First time used boat buyer - Please help!?

Question

I am looking to buy my 1st boat. Used them a lot and had one when i was younger, but never owned. My problem is that i know nothing about the mechanics of boats.

I'd be using it primarily off the coast of maine to fish, not going too far off coast, would like to comfortably seat 6. I saw a few that i liked've on craigslist but i'm scared of anything that isn't an outboard. just seems like more mechanics and more things that could go wrong, especially in my price range. I'm looking to spend no more than 3000. since it's my 1st boat, i'd like to buy something inexpensive and see how it goes for the first year.

I've heard mention of renting, but there is no place to rent up there and I wouldn't want to do that anyways.

What should i be looking for?

Is my price range realistic?

Any good websites about mechanics/repair?

dealer or private seller?

what questions should i be asking?

Is an inboard more work/maintenance?

Can i get something decent for <$3000 from a dealer?

Answer 1

buy an outboard, cheeper to fix.  make sure to have the boat checked by a pro. you would be surprised what can go wrong with a boat

Answer 2

Stay away from I/O&#039;s in salt water. I wouldn&#039;t go offshore in a $3000 boat, did that in the Pamlico sound and i&#039;m glad i can swim.  Ask for a compression test on the engine. Don&#039;t buy it until you drive the boat in the water. Make sure the bilge is dry, and alway&#039;s choose sound mechanical boat over one that looks good, unless you can find both.

Answer 3

I don&#039;t think you will find a good reliable offshore capable boat for $3000. Used jetskis cost more then that. But I would try looking for a used center console, maybe an older boston whaler or maritime skiff. Maybe you will get lucky.

Answer 4

Well, I personally like inboard/outboard or even just inboard engine setups.  I have an i/o Bayliner ( actually 2 of them) that are easy to maintain and both of them run well.  If you plan on using it in salt water, then look for boats with fresh water cooling.  The engine has a heat exchanger which is sort of a radiator in it, but what really happens is that a raw water pump takes in sea water into this heat exchanger tank and that water runs adjacent to the actual engine water that is in a different chamber in same tank.  This cools the engine water without actually having to run corrosive salt water through the engine.  

You should carefully check the hull, decks, and flooring for soft spots as that is a nightmare you do not want to deal with.  Look under seats, down inside compartments, etc. for wet or rotted wood.  

You can find $3000 boats on Craigslist that will fit your requirements as a first time purchase.  Be leary of scams.  If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  

Check engine oil for color and smell.  Black, thin, or burnt smelling oil is all signs that the engine has not be taken care of and you may be the unlucky recipient of that abuse when you are out on the water.  

Get all receipts of any work that seller claims was done.  Dont just believe them when they tell you the motor was rebuilt last year.  If they do not have a receipt to prove it, assume its a lie.  

Check for oil leaks.  Actually test drive the boat in the water before you buy it.  Starting it up for a few minutes and shifting into and out of gear means nothing.  You could have all kinds of issues that dont show up until the boat is underway.  Check all switches, pumps, fans, etc. to make sure there are no electrical issues. Check the outdrive and tabs if equipped to make sure they go up and down and actually lock into place.  

Be prepared to walk away from any deal.  You should never buy a boat the first time you walk up to it.  Shop around.  When you are ready to make an offer, ALWAYS ask the seller what the least amount of money they will take for their boat is?  The one who throws a dollar amount out first ALWAYS LOSES.  I have bought and sold cars, boats, etc. my whole life as a hobby.  I had owned more than 200 cars before I was 30 years old, so I know what I am talking about.  Start out saying something to minimize your interest in boat like, &quot;Well, I was hoping to find something a little newer&quot; and be quiet for a minute. Then do the devalue walk around with them.  Any used car or boat will always have some flaws.  The seller may not even know they are there.  Walk about the boat and say nothing, but put your finger in every scratch, blemish, scrape, etc. that you find as if you are just noticing it and you are concerned about it.  They panic internally and will often start rattling off explainations of &quot;oh, my wife did that&quot; or &quot;I didnt realize how bad the paint was&quot;, etc. Finish your walk around stand there looking at it like you just not sure.  Let them think about what you just said.  Then say, &quot;I don&#039;t know, but if I bought this today, what is the least you would take for it?&quot;  a saavy seller might say, &quot;Make me an offer?&quot;    DONT DO IT.  Just look at the boat quietly and maybe even throw another mixed negative at them like, &quot;Well, it is about the size I was looking for, but the carpet will have to be replaced and I am just not sure&quot;, followed with, &quot;What will you take for it today?&quot;  

They will tell you a number that is ALWAYS more than they will really take.  I mean ALWAYS.  I will give you one example of many from my own buying,  I did the walk around on a 1992 Ford Ranger Extended Cab about 5 years ago and he was selling it for $1500, which was a really good price at the time.  The value was about $4000 on the truck, but it had high miles and a few blemishes on the paint.  He was stammering excuses for every scratch dent and scrape as I walked around.  As I stood there looking at it afterwards quietly, he said, &quot;I am not firm on the price&quot;.  Always a good sign they are weak.  I asked the least he would take and he said &quot;I was hoping to get atleast $1000 for it.  I just got him to discount it 30% off the already good selling price.  I stood there quietly as though I was trying to justify the price and I said &quot;I can make you an offer, but I don&#039;t want to insult you&quot;  He said, &quot;Go ahead, you won&#039;t insult me because my wife said it has to go&quot;.  Another good sign.  I said, &quot;It needs some work, but overall it fits my needs.  I have cash with me and I am thinking about $750.&quot;   I shut up and let him ponder it for about 30 seconds and he said, &quot;Okay, lets just do it&quot;.    That was 5 years ago, I put over 100,000 miles on the truck before the clutch went out last Winter and I sold it on Craigslist for $1000 to a young kid who could not have been happier to have it at that price.

What ever price they give you, you counter with &quot;I was thinking $x*x.xx (lower number)&quot; and make it significantly lower.  Don&#039;t be a wus.   If they say $2500, you say $2100.  The worst that can happen is they get insulted and say no.   If that happens, go find another boat.  That one wasnt meant to be.  

I hope that my experience helps you in your venture.  Have fun with it.  Be confident.  People HATE selling stuff and having one person after another parade through their yard with a thousand questions.  Do it like I suggested and you will get more boat for the money and you will most likely make a profile when the time comes to upgrade again.

Answer 5

I BOUGHT A BOAT LAST YEAR IT WAS GREAT TIL THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT OUT.. LOL I WOUND UP SPENDING 3,000.00 ON LOTS OF PROBLEMS AND I DID LABOR. THAT WAS PARTS ONLY. BEST ADVISE IS BE READY TO SPEND ALOT ON A NEW BOAT OR ALOT MORE ON A USED BOAT. ITS A RICH MANS HOBBY. AND THERE IS A REASON WE CALL THEM HAULS IN THE WATER. BECAUSE YOU KEEP THROWING $$$$ IN THAT HOLE OR HAUL. AND NO I AM NOT A RICH MAN I FOUND OUT LOL.. GOOD LUCK

Answer 6

I bought my first boat for $2500.  It broke down on me 3 zillion times and I put about $1000 trying to get it fixed.   So, if I were you I&#039;d spend more than that to get something reliable.  Make sure you take it for a run before you buy it and get a mechanic to look at it.