Guides

Buying a used boat, one honest step at a time

Plain-language guides for used-boat buyers: what to check before you buy, which official records matter and where they live, how to read a hull identification number, and the questions that protect you before money moves. New guides are added as we publish them.

Buying guide How to check a used boat before you buy A buyer's walkthrough: the paperwork to gather, the records to pull, the storm and hull questions to ask, and what a walk-around should cover before you commit. Read the guide