All Aboard: A Rookie Buyer’s Guide to Used Boats for Sale in Nebraska

In most cases, renting a boat can satisfy the needs of most people. However, you might be better off owning your own boat if you are in the water often and are truly enthusiastic about it.

If this will be your first boat, you may want to start with a used one. This way, you can enjoy the pleasures of owning a personal boat at a fraction of the cost. At the same time, a used boat also allows you to learn and experiment with proper maintenance without the stress. Of course, if your first year or two of boat ownership goes smoothly, you can always sell the boat and buy a brand new one. With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you find a great deal when looking at used boats for sale in Nebraska: 

Purpose

What will you use the boat for? The answer to that question will help you decide what type of boat to get. As you can imagine, finding the right boat for your activity will give you the best return on your investment.

Take the time to research on different types of boats. If you aren’t sure about which boat best fits your needs, do not hesitate to ask for the advice of trusted boat dealers in Nebraska like White’s Marine Center.

Proper Inspection

When looking at used boats, be sure to properly inspect it. The last thing you want to happen is to drive your new boat home only to find out that your new prized possession requires thousands of dollars’ worth of repairs. An article from Boating Magazine offers these inspection tips to help you avoid such a scenario:

Start with a quick walk-around. Look at the hull, paying particular attention to the stem, chines and strakes. These will suffer the brunt of any collision and show cracks best. Any unusual stress-crack patterns?

Remove the outboard cowling. Look for signs of seepage, shown as dry white “curtains,” past the head gasket. Shift and throttle linkages should be greased and show no corrosion, and their springs should snap back.

Check for leaks. If the previous owner let her sit for two or three months, the boat will have had gas in the tank for a while. Ethanol is also corrosive, especially for fiberglass. The fuel lines and the tank could have leaks.

Hull Identification Number

The Hull Identification Number (HIN) works exactly like the VIN of cars. Look for and write down the HIN of a boat before leaving the dealership. Afterwards, run the HIN with your local DMV. You may also want to cross reference the number with State Police and the Coast Guard.

(Source: Boat Inspection Checklist; Boating Magazine; Dec 8, 2009)