Buying a boat isn’t much different than buying a used car. There are so many places for problems to hide. It’s a lot easier to fall in love with a boat. Making the buying decision takes longer, and it should, especially because you’re handing over money.
New or second-hand
A boat built to your design will cost more and take longer than a used boat of the same size. Many buyers go for a sailaway boat. This is a hull with an engine that is ready to go, with the interior left undone for the owner to fit out. This can save money, but, more often than not, it can take longer than anticipated to fit a boat out to the standard desired.
When you buy a used boat, someone else has already taken the teething problems. Often you will be inheriting someone else’s design choices, of which can be expensive to replace or remove.
You can buy a boat either through a broker or privately. Brokers have more boats to look at in one location and can help set up viewings and surveys. Buying through a broker means you pay a higher price. If buying privately, you can pay less but you have to do all the leg work, including viewings, surveys and much more.
On the viewing
Try to make more than one outing per year. Also, try to pick a cold or rainy day to go. A boat on a nice summer day is not the same as a boat in the winter.
Things worth looking at closely:
- Damp and condensation, especially in cupboards, under the bed and around windows
- Signs of leaks around windows, hatches and the roof
- The engine bay and bilge, which should be reasonably dry and clean
- The stove or heating system, and whether it’s been serviced
- The batteries, how old they are and how they’re charged
- The water tank and the toilet system
Ask about when the boat was last out of the water, when the hull was last painted (or blacked), how many hours are on the engine, and what has been replaced recently. A seller who has a record of boat maintenance, usually in the form of a logbook or receipts, is a good sign. Answering any of these questions vaguely isn’t.
The survey
An out of water survey is essential on any second-hand boat purchase. The surveyor measures the hull thickness and checks for corrosion and pitting. The rest of the boat is also inspected. A survey is the only way to evaluate the hull if something is found that isn’t visible and the hull is the most expensive thing to repair on a boat.
Plenty of buyers use a survey to get a lower price. A survey can also help the buyer walk away from a deal if the survey finds something seriously wrong.
Budgeting past the price
The price of the boat is just the start. You’ve got the cost of getting the boat to your mooring, any repairs from the survey, new batteries, blacking and possibly items to make the boat more habitable, a mooring fee each month, and the ongoing costs of living on the boat. Is Living on a Boat Cost Effective? looks at the cost of living on a boat, and Choosing the Best Marina Community looks at where to keep your boat.
Still undecided? types of houseboat breaks the different houseboat types down. Further information is available on the Houseboats page.
If you’re going to live on a boat, you’ll need to find your mooring before buying a boat. A good boat with no where to keep it is a very expensive problem.