Nisswa Marine, serving the Minneapolis metro area, is your local used boat dealership. We’ve provided our top tips for buying a used boat below to help you with the shopping process!

Establish A Firm Budget

Before you begin, you’ll want to take stock of your finances and establish a budget. Going shopping for any big-ticket purchase without having a firm limit in mind means you could be swayed to spend more than you can afford or more than you intended on features that you may not even need. This is why it’s so important to set aside the amount you know you can comfortably afford to spend and immediately rule out any boat that costs more than that.

Don’t forget when planning your budget that you’ll need to factor in things like insurance, registration and emergency supplies. Life jackets for all your passengers will be an important expenditure, for example.

Do Your Research

Next, get online and do some research into types of boats to figure out what used boat might suit you best. You can investigate particular brands and models as well. But you’ll need to think about how you wish to use your craft, how many passengers you plan to take and what additional features you may need. 

For example, someone who’s into fishing will want a boat with rod holders and livewells. Someone who likes to tow watersports participants will need a boat with a tow eye and the ability to generate wakes. If you want to entertain, you’ll want a roomy boat with plenty of comfortable seating.

Once you’ve chosen a brand and style of boat, you’ll want to do further research to determine whether the brand is reliable and whether the model has ever been recalled for manufacturing errors. Look at both professional reviews by industry magazines and other periodicals as well as reviews by private owners to see what they consider to be the good and bad aspects of any particular model.

Get The Boat History

When you head into a dealership ike Nisswa Marine, or if you visit a private seller, make sure you get the history of any boat you’re interested in! Get the full run-down of what repairs were performed and when, what maintenance tasks have been done and how long the boat was in its previous owner’s possession. All of this will help you determine whether you’re getting a good deal.

Perform An Inspection

Having narrowed down your choice to a particular craft and gotten its maintenance history, you’ll want to do a thorough inspection of it, inside and out, to make sure it’s as good as the seller says it is. This is of especial importance if you’re buying from a private seller.

Start with the exterior. Check the hull to make sure there are no cracks over 2” in length or mysterious repairs in the gel coat that could indicate a collision. Look over all metal for signs of corrosion and examine all wood for signs of rot. 

Next, explore inside the boat. Check cushions and carpets for mold and mildew. Test the controls. If the boat’s interior seems very worn-down and dirty, this indicates neglect. You can even hire a surveyor to perform a professional inspection to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

Think it’s time to investigate some models? Visit our Nisswa dealership to see our current selection of used boats for sale. We carry a number of different types of boats so you’ll be able to find the perfect model for your needs and lifestyle. Nisswa Marine proudly serves the cities of Minneapolis and St. Cloud, Minnesota.