How do I check to see if a used boat is worth buying?

There is a boat near my house that the owner told me hasn't been in the water in two years. What should I look for to know that I am buying a decent boat. It has an inboard motor so I want to make sure it runs before I even think about working on this boat, How would I do that. And lastly I want to make sure the trailer is drivable and safe, What should I do and look for to check?How do I check to see if a used boat is worth buying?
Compression test the motor (the motor has to be started and warmed up to operating temp to perform this test). If PSI isn't about the same on all cylinders (within 5% or so), walk away.



If it has an outdrive, and the owner starts the engine without supplying water to the lower unit, walk away (it only takes a few seconds dry running to ruin a water pump).



If you live in a jurisdiction that issues titles for boats, and there's not a lienholder, and the owner doesn't have the title in hand, walk away.



If all those work out, make the owner take you to the lake for a test drive. When you get there, feel the trailer hubs -- they shouldn't even be warm.



The motor should start quickly (cold and warm), idle smoothly, accelerate without stalling and cruise at full throttle without problems.



It won't of course, because evaporating gasoline leaves behind a varnish in the carburetors. It should still start quickly, anyway.



But you need the lake test to see how badly it leaks around the outdrive.
go out there tonight and run a water hoe to it fill it half way . come back in 2 days and see if it held the water .How do I check to see if a used boat is worth buying?
well ask the manager how much it is and when he states then price shoot him in the leg and the say "now how much is"...."its free!!"...lol
All kinds of things to look at.

It's best if you take someone who is knowledgable about boats with you to check it out.How do I check to see if a used boat is worth buying?
jtexas gave you a great answer so heed it please.



You also have the right to have the vessel gone over by a marine surveyor. This would cost you a couple of hundred but it's definitely well worth the investment. They check structural integrity of the boat (bottom, sides, transom, etc) and a list of things much too long to list here. You can find them in the yellow pages or on the intranet.



But...even with the marine survey you still want to take the boat for a test drive. Do not settle for a start up in the driveway for that won't show that she can accelerate and get up and go.



Go luck!