What do I look for when I am buying a used boat ? It will be 15 - 19 feet long?

Question

What do I look for when I am buying a used boat ? It will be 15 - 19 feet long?

Answer 1

Don't buy an old boat, older than 95 because they start s******g up.  Also make sure its a mercury engine or something popular and not a volvo (OMC) because they don't make them anymore and parts are tough.  check the lights and the horn and all that.  Look under the boat and make sure that there's no cracks, the back where the engine sits like the other answer.  Put a bucket of water and submerge the propeller and crank it up,  also check the hour meter.  Probably better to pay an 100$ to a boat mech and let him check it out for a water run.  Telling you, boats can cost allot to fix.

Answer 2

I know it sounds simple but think about what you'd like to use the boat for...  Fishing? Watersports?  Camping? That will have some impact on the type of boat to consider... A good fishing boat is not really adapted for water skiing or wakeboarding... and a good ski boat can be messed upo if you've got a bunch of slimey fish flopping around in it...

After that... Certainly the engine need a good look over... Find out if it was winterized properly - If not - there may be cracks in the leg or head from freezing during winter.  Engines don't require lots of maintenance - but some simple things like a annual change of the leg oil will go a long way to preserving the engine...

Check the prop and skeg (fin at the very bottom) to see if it is all dinged up... may be a sign of poor driving...

If it is an outboard - make sure it "pees" properly... The engine must draw in water during running to keep cool. The engine "spits" out (or pees as my kids say!) from near the top of the engine...  After running the engine for a few minutes - the water being spit out should be warm... If not - there may be a circulation problem...

Check out the boat proper itself - Does the bilge pump work? Do all the Nav light work? Any loose screws?  Check the chairs to make sure any mountings are not rotting...

Check the hull for dings and if it is fibreglass boat - check the gel coat - that's the protective covering on the fibre glass - If it is all dull - then the gel coat may need fixing - that can get costly...

What accessories is the owner willing to part with? Paddles, Bailer? GPS/ Depth/fish finder/ PDFs?   Those can really add up and if the owner will throw them in - then you may save yourself severl hunder bucks...

Finally - Insist that you be permitted to tke it for a spin... Make sure it "feels" right.... (Steers easily - the power trim works etc... )

Good Luck and safe boating!

Answer 3

Holes

Answer 4

Your wife's approval?   Hahahahahahahahahahahah.

Answer 5

What kind of boat are you looking for power or sail

Answer 6

I just purchased a used boat.  Thigs to check for (if a motor boat) include cracks near the transom (where the motor sits), does the electrical items work, is there a warranty on the boat?, how many hours the motor has on it?, why is the person selling the boat?.  These are things that initially come to mind.