| Whether you�re selling a fishing boat, ski boat, | | | | marketing and advertising your boat. I recommend |
| cruiser, powerboat or just your everyday pontoon, | | | | doing a combination of the above. For example; |
| there are some basic things you need to do to be | | | | placing your boat near the street with a sign allows |
| successful in selling your boat. | | | | potential buyers to stop and take a quick look. They |
| This article breaks it down into 6 basic steps. If you | | | | can write down the phone number and call to make |
| take this approach you�ll sell your boat faster, | | | | an appointment to review the boat more thoroughly. |
| easier and get more for it. | | | | You should also plan to advertise on an online |
| Step 1 � Cleaning There�s nothing more | | | | classified ad site or through the newspapers. I like |
| beneficial in making a boat saleable than getting it | | | | the online classifieds simply because they�re easy |
| cleaned up really well. This starts from the trailer to | | | | to use and they�re viewable to everyone |
| the cover and everything in between. Wash and | | | | everywhere. Newspaper ads are generally limited to a |
| clean the trailer thoroughly. Scrub and polish the hull. | | | | specific area or town. Another advantage to internet |
| Boat dealers and boating centers carry gel coat | | | | ads is you can print your color photo ad, make copies |
| cleaners and polishes that can remove the scale and | | | | and post them in your local stores and bulletin boards. |
| residue build up on the hull and restore is color and | | | | Step 6 - Selling and Negotiating There�s some |
| luster. Clean the carpets, the cup holders the storage | | | | very important basic rules to follow when you�re |
| areas under the seats. Clean the outboard or out | | | | trying to sell a boat. Potential buyers will try to |
| drive thoroughly. | | | | contact you either by phone or email. You have |
| Clean the windows. You should also wax the hull and | | | | answer the phone when it rings. If you ignore it, the |
| polish all railings � stainless or wood. Clean all | | | | interested party will quickly move to the next |
| amenities thoroughly � especially the head, galley | | | | available boat that fit�s their requirements and |
| and sleeping area, if required. | | | | there�s a lot of boats on the market. Similarly |
| Step 2 � Maintenance and Repairs Make sure that | | | | with email, it�s important to check for inquiries at |
| everything is functional on the boat including lights, | | | | least once a day if not more. Quick responses to |
| horn, radio, instruments, depth finders, fish finders, | | | | inquiries can bring a buyer to view your boat and he |
| GPS, bilge bumps, fans, blowers, etc. Ideally the boat | | | | or she could be the one. |
| should be fully functional when it�s sold. No one | | | | When you do get an interested buyer it�s |
| wants to get stuck on the water due to a | | | | important to be open and sincere about why |
| malfunction or failure. Your boat will sell much faster if | | | | you�re selling it, how long you�ve owned and |
| everything is in good working order. The trailer should | | | | how it�s performed for you. This builds a |
| be well maintained and in good working order including | | | | relationship and trust between you and the potential |
| the winch, jack, lights and brakes, if equipped. Tires | | | | buyer. This is critical in getting someone comfortable |
| should be good condition and inflated properly. All | | | | enough to make an offer. |
| wiring and lights should be functional and good order. | | | | When the buyer does make an offer do not reject |
| If the trailer is missing paint or rusty it�s a good | | | | the offer if it is lower than your set price. You should |
| idea to give it fresh coat of paint. | | | | counter their offer about � way between your |
| Step 3 - Records Pull together all the receipts related | | | | selling price and their offer price. The buyer may |
| to the boat including the purchase receipts when you | | | | accept or counter again. If it�s close to your |
| bought it, the owners manual and all maintenance and | | | | original target price you should probably accept the |
| repair receipts. Having a good record of all repairs and | | | | offer. If the buyer asks what�s the lowest |
| maintenance especially winterizing, summarizing and | | | | you�ll go, and a lot of people ask that, a good |
| repairs tells the buyer that the boat was taken care | | | | answer is, � I just listed it or I�m starting to |
| of very well. And it can have a huge impact in selling | | | | get a lot of calls, so I�ll take. (Use your original |
| a boat quickly. When a potential buyer comes to | | | | target).� The buyer is likely to accept it. The art |
| take a look at the boat, the thing he�s thinking | | | | of negotiating and locking in the sale is psychological |
| about in the back of his mind is how many things | | | | thing and it�s very important. It�s called getting |
| have been broke on the boat and what�s my | | | | a win-win result in a purchasing transaction. Most |
| chances of them breaking again. You should explain in | | | | buyers will either offer you a lower offer or many |
| reasonable detail the things that had to be fixed and | | | | times will flat out ask what�s the lowest you�ll |
| how the boat was maintained. This can go along way | | | | take for it. This is your chance to make a friend and |
| in establishing trust between the potential buyer and | | | | make the sale. |
| yourself. The potential buyer will appreciate the | | | | We�ll that about covers it. A few last comments |
| information and honesty and it can help a great deal | | | | on the monetary transaction. If the buyer offers you |
| in closing the sale. | | | | a deposit, make sure you write out a receipt � 2 |
| Step 4 � Pricing You probably have an idea of | | | | copies, one for you and one for the buyer. It�s a |
| what you think your boat is worth or at least what | | | | good idea to have these prepared before meeting |
| you think it should be worth. Well, that maybe or | | | | potential buyers. You should prepare deposit receipts |
| may not be the appropriate sales price for your boat. | | | | that provide a blank for the amount and set a time |
| You should do some research in order to determine | | | | limit for holding the boat after which the deposit is |
| what the appropriate selling price should be. Check | | | | forfeited. Also prepare sale receipts in advance that |
| the local newspaper classifieds, your local used boat | | | | specify the key items below: |
| dealers and the Internet boat classified to find prices | | | | � Boat is being purchased in �As Is� |
| for similar boats. You�re likely to see a range of | | | | condition |
| prices depending on the model, features, and | | | | � No written or verbal warranty or guarantees |
| condition of the boats. Based on those and your | | | | apply (unless mfg. Warranty is still in effect) |
| urgency to sell the boat, you can set your sales price | | | | � As of this day and time, legal ownership, |
| accordingly. You should set it a little higher than your | | | | responsibility and liability is transferred to said |
| target price to give you room to negotiate the price | | | | purchaser |
| down a bit. Buyers are always looking to get a bit of | | | | � Purchaser is buying said boat for and accepts all |
| a price break on a boat they�re considering to | | | | responsibility and liability for said item |
| buy. You should allow for some room to negotiate. | | | | � Make sure both purchaser and seller sign it and |
| Step 5 � Advertising / Marketing You have a lot | | | | date it. |
| of choices on how you�d like to advertise your | | | | � Write down the buyers drivers license # on |
| boat. You can use the newspaper classifieds, | | | | your receipt |
| however those run by the day or week and can get | | | | � Specify Date, Time, Seller Name, Buyer Name |
| costly. You can park the boat near the street with a | | | | (blank), Boat Description |
| sign and hope that someone driving by will see it and | | | | Last note about bank checks � lately some people |
| hopefully buy it. Another option is to use Internet | | | | are using laser printers to print false checks. It�s |
| classified ads to market your boat and there�s a | | | | becoming a fairly big problem. If the buyer is paying |
| wide variety of sites that offer on line classified ads. | | | | by check you should go to the issuing bank to make |
| Some sites are free, but have limited exposure. | | | | sure it clears. The bank will be able to tell you if more |
| Others charge a lot for listing your boat with several | | | | time is needed for the check to be cleared. Do not |
| pictures and then there�s sites like ours BoatFisher | | | | let the buyer take the boat until the check is |
| that charge a nominal fee and allow the ad to run | | | | confirmed and cleared by a bank. If the buyer is |
| until the boat sells. It�s up to you to choose the | | | | reluctant or resists in going to the bank, you should |
| level of expense you�re comfortable with in | | | | insist on cash. |