Things to Look for When Buying a Used Boat
If you are currently thinking about buying a boat, one of the biggest things to decide is whether you want a boat that is new, or one that has been previously owned. If you are buying a previously owned boat, you will be able to save a lot of money, but you will need to do extra work to ensure that the used boat is in good enough condition for you to purchase it. Stop by Rockingham Boat to learn more about boating. We are located in Hampstead, New Hampshire, and we serve Manchester and Nashua, New Hampshire.
Inspect the Exterior
Before purchasing a used boat, you need to ensure that you will do a thorough inspection of the exterior. Walk around the boat and see if you can spot any scratches or cracks. Tap on the fiberglass to see if you can hear any hollow sounds, if it sounds hollow, that's not a good sign. You should also be looking for things like rust, bubbles in the paint, or if any mold or mildew has begun to grow.
Inspect the Interior
Inspecting the interior is just as important as inspecting the exterior. You will be spending almost all of your time in the interior, so you should walk around and check for any cracks, dents or damages. Check the steering system and ensure that it is still fully functioning, a malfunctioning steering system can be very expensive and time-consuming to fix. Check out things such as the door, stairs, flooring, lights, and speakers to see if they're all still fully functioning.
The toilet, sink and shower are also a very significant part of the boat that you need to check. If your boat's plumbing system isn't functioning, that will be a lot of work to fix. It is crucial that you check on the boat's safety equipment as well. Check on the condition of any life jackets, the condition of any first aid kits, the expiration date on fire extinguishers, and if the marine radio is working as it should.
Inspect the Engine
The most expensive part of a boat is the engine, so that also needs a thorough inspection before purchasing a pre-owned boat. Look for any obvious imperfections, such as any leaks, cracks, dense, excessive rust, broken or missing parts, or anything else that looks irregular.
Even if the boat is used, it is still a big and expensive purchase, so you need to ensure that you are getting your money's worth. You need to know what you are looking at when inspecting a boat, so visit Rockingham Boat in Hampstead, New Hampshire to increase your understanding of boats. We serve the Manchester and Nashua, New Hampshire areas.