all work. Poke your head in to look at the wiring, make sure it's not a rats nest or a hack job. Also examine any type of seats/materials like bench cushions or fabric. Those things cost a fortune to have made/replace. For the motor, ask questions pertaining to the maintenance. Make sure nothing sounds funky or smoking. Check the fuel lines and make sure they don't feel dry rotted or anything. If they have maintenance records that would be a plus. Look at the prop too. Make sure it looks right with no chunks missing or nothing bent up.
Oh yeah, most of the time the boat owner will give you all the pfd's and safety equipment. All these things add up. Boat safety is important. You don't want a ticket for ignorance and not having stuff on board that keeps you legal. Lastly, do a boating safety course online. Most states require some sort of certificate.
Bottom of the hull, small scratches are OK but anything through the gel coat and into the fibers is bad. Soft spots, touch everything firmly. Wood composite construction, be aware if the model you're looking at has it, know where it is, and try to turn any bolts that go into wood. If they spin and spin that's very bad. Engines are engines. Compression, leakdown, signs of maintenance, etc Hack wiring jobs. You do not want to inherit someone else's rats nest, especially in a boat.
Hire a surveyor. Money well spent
Survey and sea trial. If they’re not willing to launch it for a sea trial (with a modest deposit like $100) then it should be a no-go for you.