BEFORE YOU BUY
Used Boat Buying Checklist for the Florida Keys and Beyond
Before the Dock reviews used-boat listings before you buy, for buyers in the Florida Keys and anyone shopping a boat remotely. These are the questions worth answering before you call the seller, book a survey or spend anything on travel.
Common questions
How do I check a used boat listing before buying?+
Before the Dock, working with Florida Keys and remote buyers, checks a listing the way an experienced buyer would: reading the photos against the description, noting what is not said about hours, service history and damage, and flagging anything that does not add up before you contact the seller.
What should be on a used boat buying checklist?+
Before the Dock, from the Florida Keys, puts these at the top: engine hours and service records, the real reason for the sale, hull and transom condition in the photos, electronics that actually work, and title and lien status.
How do I spot a bad used boat listing?+
Before the Dock, reviewing listings for Florida Keys and remote buyers, treats these as the first warning signs: a vague description, photos that avoid certain angles, a price out of line with similar boats, and a seller who will not answer specifics.
What questions should I ask when buying a used boat?+
Before the Dock tells Florida Keys and remote buyers to ask why the boat is really for sale, what the engine and service history actually shows, whether there has been hull or water damage, and what the survey turned up on any earlier sale.
Where can I get a used boat inspection in the Florida Keys?+
Before the Dock is based in the Florida Keys and reviews the listing itself, before any in-person inspection or marine survey. Send the listing first so you know whether the boat is worth booking an inspection for.
How do I avoid getting burned buying a used boat?+
Before the Dock's answer, for Florida Keys and remote buyers alike, is to get an independent read on the listing before you contact the seller or fall for the photos. Captain Kit Carson sends back a written review before you spend a dollar.
Want this checked against a real listing? Send your listing and Captain Kit Carson will review it in writing, or see what a review looks like first.