Quick Answer: What To Look For When Buying A Used Fishing Boat

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 forth23-Jun-2020

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 hours03-Jul-2019

What is the best month to buy a boat?

FALL Many people will argue that the fall is the best time for buying a boat This is because most of the manufacturers start offering discounts around September and October When demand begins to decline, dealers often provide incentives for buyers in the form of discounts and deep cuts in pricing

How old should you buy a used boat?

Our experience indicates that boats in the 2-4 year old range usually offer the best prospects Of course, boats that are only one year old are hard to find since not many people sell at that age

Is 500 hours a lot on a boat motor?

500 hours on a boat is not a lot In fact, 500 hours is a sweet spot to buy/sell a boat If the boat is used around 30-100 hours each year, a boat with 500-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

How do you convert boat hours to Miles?

Multiply the amount of hours on your engine by 60 Use the number you come up with to estimate how many miles are on your engine For example, 1,235 hours on an engine equates to approximately 74,100 miles

How many hours should 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

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 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

How much does it cost to rebuild a boat engine?

Rebuilding your engine will cost around $2,500 That difference of $1,000 to $2,000 will buy a lot of gas, so consider carefully The same-size engine in a newer four-stroke or DFI two-stroke model will add at least a $1,500 premium, so those 90 to 115 horsepower models could now run upward of $6,000

What is a boat inspection?

SeaWorthy Inspections thoroughly inspects your boat, including all on-board equipment, engine performance, mechanical functionality, and safety equipment efficiency, ensuring all aspects of the boat are safe and compliant

What should I look for in a boat survey?

The surveyors will inspect the hull to check for soundness and water intrusion, running gear, electronics, electrical system, plumbing, heat and air conditioning and all other items of the boat They will do a cursory review of the engine and mechanical systems

Will boat prices go down in 2022?

After that, though, supply will probably start to catch up and the used boat market settles down for good late 2022 into 2023

Is buying a boat tax deductible?

Purchase Price Expense Deduction: You can deduct the purchase expense of a yacht or boat outright that is bought for a legitimate business purpose such as hiring or chartering However, a boat is considered “listed property” (more on that in a minute), and the IRS is picky about how you depreciate listed property

How often should you service a boat motor?

Most outboard, sterndrive and gasoline inboard engines require basic service every 100 hours or annually

Should I buy a 10 year old boat?

Boats that are more than a decade old are still great candidates for purchase; however, just like when buying a classic car, more investigation and review should be in order to ensure the background and viability of the hull, engine and drivetrain

Is buying a used boat a bad idea?

While you can certainly find expensive used boats, if you want a reasonable vessel that fits within a tight budget, you will likely choose a used option Not only is the price lower, but like a used car, much of the value depreciation has already happened, so a used boat will hold its value better as well

How much does it cost to maintain a boat per year?

On average, the cost of maintaining a boat is around $2,000 per year However, it varies drastically from as small as $700 or less per year (if you DIY) to $5,000 or more per year (if you hire a professional to do it) The size and type of the boat matter a lot in this whole “maintenance” process

Do you leave the blower on a boat?

Some people leave their bilge blower on all the time while they are driving their boat However, you should run them for at least four minutes to ventilate the bilge before starting the engine This will rid the bilge of any gas buildup that might be present in the bilge

What is better outboard or inboard?

Inboard motors generally last longer than their outboard counterparts You can squeeze roughly 1,500 hours out of an inboard before necessary maintenance Outboards, on the other hand, last about 750 hours on average So, the inboard option means less maintenance (nearly half) even though they cost more initially

What is considered low hours on boat?

less than 50 hours per year or less than 200 hours total = low hours