# Looking to buy a used boat tomorrow, suggestions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 29, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-buy-a-used-boat-tomorrow-suggestions/576429 "2011-03-29T21:06:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-buy-a-used-boat-tomorrow-suggestions/576429/21 "2011-03-31T14:08:20Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > Your $2,500 boat breaks down on the lake? It ends up underwater, and the next thing you know you and your passengers are caught in a current and sent out to sea From a lake to the ocean, huh? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![StrangerThanFiction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@StrangerThanFiction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrangerThanFiction)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-buy-a-used-boat-tomorrow-suggestions/576429/22 "2011-03-31T14:13:48Z")
Good post/username combo… ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-buy-a-used-boat-tomorrow-suggestions/576429/23 "2011-03-31T14:18:50Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > From a lake to the ocean, huh? > > 😃 Okay, maybe I exaggerated \* a bit\*. Only on The Dope. From that whole paragraph, _that’s_ the item you take me to task on. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-buy-a-used-boat-tomorrow-suggestions/576429/24 "2011-03-31T14:20:46Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I told the guy to give me a couple of days to think about it. The hull looks great. The engine looks clean. A mechanic is going over to take a look at it today. It looks…1982. Seems to have been well cared for: the guy says that it’s never broken down, selling it because his grandkids have outgrown it…I know, I know, but if he’s bullshitting me, he’s doing a good job. > > One thing that concerns me is some of the comments upthread about how this might be a 90% don’t buy or don’t even take for free. I know it is only $2500, but to me that is too much to have a $2500 hunk of fiberglass in my yard if it doesn’t work out. > > Thanks again for the replies. I just want to reiterate that it would be a good idea to have a survey done on the boat. A survey is not that expensive and will give you a soup to nuts assessment on every aspect of the boat’s condition, as well as its true value. You’re correct to question the seller’s comments. I’d say completely dismiss anything the seller has to say. Also, whether you work with a surveyor or a mechanic, do not let it be one recommended by the seller. You’ll be shooting yourself in the foot. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-buy-a-used-boat-tomorrow-suggestions/576429/25 "2011-03-31T14:21:19Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > clinging to an Igloo Cube cooler that only has two beers The moral of your story is to never go boating without enough beer. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-buy-a-used-boat-tomorrow-suggestions/576429/26 "2011-03-31T14:35:28Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I told the guy to give me a couple of days to think about it. The hull looks great. The engine looks clean. A mechanic is going over to take a look at it today. It looks…1982. Seems to have been well cared for: the guy says that it’s never broken down, selling it because his grandkids have outgrown it…I know, I know, but if he’s bullshitting me, he’s doing a good job. > > One thing that concerns me is some of the comments upthread about how this might be a 90% don’t buy or don’t even take for free. I know it is only $2500, but to me that is too much to have a $2500 hunk of fiberglass in my yard if it doesn’t work out. > > Thanks again for the replies. Also, don’t let anyone pressure you into getting the boat. There are so many boats for sale now that a buyer should be able to name his price on pretty much any boat he wants. As much as you really, really want that boat, the seller really, really, really wants to get rid of it, so if, ultimately, you can’t get the deal you want, just walk away. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-buy-a-used-boat-tomorrow-suggestions/576429/27 "2011-03-31T19:26:29Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > Buying a boat will be the second happiest day of your boating life. Selling it later will be the first. I can verify that. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-buy-a-used-boat-tomorrow-suggestions/576429/28 "2011-03-31T19:31:12Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I told the guy to give me a couple of days to think about it. The hull looks great. The engine looks clean. A mechanic is going over to take a look at it today. It looks…1982. Seems to have been well cared for: the guy says that it’s never broken down, selling it because his grandkids have outgrown it…I know, I know, but if he’s bullshitting me, he’s doing a good job. > . I have a similar sized boat for fishing and water skiing, made in 1974. My boat works fine, and the motor is flawless. Age alone does not mean anything if the boat and motor are taken care of. My boat is not for sale, just sayin… ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-buy-a-used-boat-tomorrow-suggestions/576429/29 "2011-03-31T19:44:37Z")
My father used to have a boat in the water all the time. He generally had one on a trailer not far from the dock, and one in his yard, on blocks. Mostly, they were for sale. He was a constant tinkerer, so mostly the one in the water worked. If it didn’t, the parts were on order. He had a bunch of tarps, and lots of ropes, floats, and life jackets, and stuff. But, he did enjoy it all. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-buy-a-used-boat-tomorrow-suggestions/576429/30 "2011-03-31T20:13:00Z")
> [@Triskadecamus](#): > > My father used to have a boat in the water all the time. He generally had one on a trailer not far from the dock, and one in his yard, on blocks. Mostly, they were for sale. He was a constant tinkerer, so mostly the one in the water worked. If it didn’t, the parts were on order. He had a bunch of tarps, and lots of ropes, floats, and life jackets, and stuff. > > But, he did enjoy it all. > > Tris My boat will be going back in the water on April 15, and I’m really looking forward to it. I left it in drydock last summer, so it’ll be fun to use it again after 18 months. My boat stays at the marina and I don’t have a trailer but, like your dad, I am always tinkering with its systems during the season; it’s kind of unavoidable as there’s always something to clean, repair, replace, or upgrade. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-buy-a-used-boat-tomorrow-suggestions/576429.md?page=1)