Tips for the Boat Seller
Prepare Your Boat to Sell
You’re ready to sell your boat and you want to get the best price you can. Most of us boat owners think we have something pretty special and ought to get top dollar for it. But is your boat really "ready for market?" Ask yourself the following questions and see if you and your boat are ready for listing.
Whether you are selling a 16-footer or a 66-footer, there are two qualities in a boat that speak volumes to a buyer; how it looks and how it runs. A good looking, well maintained boat that runs or sails like a dream will catch the buyer’s eye and lubricate his or her checkbook!
Here are some things that you, as the boat seller, need to think about:
Is your boat mechanically sound—have you kept up with maintenance on the motor, transmission and propulsion systems? Whether you have a bass boat, a sailboat with auxiliary motor or a cruising powerboat, proper and regular maintenance will be obvious when the motor cover is opened for inspection. Spend some time cleaning and tidying up in your engine compartment. Change the lubricants and top up the coolant. Fix that frayed wire and wipe down the engine and transmission. Lubricate that sticky throttle cable and tie-wrap loose hoses and wiring. Replace a balky fuel sender or ammeter. A sea trial with a prospective buyer is no time to have a mechanical failure that not only looks bad but might also require a tow home!
How well the boat runs also applies to items like hatches, ports, ventilation systems, the galley stove, a fish tank pump, navigation lights, the anchor windlass, halyard winches, anchoring system and the electronics. Go through it all as if you are the buyer—and see what needs work.
If you keep records of maintenance and repairs, neaten them up and put them in a folder or binder in chronological order for the buyer’s inspection. When you tell the buyer, "we replaced the main seal in 2005," you can point to an invoice to show them what was done. This inspires confidence in the buyer and can be a very effective selling tool.
What does the rest of your boat look like? Are the cushions clean, the surfaces wiped down, the bilges cleaned and the chrome and brass shiny? What about that galley stove—not a fun job but buyers notice these kinds of details. Ports and windshields should be cleaned, electronics tested and cleaned, lights checked and the head, oh that stinky old head, thoroughly cleaned and aired out. And, if your boat is on a trailer, clean and check it as well—our bet is that not all those trailer lights work!
Make a list (we hope it’s short) of anything you think the boat needs in the way of repairs or upgrades. Buyers will appreciate the honesty—it also gives them a head-start on getting familiar with the boat once they’ve bought it. You can even condense all of this information onto a listing sheet to hand out to prospective buyers.
Finally, as part of your package, make an inventory of all the gear and miscellaneous items that are included in the sale. Everything from a dinghy, trolling motor, spare sails, tools, dishware, safety gear, spare dock lines, fishing gear, bedding, sporting items and the antique barometer over the chart table should all be listed. We bought a boat that came with a nice half-model of the hull which adds a nice touch in the wheelhouse—it was listed as part of the sale. This list can become part of a purchase and sale agreement when the time comes.
Depending on the complexity and condition of your boat, getting it ready for sale will take some time. Make yourself a "to do" list and then go through it—you’ll be glad you did. Show and tell a buyer everything you know about your boat and they will be more motivated to make an offer and less likely to quibble over the price.
Make your boat look good, run well, give your buyer a clear picture of what they will be getting and you’re well down the path to a sale!