Tips to Spot a Boat Scammer

[bowler]

A folder full of paperwork. Plus, if private, a seller who clearly knows the boat inside and out is a good sign.

 

[Hot Property]

At 21 ft I'd be looking at outboard powered boats. Particularly if you are keeping it in the water.

Modern 4 stroke EFI engines are reliable, fuel efficient and easy to maintain.

An inboard engine with stern drive is equivalent to having 2 engines to maintain - avoid unless you are in the industry and are skilled enough to maintain it.

There's a reason American stern drive boats are generally cheap!

 

[Seastoke]

If you mentioned your budget it might help

Based in West Mids, and no not the Brighton boat. Tell me more? Do you have a link?

just google , if you said budget , we could all help more most would recommend diesel, or if petrol boat with out board .

 

[gjgm]

If you mentioned your budget it might help

just google , if you said budget , we could all help more most would recommend diesel, or if petrol boat with out board .

He did mention he was leaning towards a 1998 USA sportsboat, which will certainly be inboard and will not be diesel!

 

[Neil1300r]

Was looking for our first boat 2 years ago. Looked at 10+ boats with brokers. The thought being it was safer going through a broker as its a lot of money to just hand directly to an owner. Most boats looked like they had been adondoned with the brokers in the hope they would eventually sell. Found one that looked perfect through a brokers, put a deposit on it. Had it surveyed and checked by a Volvo Penta specialist. It failed the survey for a number of reasons. Brokers agreed to return the deposit, which got painful getting them to actually return the money. Numerous calls, emails, which they kept ignoring. Eventually got the deposit back.
In the meantime saw an advert but, a private seller. I wasn't keen to even view it because it was a private seller. Painful enough dealing with a broker. Viewed the boat, wife loved it and the seller was very helpful, pointed out all the work he had done, had a genuine reason to be selling (health issues) and had stacks of paperwork, invoices going back years. Went away to think about it and look at another boat at a brokers, which he couldn't even get the engine hatch to open ( why do people abandon boats with brokers in need of work?)
Wife is fed up with looking at rubbish so says she wants the boat with the private seller, to be fair it'sher moneybut now my responsibility. Looked at how to do it, downloaded from the RYA a contract for purchase. Went to see the boat again and face to face agree with the owner how to do the purchase, the price and deposit, surveys etc. He was happy to use the RYA contract but offered to go through a solicitor if required.
Got the boat surveyed, a few things were picked up which the seller fixed at his expense. Paid for the boat whilst sat on it with owner. He saw the money being transferred, both of us happy, handshakes all round.
So, buying privately can work, but needs the right seller, the right paperwork, and some trust from both sides

 

[FattyStan]

If you mentioned your budget it might help

just google , if you said budget , we could all help more most would recommend diesel, or if petrol boat with out board

He did mention he was leaning towards a 1998 USA sportsboat, which will certainly be inboard and will not be diesel!

Yes I did. Although, a diesel is definitely preferred. All the boats I’ve been finding seem to mostly be inboard which is frustrating. I’m not set on a particular brand to be fair. My budget is £15-£20k, length no bigger than 8m, thats ideally a 4 berth, but 2 would be ok. As long as the important parts are working I don’t mind refurbing anything else, such as interiors etc as I have contacts for all that. I’m still very actively searching and won’t rush into it. Thank for the help guys!

 

[FattyStan]

Was looking for our first boat 2 years ago. Looked at 10+ boats with brokers. The thought being it was safer going through a broker as its a lot of money to just hand directly to an owner. Most boats looked like they had been adondoned with the brokers in the hope they would eventually sell. Found one that looked perfect through a brokers, put a deposit on it. Had it surveyed and checked by a Volvo Penta specialist. It failed the survey for a number of reasons. Brokers agreed to return the deposit, which got painful getting them to actually return the money. Numerous calls, emails, which they kept ignoring. Eventually got the deposit back.
In the meantime saw an advert but, a private seller. I wasn't keen to even view it because it was a private seller. Painful enough dealing with a broker. Viewed the boat, wife loved it and the seller was very helpful, pointed out all the work he had done, had a genuine reason to be selling (health issues) and had stacks of paperwork, invoices going back years. Went away to think about it and look at another boat at a brokers, which he couldn't even get the engine hatch to open ( why do people abandon boats with brokers in need of work?)
Wife is fed up with looking at rubbish so says she wants the boat with the private seller, to be fair it'sher moneybut now my responsibility. Looked at how to do it, downloaded from the RYA a contract for purchase. Went to see the boat again and face to face agree with the owner how to do the purchase, the price and deposit, surveys etc. He was happy to use the RYA contract but offered to go through a solicitor if required.
Got the boat surveyed, a few things were picked up which the seller fixed at his expense. Paid for the boat whilst sat on it with owner. He saw the money being transferred, both of us happy, handshakes all round.
So, buying privately can work, but needs the right seller, the right paperwork, and some trust from both sides

I love this! This is exactly where I’m at! I have so many tabs open on my Mac! I’ve certainly been doing my research! The RYA contract is a must for me too. I’ve already checked that through, so I’ll be using that if needed! Thanks for your advice. I hope you are enjoying your boat