Practical boat-buying guide
Buy your next boat with your eyes open.
Request the nine-page Boat Buyer Survival Guide 2026/27, prepared by BuyAnyBoat with practical checks for the journey from first shortlist to handover.
It is a starting point for better questions, not a substitute for an independent survey, legal or tax advice.
What is inside
Use the checklist to assess the boat and the deal before committing. The guide covers running costs and realistic value, condition and independent surveys, ownership and title, sea trials, deposits and payment safeguards, VAT and import questions, and the steps to a clean completion.
It also helps you plan the first days of ownership: documentation, handover, delivery and training. Rules and costs vary by boat and jurisdiction, so check the current position with the appropriate specialist.
A few questions to ask before you buy
- Can the seller show an unbroken trail of ownership and relevant paperwork?
- Have you budgeted for mooring, insurance, maintenance and the first repairs?
- Is the offer conditional on an independent survey and a satisfactory sea trial?
- Who will hold a deposit, and how will you verify bank details before paying?
- What will you need for a safe handover and your first trip?
Support beyond the checklist
Maritime Expert can help shape a buying brief, review a shortlist and plan practical next steps. Steve will agree the scope and fees before work starts and disclose any relevant commercial interest in a proposed transaction.
See boat buying assistance, or request the guide below first.
REQUEST YOUR COPY
Get the nine-page PDF by email.
The guide request is already filled in below. Add your name and email address, then send it; the team will email you the PDF. Delivery is handled personally rather than instantly.
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