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What To Look For When Buying A Used Boat

What questions should I ask when buying a boat?

Essential Questions To Ask When Buying A Boat What Are The Warranties? When Can I Test Drive The Boat? How Often Will The Boat Need Service? What Material Is The Boat Made From? How Much Will It Cost To Insure This Boat. How Many Passengers Does This Craft Hold? Is Financing Available? Your Dream Boat Is Waiting!.

How many hours should I look for on a used boat?

The average boater uses his or her boat about 50 hours per season, so use that as a good rule of thumb. If a boat is four years old, then about 200 hours would be about normal. If it’s five years old, 250 is about right, and so forth.

What is considered high hours on a boat?

There are a few things to consider when looking at boat hours. Unless you are looking at a really high hour boat (2,000+ hours) there are typically very few drawbacks to the number of hours a boat has. In fact, a boat with normal hours (50-75 per year) will often time run better than a boat with low hours.

How do you tell if a boat has been sunk?

Evidence of sinking. Check for consistent corrosion on interior hardware, such as rust on all hinges and drawer pulls. You might be able to spot an interior waterline inside a locker or an area hidden behind an interior structure. Corrosion in the electrical system.

How do you know if you can afford a boat?

To Loan or Buy Cash Depending on how you prioritize your housing, car, and boat payments, you can afford different amounts for your boat. A good rule of thumb is that your boat payment should be less than 5-10% of your monthly income.

What are boat Interest Rates?

What is a good interest rate for a boat loan? Borrowers with strong credit can expect boat loan interest rates in the 4% to 5% APR range for new and used boats.

How many hours will a boat engine last?

The average marine gasoline engine runs for 1,500 hours before needing a major overhaul. The average marine diesel engine will run for more than three times that long and log an average 5,000 hours under the same conditions.

How do you convert boat hours to Miles?

Pull the data from the engine meter to determine how many hours the engine has run. Calculate the hours by a factor of 60 to approximate the miles accumulated on the engine. Formula: Engine hours x 60 = Approximate mileage.

Is 600 hours a lot for a boat motor?

Is 600 hours on a boat a lot? 600 hours on a boat is not a lot. If the boat is used around 30-100 hours each year, a boat with 600-hours is a good pick because 30-100 hours each year imply the owner probably would have done annual maintenance; otherwise, the boat couldn’t get that long.

Why should a boats gas tank never be completely filled?

It’s important to never fill the tank of your boat beyond 90% full. This leaves room for gas to expand and avoids the potential for overflow. Ensure that all air vents and valves to the gas tank are open.

How many hours should an outboard motor last?

A typical estimate from the industry is that an outboards motor last around 1,500 hours of operation. Assuming the average owner uses their boat 200 hours a year, this would mean that the motor would last between seven and eight years.

How do you check the hours on a boat motor?

Inspect the engine for an installed hour meter. The meter can usually be found above the engine or somewhere around the steering area of the boat. The numbers on the meter show how many hours the engine has been in use. If there is no hour meter, one should be installed by a marine mechanic.

Does insurance cover boat sinking?

Yes, boat insurance generally covers sinking, although there are some notable policy exclusions you may want to know. Usually, boat insurance should cover your vessel if it sank due to a covered peril, and your policy may also reimburse you for some salvage and removal costs.

Can a sunken boat be salvaged?

Whether it’s due to poor maintenance, a major storm, or an accident, sunken ships don’t necessarily mean all is lost. There is an excellent chance that your sunken boat can be salvaged.

Can a boat sink from rain?

A boat can sink from rain if it has scupper (drains) clogged with dirt blocking the rainwater in the vessel to escape and a weak bilge unable to pump out the incoming rainwater at the same pace. Still, bad weather & heavy rains can quickly fill the boat with water even if the bilge & drains do well.

How much should I spend on boat?

There are few hard and fast guidelines on how much boat you can afford. Lenders and boat dealers say everyone’s case is individual. Generally, your annual payment for your boat loan, the insurance bill, fuel and other maintenence should be about 25 percent of the boat’s total cost.

Are boats expensive to maintain?

Maintenance. Annual maintenance is roughly 10 percent of the cost of the boat, estimates Bloomberg.com. That includes painting the hull every year, cleaning the deck, and replacing the sails every few years. So for a $20,000 boat, that 10 percent comes to $2,000 annually.

What credit score do I need to buy a boat?

Most lenders will be looking for credit scores of about 700 or higher. You can get a boat loan with a lower credit score, but expect that you may have to pay a penalty in the form of a higher interest rate or a larger down-payment.