Ready to part ways with your boat? A private-party sale is the best way to get the most money for it.
We’ll cruise through the steps of selling your boat, and we’ll introduce you to a powerful new tool for simplifying the process.
Your boat’s title (or registration in some states) is the most important document in the sale. It proves you’re the legal boat owner and will transfer ownership to the buyer. If you can’t find it, now’s the time to dig it up or request a replacement from your state’s agency.
Most boat titles include:
After you’ve got the title, collect these other supplemental documents that explain your vessel’s history and help justify your asking price:
Pro tip: Get a boat history report. It builds trust with buyers and can speed up the sale process. DealNow’s integration with boat history providers makes this a breeze directly from your dashboard.
A clean, well-maintained boat will sell faster and for more money. Here’s how to make your boat shine:
Take high-quality photos for your listing. Capture multiple angles of the exterior and interior. Include images of damage and wear. Honesty builds trust with prospective buyers.
You want top dollar, but you also want your boat to sell. The following steps will help you price your boat in the Goldilocks zone.
Leverage the following websites to establish a fair market value (FMV) for your boat:
Pro tip: These tools often provide a range of values. Price your boat higher or lower in the suggested FMV range based on its condition and features—and on your urgency to sell.
For high-end boats or unique vessels, a professional appraisal is worth the investment. A certified marine surveyor can provide an unbiased, detailed assessment of your boat’s value.
Economics plays a large role in pricing, especially with expensive boats. Fluctuations in supply, demand, interest rates, and overall market sentiment affect what you can expect to get.
To get a feel for the market:
Look for boats similar to yours in make, model, year, and condition to develop your initial price range.
Note: The boat market is seasonal. Demand increases during spring and summer, so try to sell during those seasons.
Now that you’ve done your homework, it’s time to set your price. Here’s a smart approach:
If 2–3 weeks go by without serious inquiries, drop the price by 5%. Continue this process until you start to catch nibbles.
If you’re in a hurry to sell, list your boat initially at the lower end of its fair market value, and be prepared to drop it even more after a day or two if you don’t generate a lot of interest.
Unless you already have a buyer lined up, you’ll need to list your boat online for maximum exposure.
Think of your listing as a “dating profile” for your boat.
It’s better to give too much information than too little. The more extensive your information, the more credible your listing will be to serious buyers.
Save your photos and descriptions so you can quickly list your boat on multiple sites.
A great way to justify a higher asking price is to showcase your boat’s best features when you make your listing. These could include:
Take photographs and collect supporting documents to add to the listing and show to potential buyers.
If you’re selling a high-demand wakeboard boat, you might find plenty of ready buyers in your local classifieds. For a yacht, you may need an online listing site that caters to yacht transactions Here are some of your options for listing your boat for sale:
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Facebook Marketplace |
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Local classifieds |
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DealNow lets you sell your boat and get paid securely and quickly, regardless of which site you list it on. Our full transactional workflow protects you through the entire process and includes instant payments of any amount.
After connecting with a buyer on a listing site, invite them to your DealNow dealroom for a secure, fast, and intuitive sale. Here’s how DealNow removes friction from online boat sales:
| Issue | Online listing sites | DealNow solution |
|---|---|---|
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Scammers |
Scammers use aliases to avoid getting caught |
Buyer verification shows you that you're dealing with a real person, operating under their actual identity |
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Time wasters |
People who can't afford to buy your boat waste your time |
Fund verification shows you that your buyer is serious |
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Personal info |
Lack of secure messaging options exposes your personal contact info to strangers when you exchange phone numbers and email addresses |
Encrypted messaging protects your contact info and routes all communication through the DealNow app |
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Sea trial scheduling |
Back-and-forth coordination of the sea trial wastes your time and exposes your contact info |
In-app scheduling makes coordination a cinch. The buyer selects from your preset availability to schedule the sea trial |
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Catch-22 trust problem |
The buyer doesn't want to pay until they have some assurance they will get the boat; you don't want to release the boat until you’ve been paid |
Two-party signing of a bill of sale protects both parties. Instant funds transfer gets the deal done on the spot |
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Bill of sale |
It's inconvenient to print double copies of the bill of sale, remember to bring them to the meet-up, and fill them out correctly |
A digital bill of sale for your state—with a guided walk-through for both parties—is signed, countersigned, and stored in the cloud |
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Payment |
Traditional payment methods are slow, expensive, risky, inconvenient, inadequate, or all of the above |
Receive any amount of money instantly, any time of day, any day of the year |
Whether you found your buyer on Boat Trader or Facebook, finish strong with DealNow. It’s the smart way to get paid for your boat.
When inquiries start rolling in, you’ll need to separate serious buyers from time-wasters or scammers. Your screening goals:
Here are some ways you can weed out untrustworthy buyers:
Once you’ve found a serious buyer, it’s time for a sea trial. This is the buyer’s opportunity to see your boat in action, so be prepared to show it off.
With DealNow, you set your availability and preferred locations. Buyers easily schedule sea trials through the app, eliminating back-and-forth coordination.
After a successful sea trial, it’s time to close the deal. The boat sale culminates with you and the buyer signing a bill of sale.
While not universally required, a bill of sale is a smart idea in all 50 states. It memorializes the terms of the transaction to legally protect both parties against future disputes. Here are the details typically included in a boat bill of sale:
The bill of sale solves an inherent trust problem in private-party transactions: neither party wants to make the first move and get taken advantage of by the other. It’s a catch-22 that traditional payment methods and boat listing websites fail to overcome. While some people use an escrow service, bills of sale are a much faster and more affordable solution.
DealNow provides an official digital bill of sale for your state. You and the buyer electronically sign and finish the deal whenever you want and wherever you are. And since your digital bill of sale is always available through your DealNow dashboard, you don’t need to worry about theft, destruction, or loss.
After you and the buyer sign the bill of sale, it’s time to get paid for your boat. Watch out: traditional payment methods are full of friction, inconvenience, or risk.
To overcome the security risks of other payment methods, some sellers turn to escrow services, but these are expensive and time-consuming.
DealNow lets you receive instant, secure, unlimited payments in an intuitive mobile app. Funds are held in an FDIC-insured account with easy off-ramping to your regular bank account.
After you’ve been paid, it’s time to transfer ownership of your boat. The exact process varies depending on your state and whether your boat is titled or only registered.
For titled boats:
For registered boats (in states without boat titles):
In both cases:
Note: Some states may require additional forms or steps. Check with your local boat registration agency for specific requirements.
A release or waiver of liability form protects you from the repercussions of any actions the buyer takes with the boat after the sale. If the buyer forgets or intentionally avoids registering the boat in their name, you won’t be held responsible for financial and legal damages. If they get in an accident while your name is associated with the boat in registration records, the release of liability will absolve you.
Check your state’s boat registration agency website to find out how to file a release of liability form. You can usually submit this form online, but make sure you understand the submission deadline; most states require filing within 5–30 days of the sale.
Pro tip: Submit your release of liability form before canceling your boat insurance.
DealNow streamlines the boat sales process with a complete set of transactional tools that put you in control of the deal. Here’s how easy it is:
Our user-friendly technology empowers you to close deals on your terms, on the spot. Are you ready to sell your boat the right way?
Spring and early summer (March through May) are prime selling seasons, since that’s when buyers look to get on the water. In warmer climates, such as Florida and California, the selling season lasts all year.
For larger boats or yachts, fall can be a good time to sell as buyers look to make purchases before winter storage. Monitor local market trends and consider your boat’s condition and features when deciding the best time to list.
Boats often have good resale value, but it depends on factors such as the following:
While boats depreciate, they often hold value better than cars. To maximize your boat’s resale value:
When you’re ready to sell, use DealNow for a smooth, secure transaction process.
Protect yourself by using DealNow to verify the buyer’s identity and funds. Meet in public places for viewings. Use DealNow’s digital bill of sale and secure system to close the deal and get your money.
After the sale, complete a release of liability form and cancel boat-specific insurance and memberships. DealNow’s platform lets you enjoy secure transactions from start to finish.
Most states require you to register motorized boats and larger sailboats. Smaller non-motorized boats like canoes or kayaks are often exempt. The exact rules depend on the state, so it’s best to check your local regulations.
There’s no national boating license in the USA. Instead, many states require a boating safety education card or certificate. This usually involves taking a safety course and passing an exam. The requirements differ from state to state, with some only mandating it for certain age groups or types of boats.
Foreigners can buy boats in the USA without much restriction, especially for personal use. There’s no citizenship requirement for boat ownership.
For larger vessels that need US Coast Guard documentation, the owner typically needs to be a US citizen. Foreigners should also consider potential tax implications and visa requirements if they plan to use the boat in the US.
DealNow is the easiest way to close your own vehicle deal, anytime. It’s the safe and simple way to avoid fraud, sign documents, and instantly transact, all in one app.
