Selling Your Ski Boat
or Selling your Wakeboard Boat
There are several things you should keep in mind as you
prepare to sell a boat. First, make sure
that your boat is in tip-top shape before you advertise its
availability. This is key as potential buyers in the market
for a used boat will always gravitate towards boats in good
shape verses one that looks bad. Become familiar with all of your obligations as
a seller. When it is time to make the sale official, do it
properly, and get it in writing. Most importantly, remember
how you want others to do business with you. Be courteous, and
respectful. Dealing with your potential buyers in an open and
honest manner will prevent any misunderstandings, and will
ensure an agreement which benefits both parties.
Once you are sure that you want to sell a boat, take the
time to make sure it's clean. A neat and tidy wakeboard or ski
boat is a thousand times more appealing to a prospective buyer
than a boat that is messy and filled with trash. Obviously, at
some point you are going to need to take pictures of your
boat. It is wise to make the boat spotless. All cosmetic work
that is necessary should be done, and all repairs ought to be
finished by the time you are ready to start advertising your
wakeboard boat or ski boat for sale. Also, keep in mind as you
are taking your pictures that people who are looking at boats
to buy do not care to see additional people or objects in the
picture such as tubes, skis, wakeboards, etc unless they are
included in the sale. If only the boat is for sale, then make
sure that your boat is the only thing included in the photo.
This is known to be the most professional and effective means
by which people can show the condition of their boat.
When you are putting together your boat listing, you may want
to look into boat reviews as well for information about your
model. There might be some good reviews about your boat
that could help sell your boat.
The next step in selling your boat is getting the word out.
There are several ways in which you can do this. If you want
to do it on a local level, you will have access to the boat
classifieds listings in your local newspaper. You can also use
brochures and flyers, as well as a 'For Sale' sign on your
boat. If you would like to advertise to a national audience,
you can try to place your ad in a national boating
publication. One example which would be a good venue for
advertising is Boat U.S. Magazine, a marine publication which is read
by thousands of boaters who are looking for used boats and
boats for sale. Obviously one of the best sites to
advertise on is a featured listings on OnlyInboards.com. Other
avenues you can take are marina bulletin. Good old-fashioned
word of mouth has also been known to sell many a boat, as you
never know who might know someone who is looking to buy a
boat.
After you have gotten the word out about your used boat, be prepared for responses.
Have a complete list of the accessories that go with the boat
readily accessible. If you’re selling a wakeboard boat,
prospective buyers are going to want information about
wakeboard towers, ballast, wakeboard racks and any other
wakeboarding accessories that might come with the boat. Some
potential buyers even request a picture of the wake itself.
People who are looking into buying a boat will have many
questions, and it is always wise to be overly prepared when
they ask. There are a few documents that any informed buyer
would want to see. Be ready to show them your original bill of
sale and your certificate of documentation or state title.
Many buyers will first ask to look at the boat's maintenance
and repair records. They are obviously concerned about the
shape that the boat is in, and these records will go a long
way towards reassuring them that your boat is in fine
condition. In addition, buyers may want to know how much
insurance you have typically spent on the boat, so that they
may budget properly.
It is vitally important that you are available for buyers as
they try to contact you. You risk losing the sale of your boat
if you are hard to contact, or if you do not respond
immediately to phone messages or emails. Nothing beats doing
business with an actual person, so it always increases your
chance of sealing a deal if you are able to make direct
contact with the potential buyer. Keep track of who contacts
you, and the discussions you have with them.
Remember that as a seller of a used ski boat or used wakeboard
boat, you are
obligated to do certain things. A potential buyer might
request to have your boat inspected by a marine surveyor.
Generally, if you are dealing with surplus boats this is not
necessary. They
may also want the engine looked at by a marine mechanic. This
will usually involve haul-outs and sea trials. The good part
is that these expenses are paid by the buyer. A buyer's
willingness to pay these expenses will usually show a
commitment to your boat. People looking for used boats
for sale are going to have a lot of questions as well.
Remember that although you are not required to volunteer
information to the buyer, you are also not allowed to conceal
information that may lead to an unsafe boat. You would be wise
to alert the buyer to any major problems with the boat. If an
accident were to occur after the buyer has bought your boat,
you may be haunted by previous repair records or complaints to
the manufacturer. Again, if you follow a policy of openness
and honesty when trying to sell your boat, you and the buyer
will always be better off.
While it is probably very appealing to enter into a
gentlemen's agreement, never agree to the sale of your ski or
wakeboard boat based on a handshake, or something that is less
formal than a contract. Write a sales agreement in which you
outline the terms of the sale and the obligations of both the
buyer and seller. Cover yourself by asking the buyer for
cashier’s or certified checks for both the deposit and the
final payment. Settle on a closing date that works well for
both of you. Make it clear which personal items you wish to
remove from the boat, so that there is no confusion once the
ownership of the boat is handed over.
Selling a boat should be a very easy, carefree
matter. With the increasing popularity of water sports like
wakeboarding, wake surfing, and jet skiing, thousands of
people are now looking to find the tools necessary to enjoy
themselves on the water. If you are wise with how and where
you advertise your boat, you will no doubt soon find a buyer.
