BUYING A BOAT - BOAT BUYERS GUIDE

When it comes to buying a boat, boat selection is about knowing your own requirements. Determine what you want the new boat to do and in what conditions it will operate, then choose a suitable vessel. Remember that no single vessel will perfectly suit all uses. Therefore you can either buy lots of different boats or be prepared to compromise. Ultimately you may have to compromise on price but avoid any compromise on safety when it comes to buying a boat.

Whether this is your first or 15th boat it is important to research your potential purchase carefully. Thankfully there are many sources of boat buying information including:

• The internet
• Boat magazines and books
• Boat brokers
• Boat manufacturers and designers
• Other boaties.

By continually building on your knowledge and experience you will increase your boating enjoyment and safety.

BUYING A BOAT
Well established and reputable boat brokers (check for the BIA logo) offer an excellent service to the boating public by:

• Concentrating a selection of boats in one location
• Setting realistic prices - a boat broker needs to sell listed vessels
• Providing practical boat buying advice and after sales service
• See WHY USE A DEALER for more information.

As with any substantial purchase use your common sense when you buy a boat:

• Know the value of COMPARABLE BOATS
• Arrange BOAT FINANCE if required. Get your obligation free BOAT FINANCE APPRAISAL
• If you are buying a used boat, pay for an independent INSPECTION of the hull, engine and accessories
• Check for encumbrances (see below)
• Execute a legally binding Sale & Purchase Agreement with all accessories and any warranty terms listed
• Arrange for BOAT INSURANCE - obtain an ONLINE BOAT INSURANCE QUOTE.

If you want to buy a boat privately use increased caution. Make sure you don't end up with the expensive disaster that reputable boat brokers wouldn't touch.

ENCUMBRANCES

Each state in Australia (except Tasmania) offers a service for checking if a vessel has money owing to a lender. This service is the Register of Encumbered Vehicles (REVS) which includes boats. The purpose of REVS for Boats is to safeguard purchasers of boats from unnecessary financial loss. If you buy a boat without knowing it is financially encumbered (money owing on it) you could have it legally repossessed and lose your investment. Before a REVS check can be done you need to provide the following information:

• The boats HIN - hull identification number
• The engine number(s) for all of the vessels motors
• The boat's registration number.

QLD, NSW, VIC, SA, NT
Each of these states have a real time link to REVS. This can be accessed online at www.revs.nsw.gov.au.

WA
Visit www.docep.wa.gov.au or phone REVS on 1300 30 40 24 you can check if the vessel has money owing on it.