Minor Legalities you may want to know when buying a used boat

I in no way claim to a legal expert but there are a few little tips that it might help to know when you’re about to buy a used boat. If you decide to buy privately rather than through a well known buyer then there are a few relevant legalities; the seller has to be able to rightfully sell the boat (i.e. own it or have permission to sell it), the boat must be in no way misrepresented and the boat has to be as the seller described. Asking for a title document, such as VAT status, can help prove ownership (this can be difficult as registration of a boat is not legally needed unless it sails abroad). Getting you and the seller to sign a buyer’s contract is good idea because it shows proof of sale and of your new ownership. You can easily find samples of these online, use the power of Google.

What to look for in the seller of a used boat for sale

One easy thing to look for when hunting for used boats for sale that is that the broker or dealer you are planning to buy from is an member of one of the following associations; British Marine Federation (BMF), Boat Retailer and Brokers Association (BRBA) and Association of Brokers and Yacht Agents (ABYA). Your broker or dealer being a member of one of these will mean they have to operate under a certain code of conduct. It may also be helpful to be aware that if you do decide to buy privately you will not be protected if the boat has hidden problems; it is your responsibility to make sure it is in the right condition. Ask the seller about any accidents the boat may have been in or any major repairs it has had to undergo (if they were recent it may be worth asking for the exact date as repairs tend to have a twelve month guarantee). Another thing to look out for is make sure the seller seems knowledgeable about their boat and has a believable reason for sale. If anything seems ‘off’ or the price seems too low compared to others there is likely to be a good reason. The best way to be sure about these things is always to get an independent marine survey. And as I mentioned in a previous post it is important to ensure you aren’t buying a stolen boat.  Make sure to ask the seller to provide some kind of title documents for the boat, such as previous bills of sale or evidence of VAT status; ask for this evidence before getting into any kind of purchasing agreement. The important thing is to go to whatever lengths it takes to ensure you feel comfortable with the sale and know what you’re getting into and a good seller should have no problems enabling you to do that.

Ensuring you don’t buy a stolen boat

When exploring your options for used boats for sale, it may pay to be aware of a few details so you can make sure you’re not about to purchase a stolen boat. Although this is somewhat unlikely over the years more and more boats are being reported stolen. The main thing to be aware of this the hull or registration number, it is most likely that the hull identification number may have been very slightly altered or obscured in some manner on stolen boats (even simple things like changing a 1 to a 7 or a 5 into an 8). If you suspect anything it may be worth checking out the website stolen boats which provided a database of stolen boats and marine equipment in the UK. At the end of the day it is just something to be aware of and if someone does not feel right, it’s always best to walk away there are plenty of used boats out there.

Things to bear in mind when the disadvantages of used boat buying are getting you down

Boat owners will often sell their boats because they can no longer afford them, this means that the upkeep will not have been done and yes, repairs and restoration will cost you money. This can be disheartening, when you feel you’ve found the perfect used boat for sale and you get your marine survey report back and there are a lot of problems you were not expecting. But it’s important to keep things in perspective, you are paying a fraction of the price of a new boat and you haven’t had to watch your brand new boat rapidly depreciate. You need to go into with the expectation that it will need repairs, everything wears out eventually and if you are looking for a boat with no problems, I would send you to the new boat section of the boatyard because used boats are not for you. If you remember that restoration is part of the fun of used boats you should be fine.