Buyer Guide

1. Define your needs and budget

Before you start searching, consider how you intend to use the boat.

Someone looking for a small boat for short coastal trips will have different requirements from someone planning longer voyages, overnight stays on board or commercial use.

You should define, among other things:

• the intended use;
• the number of people who will regularly be on board;
• the preferred propulsion type;
• the required number of cabins and berths;
• the berthing or storage location;
• transport and launching options;
• the intended cruising area;
• the availability of service support and spare parts.

Your budget should cover not only the purchase price, but also possible additional costs:

• a technical survey;
• repairs and servicing;
• transport;
• berthing or storage;
• insurance;
• registration;
• taxes, VAT or customs charges;
• safety equipment;
• ongoing boat maintenance.

2. How to search for and compare listings

Use filters, categories and technical parameters to narrow the results to boats that meet your needs.

When comparing listings, consider not only the price but also:

• year of manufacture;
• boat length and beam;
• hull type;
• engine type and power;
• engine hours;
• equipment;
• service history;
• location;
• tax or VAT status, where applicable;
• the equipment included in the price.

Listings with similar prices can differ substantially in technical condition, equipment and future running costs.

Save interesting listings to Favourites and compare them before contacting the seller.

3. How to assess a listing's credibility

A reliable listing should contain enough information for a buyer to make an initial assessment of the boat.

Check whether the listing includes:

• a consistent title and description;
• a complete technical specification;
• a current price;
• a plausible location;
• photographs of the actual boat;
• information about its technical condition;
• a description of the equipment;
• information about known defects or completed repairs.

Compare the details in the description with the technical tables and photographs.

4. Verify the seller and the right to sell

Before transferring a deposit or any other funds, check who you are dealing with.

If the seller is a private individual

• confirm their identity;
• compare the seller's details with the boat documents;
• make sure they are entitled to dispose of the boat;
• clarify any differences in the information.

If the seller is a company or dealer

• check the company name;
• verify its address and contact details;
• check whether it has its own website and a credible trading history;
• also make contact using details found independently, not only through a link sent in a message.

5. Documents and the boat's history

The documents required may vary according to the type of boat, country of registration and intended place of use.

Before buying, it is particularly important to check:

• proof of ownership;
• the registration document, if required;
• the hull identification number;
• engine identification numbers;
• documents showing the boat's origin;
• VAT status or other tax documents, where applicable;
• service records;
• invoices for major repairs and upgrades;
• manuals and equipment documents;
• information about any finance, lien or other encumbrance;
• compliance documents required in the relevant country.

Check that the numbers on the boat match those in the documents.

If the documentation is incomplete or the details are inconsistent, clarify the situation before entering into a contract.

YachtFinder24 does not automatically verify ownership or the completeness of the documentation for every boat listed.

6. Viewing, sea trial and technical survey

Do not make a decision based only on photographs and a description.

During the viewing, check among other things:

• the condition of the hull;
• signs of repairs and damage;
• osmosis, corrosion or leaks;
• the condition of the deck, rails and fittings;
• the engine compartment;
• fluid leaks;
• the electrical installation;
• electronics and navigation equipment;
• safety equipment;
• the condition of the interior, upholstery and water system;
• the mast, rigging and sails on a sailing boat;
• whether the equipment matches the listing.

If possible, ask for the engine to be started from cold. An engine warmed up before you arrive may make it harder to assess its behaviour during starting.

A sea trial allows you to check the boat in real conditions. Consider assessing:

• engine operation;
• steering;
• behaviour at different speeds;
• operation of on-board equipment;
• unusual vibrations, sounds or smells;
• watertightness;
• the response of the propulsion system.

For a higher-value transaction, consider using an independent surveyor, marine inspector or mechanic.

7. Common warning signs of fraud

A deposit requested before viewing

The seller demands quick payment before you see the boat or verify the documents. Time pressure, claims of many other buyers and a demand for immediate payment may be attempts to make you act without checking the offer.

An offer too good to be true

A very low price may be justified by the technical condition, but it may also be part of a scam. Compare the offer with similar boats and ask the seller to explain the difference.

A fake transport or escrow company

The seller may point to a company that supposedly stores the boat, arranges transport or secures the money. Do not automatically use the link provided. Independently check:

• the company name;
• its address;
• its internet domain;
• registration details;
• reviews and trading history;
• a telephone number obtained from an independent source.

Payment by an irreversible method

Be cautious if the seller asks for payment by:

• cash transfer;
• gift cards;
• cryptocurrency;
• an anonymous payment service;
• another method that makes funds difficult to recover.

Phishing and a fake YachtFinder24 website

Do not enter your password, login code or card details on a page opened from a suspicious link. Always check the domain address. YachtFinder24 does not ask you to send your password or full payment card details in messages.

A seller available only by email

Being unable to speak by phone, make a video call or meet does not prove fraud, but it should increase your caution, especially when combined with pressure for quick payment.

8. Negotiation and agreeing the terms

Before signing the contract, agree at least:

• the price;
• the currency;
• the equipment included in the sale;
• the terms of any advance payment or deposit;
• the date of the viewing and sea trial;
• the option to obtain a technical survey;
• the time and place of handover;
• responsibility for transport;
• the payment method;
• the documents supplied with the boat;
• any agreed conditions for withdrawing from the transaction.

Important arrangements should be recorded in writing rather than relying only on a telephone conversation.

Do not sign a document you do not understand. For an international transaction, make sure there is a language version understood by all parties.

9. Deposit, contract and secure payment

Before paying an advance or deposit, make sure that:

• you have verified the seller;
• you have seen the boat or have a credible independent survey;
• you have checked the basic documents;
• you have received the payment terms in writing;
• you know when and on what terms the funds may be refunded;
• the recipient account matches the details of the party to the transaction.

Do not rely solely on a screenshot, email or statement that the payment has been “secured”.

Before transferring the balance of the price, make sure the contract conditions have been met.

For a high-value transaction, consider:

• help from a lawyer;
• the involvement of a notary where appropriate in the relevant jurisdiction;
• a verified escrow service;
• a client or trust account;
• another secure method agreed by the parties.

10. Buying abroad, transport and formalities

When buying a boat located in another country, check before signing the contract:

• whether the boat can be registered in the destination country;
• documents required for the change of ownership;
• VAT status;
• any customs duties and taxes;
• technical and environmental requirements;
• equipment compliance;
• transport requirements;
• insurance during transport;
• launching and collection costs;
• responsibility for preparing the boat for transport.

Do not assume that documents sufficient in the seller's country will automatically be sufficient in your country.

If in doubt, consult the relevant authority, a tax adviser, lawyer or boat-registration specialist.

11. Handover of the boat

The handover should take place in accordance with the written contract.

At collection, check:

• the identity of the parties;
• that the required documents have been signed;
• payment confirmation;
• the condition of the boat;
• that the equipment matches the contract;
• ownership and registration documents;
• keys;
• manuals;
• service records;
• the devices and accessories being handed over.

It is useful to prepare a handover report that includes, among other things:

• the date and place;
• the meter reading or engine hours;
• a list of the equipment handed over;
• visible damage;
• the number of keys handed over;
• the parties' signatures.

12. What to do after the purchase

After the purchase:

• complete the required change-of-ownership formalities;
• register the boat if required;
• arrange suitable insurance;
• update the details at the marina or storage location;
• change codes, passwords and access to on-board devices;
• check when the next service is due;
• retain the contract, payment confirmations and documentation;
• make sure you have the required safety equipment;
• schedule an initial service if needed.

13. Quick buyer checklist

Before transferring money, make sure that:

• ✓I have defined my needs and full budget;
• ✓I have compared several similar listings;
• ✓I have verified the seller;
• ✓I have checked the seller's right to sell the boat;
• ✓I have compared the identification numbers with the documents;
• ✓I have viewed the boat;
• ✓I have completed a sea trial where possible;
• ✓I have considered an independent survey;
• ✓I have agreed the included equipment in writing;
• ✓I have checked the deposit terms;
• ✓I am not using an unverified transport or escrow company;
• ✓I know the full cost of the purchase, transport, taxes and registration;
• ✓I will not transfer the full price before the contract conditions are met;
• ✓I have prepared the collection and handover documents.