Ten Tips For Selling Your Boat.

1. Market it!: Advertise heavily. Place ads in local boating press, the big daily newspaper and, if it’s a large boat or one of limited availability that buyers will likely travel out of state to see, place ads in the pricier regional and national venues. Picture ads draw more traffic. Rent space at some highway-side lot where hundreds of passers-by can see it—more than in your driveway.

2. Fired-up!: Start the engine and warm it up an hour before a prospect comes to see the boat. A dead battery or balky start—even for an excellent engine—turns buyers off.

3. Pledge of Allegiance: Looks are important. Spray-on furniture wax can be applied and wiped-off quick and easy. The gleam doesn’t last more than a day, but it’s perfect for that prospect who calls and says he’ll be over in an hour.

4. Empty Promise: It’s better to show empty stowage areas and remark how spacious they are then to have all your gear jammed in them to the point of overflowing. Remove your crap.

5. Touch Points: A professional detail job makes sense for a boat in pristine condition. If your boat rates “average” or “good” focus solely on the more glaring blemishes. Compound-out rust stains bleeding from fittings, re-tape shredded boot stripe, de-grease the engine, clean the bilge, etc. If the cabin is musty, surreptitiously place air fresheners.

6. Fogged-out: If clear curtains are scratched or clouded by age, remove them for the initial viewing.

7. Bottom Job: If the boat is bottom painted, apply a fresh coat. It makes the boat look sharper. Also spray paint outboard and stern drive skegs that have the paint worn-off.

8. Sea Trial: With the canvas removed, all but safety gear stowed ashore and light in fuel and water, your boat will plane easier, handle more nimbly, and attain a faster top-end speed. Try to convince the buyer to limit ride-along friends and family to as few as possible, for the reasons above, and so the true “roominess” of the boat isn’t painfully obvious.

9. Paper Chase: Have all title, registration, extended warranty and, if available, service records on hand in a binder. It’s impressive, even if the buyer's initial reaction to it seems ho-hum. See how much a boat lender will finance for a potential buyer.

10. Be Realistic: Figure out your bottom–line price well in advance of meeting the first buyer. Consider the dollar costs of advertising, storage and maintenance while it's for sale as well as the time costs involved in showing the boat.

By: Bill Schrama

If the buyer needs a boat loan please visit www.boatfinance.com for loans from $5,000 and higher.

Financing a used boat purchase

Financing a Pre-Owned Boat

Purchasing a pre-owned boat can be a very good choice if you want to save thousands of dollars or get more boat for your money. Boats depreciate the largest percentage in the first 2 years. After 2 years if the boat is maintained the values hold strong.

If you're buying a pre-owned boat from a dealer you will likely get a helping-hand with the loan process. Many dealers have a Finance Manager on staff who can handle the whole transaction, from assisting with the application, vessel titling and through to the loan closing.
Other dealers may not have a finance specialist on their staff, but they may employ an outside loan service company that handles all the same tasks, and it will arrange all of the details.
Some dealers may simply send you to a bank or financial service company they refer business to, to have them handle the transaction.

You can save even more money by looking for a private seller and cutting out the dealer as the middle man. There are a few specialty lenders out in the market that will finance private party purchases and assist with the settlement. This is a great service because your getting the resources of a professional dealership with the savings of a private party pre owned boat purchase.

Boat Finance LLC located in North Palm Beach Florida offers financing for all types of used boats from $5,000 and up. Please visit our web site at www.boatfinance.com for more information.

By: Bill Schrama

Daily Boater Boating News: Boating Safety Tips from College

Daily Boater Boating News: Boating Safety Tips from College: Broward College Offers Safe Boating Tips for the Summer...  Photo Courtesy of The U.S. Coast Guard. Since Florida is one of the most...
Boating week, which is coming up from May 17 to 23, 2014. Broward College’s marine engineering management program is the first institution to send us such an announcement with boating safety tips, and we're happy to pass them along.

“Safety on the water is everyone’s responsibility, but many recreational boaters make the mistake of assuming they can beat the odds, and without proper preparation, this may not be the case,” said Anthony Petriello, associate dean of the marine programs. “Don’t take anything for granted, as all on board are your responsibility.”

There are several precautions boaters should take before casting off...

Boating Safety Tips from Broward College’s marine engineering management program

• Always file a float plan in the form of a note, email or voicemail with someone you trust, such as a family member or friend, so they will know what to do if you don’t come back on time.  

• Check all recommended safety supplies and equipment on board periodically, such as first aid kits, sunscreen, spare batteries and flashlights. The American Boating & Yacht Council has released a free app called “Boating Essentials,” which is designed for both new and experienced boaters. Not only will boaters be able to identify a safety checklist of all the items they are required to have onboard, but also receive maintenance guide alerts and monitor their supply lists.

• Consistently wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Every person on board should be wearing a life jacket that is the right size and fit because it is the best defense against drowning.  

• Complete routine boat safety inspections. Check the navigation and safety lights, steering, engine fluids, electrical and heating systems, bilge pump and anchor.  The ventilation system is often overlooked, as well, so periodically make sure that all openings are free of obstructions, the ducts and ducting are not blocked, and make sure worn components are replaced.  

• Refill and replace fire extinguishers so that they are in functioning order. There should also be a supply of flares available in the event someone needs to send out a distress signal.  

• Beware of carbon monoxide hazards while on the water. Dangerous concentrations of carbon monoxide can accumulate when a boat is by a pier, near a seawall or alongside another boat.

• Do not run engines for extended periods of time under these conditions without continuous monitoring.  

• Check the weather forecast, as sudden summer storms can place boaters in rough conditions. In these cases, reduce your speed, keep bilges free of water, head to the nearest shore or even anchor the boat, if necessary.

For more information on the marine programs at Broward College, contact Anthony Digirolamo at 954-201-8616 or adigiro1@broward.edu.

  Need a boat loan? Visit www.boatfinance.com

Small Boats & Power Boats

Small Boats are quite economical, maintenance free, fewer accessories can be added and easy to transport and they can be easily constructed with few weekends. They can be built very easily if you have some basic woodworking skills. Small boats work perfectly alright with novice boat manufacturers and it allows you to get the feet wet in process of producing the boat without undergoing all the risk and frustration. There are lots of producers in the market, who have built ample of boats till today and still love to produce them. Some of the most common materials used for building these boats are wood which is suitable for woodworking builders. The boat building techniques is a stitch and glue method which is considered as one of the easiest methods to implement.

You can easily find small boats for sale and diving. There is great amount of satisfaction and enjoyment in owning one of these beautiful boats. Materials like timber will be an excellent choice for beginners and tools required to build these boats are cutters, measuring tools, sanders, hammers and files. You can imagine the multiplication of satisfaction and enjoyment, those who are building one of these boats. Once these boats are produced there are several different ways to enjoy them such as packing the lunch and cruising up the river, going on a fishing trip with friends and family on the ocean and scuba diving which is one of the popular past times.

Boating is quite wonderful with power boats and most of them are in common with sail boats; they are equipped with engines and have similar maintenance. The major difference between sailboats and power boats is that sailboats don’t have to depend on engines for travel. Those who are looking for power boats for sale; the best place to look for them is over the internet with online dealers as they have lots of dealership networks. The power boats come with ample of space and provide you with different areas and levels to hang-out. In the aft cockpit area there are deck chairs and BBQ, or fighting chairs. There are some other amenities which include entertainment center it wet-bar, lounge on foredeck and flybridge for relaxing.

Once you head inside the sliding glass doors of power boats you will find all entertainment features and amenities like home such as living room with chairs and couch carpeted with some counters and coffee table, big windows with curtains for ample of lights, television in spacious area, closet, comfortable stateroom, drawers, vanity, television and entertainment center. There are lots of other features such as personal preference to heat and air-conditioning, trawlers, big cruisers and houseboats.

by DelfinAshley of BoatPointPark.com March 2011

www.boatfinance.com