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Buying a second hand boat

Why buy secondhand?

Buying a previously owned boat is a good way to get more features for your
money. As well as saving money, you can get afloat within days, without
waiting for your ideal boat to be built.

The price of a boat will reflect its condition and specification. Unless
you are adept at DIY work, you should buy the best-maintained boat you can
afford. You should also check that spares are still available for the engine
and other key components. Whatever you choose, maintenance costs will
inevitably be higher than with a new boat.

Unlike cars, boats don't come with log books or registration documents,
though some may come with proof of ownership in the form of a bill of
sale. Research carefully to ensure you are buying from the legal owner.

There are no published price guides for secondhand boats, but adverts in
the waterways press will give you a good indication of current prices. These
vary according to the age and size of the boat, the hull-builder's reputation
and quality of interior and exterior fittings.

Buying from a broker

Many secondhand boats are sold by marinas or other brokers, who will often
exhibit them together in one place. They produce detailed reports on each
boat, much like an estate agent would. They can often arrange insurance,
finance, transport and surveys for you.

A good broker will ask the vendor for a detailed craft background,
including its financial situation, but they cannot guarantee the information
supplied by the vendor is accurate. Therefore it is important you check all
details.

When a sale is agreed between the broker and the buyer, a deposit is paid
by the buyer. This is typically around 10% 'subject to survey'. If your survey
suggests that the boat is materially unsatisfactory, the deposit will normally
be refunded.

The boat should have a recent Boat Safety Certificate. If it does not have
one, make sure you know the extent of the work required.

Getting a survey

If you are serious about buying a particular boat, you should not just
accept the vendor's survey, but commission your own from a professional
surveyor. The information they provide may help you to negotiate a lower
purchase price and save you a lot more expense and heartache in the
future.

You can also request an engine survey to be carried out by a qualified
engineer. Your insurance and finance company may insist on a full structural
survey of an older boat. The Boat Safety Scheme examination alone is not
usually adequate for these purposes.

A full survey will usually cost around £400-£600, depending on the charge
to lift the boat out of the water. Unless specifically asked, the surveyor
will not automatically carry out a BSS examination as part of the survey. You
can find details of surveyors and examiners authorised to issue Boat Safety
Certificates at the Boat Safety Scheme website