buying used boat long distance

[seadog99]

Hi All...I'm going to be in the market for a newer but used 23-26 ft CC over this winter, and was just wondering if anybody could offer some tips on how to go about buying a used boat long distance.
I live on Long Island and have seen some pretty attractive prices that are some distance away....200-500 miles.
I know about surveyors....do they work on boats this small?...what about the engine?...do surveyors check out an outboard?
How does one effectively check the motor out?
Would really appreciate hearing some success stories, and how have you guys managed this?
Thanks in advance for any and all info
Seadog99

[gasman5.0]

Only advice I can offer is talk with the seller on the phone, Get lot's & lot's of pictures from every angle/view of the boat.. in every box, hatch, storage compartment,wiring, every side angle on the motor's/brackets ect...Be sure of the trailer condition and Check serial numbers. Once you decide it's a boat that you are seriously interested in purchasing then you could have the boat checked by a local boat shop before driving down to do a sea trial. Some other items to check are the titles of the motors /boat / trailer as some states my not title certain ones. I bought a boat 1300 miles from my home and the boat looked just like the pictures when I arrived. We did a sea trial and I left Florida towing a nice boat back to Texas....Homework and an Honest Seller which is just luck.

[Pro251wa]

I was in Ohio when I bought my boat from a private owner in Jacksonville. I had and have had a very positive experience. When I contacted the owner he seemd like a great guy who had meticulously cared for the boat. I used a local surveyor who checked out the boat and the motor. They do compression checks, check the electric and hydraulics, look for hull damage, rotting, etc etc. I had studied this model boat well and felt it was a good value to me. Once everything was in place, I flew to Jacksonville for a sea trial. I actually spent the weekend there and drove the boat quite a lot. Yes there were some spots here and there, some moild here and there, some rust here and there that don't show up on pictures. I think pictures make boats look better sometimes. But overall I could tell this boat had been very well cared for. SO I bought it and I'm very thankful I did. I've spent a little money updating the interior, and I had the helm reworked. In total I've spent maybe 3K on a 10 year old boat to make the ijnterior new and the helm modern. Now she's up-to-date and beautiful.

I took a five day vacation and drove the boat down the ICW to Marathon then up to Naples where my slip is. Fabulous trip. It gave me plenty of time on smooth water to investigate and learn. I stayed in marinas each night so I used all that time too. It was a really nice. Lol, I'm trying to find a need to do it again.

Bottom line I'd say know as much about the boat model you want so when you find one you like you have something to compare it to. A marine survey is a must unless you're qualified doing it yourself. Enjoy the process and if you feel your gut saying "No", listen to it. Ultimately, you'll make the right decision and this time next year have stories to post about your new boat.

[Highflier]

Originally Posted by gasman5.0

Only advice I can offer is talk with the seller on the phone, Get lot's & lot's of pictures from every angle/view of the boat.. in every box, hatch, storage compartment,wiring, every side angle on the motor's/brackets ect...Be sure of the trailer condition and Check serial numbers. Once you decide it's a boat that you are seriously interested in purchasing then you could have the boat checked by a local boat shop before driving down to do a sea trial. Some other items to check are the titles of the motors /boat / trailer as some states my not title certain ones. I bought a boat 1300 miles from my home and the boat looked just like the pictures when I arrived. We did a sea trial and I left Florida towing a nice boat back to Texas....Homework and an Honest Seller which is just luck.

This is almost exactly how I bought a boat 1200 miles away recently.
I think the conversations with the owner and how agreeable they are to help you get it inspected tells a lot about the person you will be dealing with.
Also, how detailed are their answers?
Being vague is a red flag for me.
Not knowing an answer is fine, if they will get back to you with the info later vs. blowing off the question.

I know in this market selling a boat can be a bit challenging, just sold one.
Someone who is on the level shouldn't hesitate to send pics you want and take it to a shop (within reason) so you can have it inspected. I personally prefer dealers of the make you are buying over surveyors ( when dealing with a trailerable boat).
They know the problem areas.
But, they may also be trying to sell a new boat to the guy you are buying from. You should do your due diligence and know this before you get to the point of inspection, hopefully avoiding conflict of interest.

In my case, the boat wasn't trailered often. Thus the tires were iffy and a few other small items.
Knowing my need to tow a long way, the seller got prices and quotes to me so I had choices and awareness of what I would need to get the trailer to 100%.

There are those whose attitude is: "here it is buy it or not, I don't care".
Or they keep refering to it as such a smoking deal in reply to specific questions

I would avoid anyone like that.

Good luck, it can be done pretty easily.

[land crab]

The best advise is feel the owner out and he how easy he is to deal with. I bought two boats one in Alabama and one in Mississippi, I live in S. Florida. No issues with either just trust your gut.

[246shamrockopen]

Surveyors are not necessarily qualified. In fact in my experience most are useless and surprisingly, arrogant as hell. If I was going to hire a surveyor I would be absolutley certain that the guy was an experienced, career surveyor, and not a retired or unemployed something or other who surveys as a hobby.

Ask for LOTS of good pictures of major components (engine/running gear/rudder posts/batteries/electrical panel) and important structural areas (keel/stem/aft corners/deck stringer). You should also be aware that many people list boats with the pictures they received from the previous owner (old, dated pictures of when the boat was in better condition).

Also, spend some time TALKING to the seller on the phone. You can learn a great deal about a person in just a few minutes, and the owner will probably give you an idea of how well the boat was maintained through his demeanor, attitude and knowledge; it is almost impossible to accurately understand another person via email.

I live in Minnesota and drove to Alabama to buy a boat. Everything went well and the boat is exactly what I expected.