If you honestly think you are the very first "smart, educated, and intelligent person" to ever buy a boat from that dealer... You better RUN (not walk) away from that deal and the dealer.
I don't care if the Dealer is your brother, or your mother... being smart is always intelligent... being dumb is always stupid.
Is it "necessary"? Yes! Is it law? No! but it should be.
Is is "smart"... Absolutely! And depending on the price, size, and intended use of the boat - It could be the very smartest (or dumbest) financial decision you ever made. The bigger the financial sacrifice on your part, the bigger the loan... the smarter and more important it.
Just what are you going to do, if you take that boat out after you buy it, and discover - you need more money to fix it then you paid to buy it? Do you think for one minute, your loan payments will stop?
There are two "absolute musts" to buying a used boat of either substanial size or substantial cost to you...
One is the sea trial - the other is the Marine Survey and the absolute best of both worlds is to schedule your survey and the sea trial together... This way, the surveyor can ride along with you.
DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE DEALER!
A sea trial (and survey in my opinion) is probably more important and necessary when buying from a dealer, then from buying from an owner direct. I can almost guarantee you - that if you buy the boat without a sea trial - the Dealer's owner, salesman, manager, finance officer, and mechanics - will gather around when you leave - and talk about what an idiot you were for not demanding one.
How do I know this? Like Garth Brooks - I have friends in low places. Some, (although I forgive them) are boat brokers and salesmen. For sure, I guarantee you that they would never ever buy a boat and not demand a sea trial (and depending on the size and cost - a survey.)
Now... let me close with this true story. I once recommended a friend on mine buy a particular boat. The boat was an absolutely beautiful 50 foot steel hull Chris Craft Roamer. The vessel was also in the slip next to mine... and had been for ten years. Every day... almost without fail... rain or shine - the retired Navy Admiral that owned that vessel - would be on it - and always working on it with meticulous tender loving care. Though the hull was steel - from the deck up - it was beautiful teak and mahogany, and the Admiral kept ever inch of that vessel in absolute perfect (looked brand new off the showroom floor) condition.
Finally, the Admiral realized he was just too old to take care of her, and put the vessel up for sale. My friend put down a deposit contingent on "his" satisfaction with the results of a Certified Marine Survey. (And at 50' the cost was no small potatoes, and one he had to bare).
To every ones absolute shock, (and I do mean every ones - from the Marina, the mechanics, the Admiral, me, and everyone else familiar with the Admiral and his boat - the survey revealed a soft spot in the starboard bow (steel had rusted)... How bad was it" my friend ask the Surveyor... "Well, " he said, "It's about the size of a basket ball, and bad enough I think I can put my fist through it."
So with a dozen or more of us that just couldn't believe it... the surveryor went out and - starting with the pressure of his bare thumb, pushed out a whole that was indeed just a bit larger then a basket ball.
Now... it didn't stop the deal. My friend and the Admiral came to terms and my friend bought the boat. Course, the first thing he did was have the hull repaired...
The point here is this... Everyone involved were honest men of integrity - and very experienced boaters.
No way would the Admiral have been using his boat, if under that beautiful paint, he had any idea his hull was dissolving away.
In either case, the Admiral or my friend, one good hard turn to port in rough seas - would have quickly flooded and sank the boat. In this case, I am convinced that - that survey saved at least one life - either my friends, or the Admirals.
Capt. John
Yes it is necessary to hire a Marine Surveyor before purchasing a ship that agency can tell which ships is good for future purpose there are all lot's of necessary things which we have to check that is ship is insuared You can find more about this please login to http://marinesurveyorgroup.com
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When buying a used boat from a dealer is it necessary to hire a Marine Surveyor and Mechanic?A survey, simply, is an inspection and valuation of your boat.If the boat is more than 3-5 years old, you will probably have to have it surveyed for insurance purposes, however most dealers will provide a pre-sale report, and some insurers will accept this. As most surveyors are familiar with the mechanical aspects of boats, it is not necessary to have a separate inspection done by a tech, unless there is a mechanical problem suspected by the surveyor.
Sea trials, nautical for test drive, is a must. Not only can you judge the condition and performance of the vessel, but it's a good time for the seller to give you some basic info on the operation of that particular vessel. All boats are not created equal! This is a great time to ask questions, and there are no stupid ones.
Costs will vary considerably depending on your area, type and size of the vessel, and the type of report you require. See if your state has a surveyors association, most do, to find accredited surveyors in your area.
By all means hire a respected Surveyor! You would be foolish not to. I assume you are going to be paying your hard earned money for the boat, are you not? You want to make sure you are getting your monies worth. Additionally, a good Surveyor (one who is not working with the dealer) knows what boats are listed for and more importantly what they are actually selling for. A good Surveyor is going to find flaws in the boat (doesn't mean the boat is bad), you can use those findings to negotiate the price lower. Remember, right now there are a lot of boats for sale; more boats than there are buyers. This means you should be able to get a great boat at a great price. Use a professional to help you accomplish that. Don't be in a hurry either. If you miss one there will be a dozen more to look at.When buying a used boat from a dealer is it necessary to hire a Marine Surveyor and Mechanic?
It's always a good idea. I would certainly ask for a sea trial/test drive. A surveyor would cost you around $250 to $350 dollars and would probably be overkill if it's a small boat. If it's a larger cruising-type boat then definitely get a surveyor. Getting an independent mechanic to check out the motor shouldn't concern the dealer. If it does it would seem he was trying to hide something. Check the deck for soft spots, check the steering to see that it steers freely, check to see that the gauges and accessories work, look for signs that the hull has been patched or repaired, check the transom to see that it isn't rotten or cracked...those are some of the things to look for. A good marine mechanic should go over it for free or very cheap...maybe $30-$40. They will check the compression in the engine and could give you a general idea of how reliable it will be. Check online to see what the boat is worth. Prices are very subjective on boats. Try to find one that is in similar condition. An identical boat in two different areas could be worth very different amounts so try to get an average.
Hope this helps!
The answer here is obvious... Of course, by all means, utilize the services of a licensed marine surveyor.
I would.
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