Check the thickness of the hull. Hitting the hull with your
hand just above the water line in the same place on different boats will
give you an idea as to which boats have a thicker construction which is
desirable.
Check for
bulges, patterns, ripples or odd textures and look to see that color of
the hull and deck that were meant to be the same color are exactly the
same color and not from different dye lots.
In the bilge and other areas where you can see the inside
of the hull, check for white patches or loose fiberglass fibers. The lack
of resin is a sign of a poor lay-up.
Are the
graphics gel-coat or tape? Tape is much less expensive, does not last as
long but is easier to repair.
Nonslip
surfaces can be tape or preferably built into the fiberglass deck. The
deeper more pronounced the the surface the better the gripping power with
sharper angles being better than rounded bubbles.
Walk near the
hatch(es). The fiberglass should not creak or flex.
The gas tank
should be removable. There must also be access to all fittings and
clamps.
Many boats now
have the stringers made of fiberglass which is better than wood sealed in
fiberglass.
Fittings
A hull is stronger where the holes drilled (such as
portholes) are few and far apart.
Also bronze is preferred to
plastic.
There should be a handle or railing for every passenger to
hold on to.
Ladder
Rub Rail
Should be straight and even.
Cleats
Upholstery
Check the thickness of the
covering.
Many boat makers have switched from wood to plastic molds
for seat frames. Less wood the better.
There should be double stitching.
The seat should be wide enough for the average person. Some
claim to be for two people but they really on have room for one
person.
The seats should be ventilated either in the back or
bottom to allow moisture to escape.
The seats should be fastened
solidly.
Windshield
The angle of the windshield is important. Check for glare
especially. The more steep the angle the more prone to
glare.
Check the seating position in relation to the windshield
and frame with the boat at rest, on plane and getting on plane. Many boats
windshields are so low that your eyes might be a frame level making it
impossible to sit and steer.
A stainless steel frame is better than
aluminum.
Try pushing on the frame. See if it moves. If there is a
walkway through windshield. These steps should be integrated. Try going up
to the bow and see if the footsteps flex or frame is rock-solid. In fact
any area that is made for walking or holding should not creak or
flex.
Not often included but small venting side windows are great
on very hot days.
Wiper(s) should be
included.
Dash
Check the gauge layout to see how convenient are switches
and gauges.
There should be room for additional equipment
such as GPS, Radar etc. (depending on the size of the
boat)
Is there a place to rest you hand beside the shift
lever?
Some equipment should be considered standard beside the
obvious such as a compass and depthsounder.
Check the back of the dash. Open the panel to see if all
wiring is neat and color coded.
All gauges and switches should light up.
Mattresses should be at least 4" foam with spring
mattresses being even a better choice.
Check the sleeping quarters. A boat rated to sleep four or
six might realistically only hold two or three. Sharp low ceilings might
also be too claustrophobic for many people especially when they face a
wall.
An all white boat may not look as sporty as the two tone jobs but especially for the first time buyer it is allot easier to repair when you do not have to match special colors.
Brand name items might be of better quality than unbranded versions such as canvas items.
Get dealer references. How long have they been in business. Check out the service facilities and staff.
Trade-Ins
To determine the realistic price for your used boat:
Call N.A.D.A. (national Automobile Dealer's Association)
Boat Appraisal Guide (800-966-6232)
Also ask to look at your banks ABOS
Boat Trade-in Bluebook (which they use for boat loans)
Order the BUCNET or N.A.D.A.
book.
You can also get an idea of the price of your boat through
newspaper ads and the listing on the Boats for Sale internet
sites.
Clean your boat and repair at least all minor items. Also change the oil, filter and gas filter. Buff and wax the boat.
Remove all items that will not add any value to the boat. This usually means any item not permanently attached to the boat except for safety items such as PDF's, flares, fire extinguisher, plus lines and fenders.