Getting out on a boat can be a lot of fun, which is why you might decide that you want to buy one for yourself. When you look at the prices of new boats, you may decide that they are too high for your budget, and instead look to buy a used boat. Buying a used boat is going to have its issues that you will have to keep in mind, mainly because the boat is older and used and will have some quirks. One thing you can do to make sure that the used boat you are interested in is an excellent choice is to have a pre-purchase survey.
Pre-Purchase Survey
An inspector does the survey. The inspector will have a checklist of things they will look for. Depending on what kind of boat is being inspected, there will be different lists. The inspector will have to check other things on a cabin cruiser than on a pontoon boat. Some items will be universal, like checking out the hull, but not everything. When you find the boat you are interested in, you can contact the surveyor to have them check out the boat. You may need to put down a good faith deposit before you have the inspector check the boat, but that depends on you and the seller.
Insurance
Having insurance for your boat is a good thing. It will let you replace or repair your boat if something happens and make sure that medical bills can get paid in case of an accident. Most insurance companies aren't going to insure a used boat unless an inspection has been done. You can provide the insurance company with the results of that inspection and proof that any significant issues have been taken care of.
Budgeting
A pre-purchase survey can also help you budget for your boat. That's because the survey results will tell you when things were replaced and any upcoming repairs you may need to make. If you know that you have to have something in particular done, you can set aside money to pay for the repair when it comes time to get it done.
If you are going to get a used boat, make sure you get a pre-purchase survey done. There are many good reasons why you should have one of these surveys done.
For additional information, contact a pre-purchase boat inspector in your area.
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