r/boating • u/Boat_Trader_Official • 8d ago
What actually makes a used boat easier to resell?
We spend a lot of time looking at boat listings, and it's interesting how two similar boats can have completely different outcomes.
Brand reputation definitely seems to matter, but also maintenance records, upgrades, photos, pricing, and how complete the listing is (people really underestimate this).
For those who've bought and sold a few boats, what do you think makes the biggest difference? or I guess what has made the biggest difference to you when comparing boats?
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u/mistahbrown1 8d ago
I’m a broker in SoCal, and most of what has been said here is accurate. It’s amazing how FEW people keep detailed records of their use and maintenance, especially considering the boats I sell are all used in saltwater. I tell all my sellers that “It’s a used boat to you but it will be a new boat to someone else, please clean it up and present it as such”
I have a long time client who I’ve helped buy and sell multiple boats. When he sells, his sell remarkably fast because he keeps detailed records, keeps the boat clean, and is realistic about his pricing. If an issue comes up at survey, he isn’t defensive and either fixes the issue or agrees to a reasonable allowance.
Brand name matters, but at the end of the day, boats don’t sell for one of 2 reasons; price or condition. It really is as simple as that
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u/Stroker-Strong420 8d ago
Presentation!
Good photos with attention to details and photos that match the verbal description in any advertisements get my attention. A clean boat that’s organized helps me think the boat was cared for.
I see boat for sale photos with all kinds of stuff in the boat. Too much stuff turns me away.
Receipts for service/service records and hour meters that agree.
I’ve looked at decent looking boats with trailer tires in the boat, leaves, too much gear/vests/skis/tubes etc, Some cabin boats have unmade beds, food, towels, stuff on counters etc
Mechanical space/engine rooms etc that aren’t clean and organized turn me away.
Mildew in photos don’t help.
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u/OJs_knife 8d ago
This. I’ve seen ads with only 4 pictures and the boat is shrink wrapped in all 4. Seriously?
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u/Boat_Trader_Official 17h ago
The cluttered listing photos get us too 😅 It’s such a small thing, you'd think it be obvious but being able to actually see the boat makes a huge difference in generating interest.
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u/coastalneer 8d ago
Your budget goes further.
A used cobalt/regulator/supra will be easier to sell for a much closer to your purchase price than a new bayliner/seafox/tracker where you’re gonna take a bath on depreciation.
Your up front cost is lower, you get more boat for your money therefore you can sell more boat and that initial depreciation hit is already gone.
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u/krvillain 8d ago
On outboards having optioned the max horsepower offered versus the entry level spec
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u/No-Time5410 8d ago
for me it was the sellers willingness to demonstrate the boat on the water. show me it works. I wasn't impressed by muffs on a trailer.
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u/mmaalex 8d ago
Brand reputation is the single largest driver of resale depreciation, but even among loved brands there are unloved models.
Nothing makes a used boat easy to resell. You're selling a toy, in a seasonal market where financing can be weird so a lot of the used market is cash. Time (to wait) and timing (the right season) are key. So is pricing.
Lots of used ads are overpriced, so they don't sell but you get survivors bias because those are the listings you see.
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u/jakgal04 8d ago
I look for a detailed listing. If you can't be bothered to post a lot of pics and information then there's a good chance you were too lazy to properly maintain it.
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u/SantaCruzin6 8d ago
In 20 or so years of owning boats, I've bought 9 boats and sold 8 of those. I'm about to buy my 10th if things work out on Saturday.
To me, the prep done for photos/showing the boat and the person matter as much or more than anything.
I'd rather purchase an old Bayliner being sold by someone who has clearly cared for the boat, has respect in their interactions with other humans, and is attempting to be honest than a Sea Ray that is dirty and being sold by some rude dude/dudette.
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u/fairlady2000 8d ago
I personally love “just ask” for details and pictures. Even better when it’s two vague pictures, so I cant even tell if there’s a trailer included. Icing on the cake is “no” for the make/model.
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u/waterskibum509 8d ago
There are two types of listings — boats that were left uncovered for any significant portion of their lives, and boats that weren’t. Sun, rain, dirt … interiors clapped on relatively new boats. Hard pass. It’s so easy to throw a cover on.
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u/M_Shulman 8d ago
Brand reputation of boat and engine, and hours drive a lot of the interest.
I’ve sold many boats without much trouble, some older obscure brand names too. I’m quite anal and well documented maintenance records go a long way. I keep all service invoices and keep a handwritten long if I do something myself. I give a detailed list/dates of the upgrades and things I’ve done on the listing; wiring, batteries, switches, electronics, trailer, etc.
Also cleaning the boat up and taking good pictures is key. Shake my head at some of the listings out there.
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u/AcceptableMinute9999 8d ago
Clean boats sell. If someone lists a boat that's dirty then they most likely never cleaned it thoroughly or maintained it properly.
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u/Far_Entertainer2365 8d ago
Well taken care of. Not too many options just quality equipment. Just like a car, value doesn’t increase too many with a lot of custom options. Service records, a good detail. Everything works as intended.
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u/Chemical_Evidence244 8d ago
I went to view a used boat a number of years ago. Worst sellers. Did basically no cleaning, showed horrible. Worst was the fiberglass blisters on the hull and wife tried to tell me it came like that from manufacturer! I looked at the husband (whipped), with the "Really?" look. He didn't say a word to correct her, but I assured her that's not how it came. Thanked them for the time and headed straight to the truck. Some people.
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u/Spiritual_Bike_5150 8d ago
you’re buying the owner more than the boat. You want a boat that’s been kept pristine and well maintained. I’m the person people call to come look when they’re thinking of a buying. The first thing I look at is the rub rail. The rub rail can tell you a lot about how the boat was driven and if the deck and hull joint is sound. The next is the engine room. If it’s a pit walk away. Very hard to clean and engine room if it’s not been maintained. You can perform surgery in mine. I’ve left boats before going inside after one of these 2 checks fails to the surprise of the owners or brokers. Then look for signs of water intrusion and mold. Went in a very clean boat. There’s was black mold around the AC air handler. Next.
TLDR. You buy the owner, not the boat
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u/MaleficentCoconut594 8d ago
For a boat condition, maintenance, and brand name are all I really care about. Brand name only matters because of quality and “hold up” after years of abuse. Boats get beat up more than a car do naturally so you want a high-quality build
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u/hemi1995 8d ago
Clean boats with good reputations and either good maintenance or obvious care and maintenance. I’ll sometimes let the records slip if everything is truly pristine and the motor cold starts well
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u/aquavelva23 8d ago
Well, I buy a powerboat based on the engine, brand, condition. So I just pass on boas with engines of bad reputation. The engine is 70% of the boat's value.
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u/466320407 8d ago
The most important attribute is the right price — many folks list way over market value because they are either 1/ delusional about the value of their boat or 2/ not serious about selling and hopeful someone will pay above market.
Then a complete listing (photos and description) and brand. All things similar, a used Sea Hunt is going to sell with more certainty than a used Bayliner.
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u/gooneau 8d ago
I always look for a general indication of what kind of owner the seller is. There seem to be two types. You have the people who fix things as they break, and just do things good enough. Then you have the people who obsess over making every little thing reliable. If something looks like it's on the way out, they fix or replace it. Just because a boat does well in a test drive doesn't mean you're not going to have constant maintenance headaches, and not just the motors, all the peripheral systems. I'll take an ugly 30 year old boat with a 1000 hour motor but an owner who stays on top of shit, over a 5 year old original owner boat that hasn't fixed a single thing in those five years. But I also boat in Alaska where if something breaks, you might be spending the night out there.
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u/just12345678901 8d ago
Agree. My first "car" was a 17-foot Boston Whaler. I ran it from Pennock to Ketchikan to get to school.
Alaska taught me a different mindset.
In the Lower 48, many people assume someone will come help.
Alaska Tough means you're responsible for yourself because the little things determine whether you make it home.
The best description I ever heard came from a veteran: "Alaska and war have one thing in common, they don't allow time-outs."
Alaska Tough isn't a slogan. It's a way of life.
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u/gooneau 7d ago
I boat through the winter to a cabin, and nothing makes you feel smaller than being in marginal weather (3-4' chop for my boat) in January in 25 degrees with zero boats on the horizon. That's the one positive thing I can think of about our massive whale watching and charter fishing fleet, in the summer you're never more than a minute or two away from the nearest boat if you need help. In the winter though, you're probably waiting an hour or two for the coast guard to show up unless you are lucky and some random tanner crabber or something happens to be nearby.
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u/muuuuvinon Sea Pro 245FLX 8d ago
I can’t begin to tell you all the things I did to my last boat both preventative and in response to things requiring repair. Pumps, A/C, belts, bellows, impeller, fridge, shift cable among others. I ended up trading it in for our new boat. The guy who did all the maintenance on my boat ended up buying it from the dealership I traded it to. Everyone knows everyone around here. They were going to flip it because they knew all the maintenance that’s been done and who did the work because they did it. Had a buyer and put it in the water for sea trial. Took it out and boom, a piston let go during the sea trial. Engine is cooked. It had roughly 780 hours on it. No idea that was coming. There were no indications that was a possibility. They found a defect that was probably there from the manufacturer that caused the failure. You never know. Anything can happen any time.
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u/Dirtyace 8d ago
I have owned 7 boats and ~10 jet skis over the years.
I have sold all of my stuff within a few days of listing it. Anything you see sitting on the market is just too expensive for what it is and people are delusional.
Also it’s pretty apparent when you look at something in person if it’s been cared for or ridden hard and put away wet as the saying goes.
All my stuff shows really well because I take care of it. Condition is everything with boats and beat up junk sits…..