Questions about buying a used boat (first time owner)

What should DH be looking at/for when he goes to look at it? I called a marine service shop and they said they could do a compression check, check the lower unit for $80. But their hours are M-F 8-5, which doesn't work for my husband at ALL.

Also, if he were to buy it, does it need to be registered/insured before he can get it home? Do you have to do that at the SOS like you register cars? I already called State Farm about a different boat he was looking at, so we have an inkling of what insurance would cost - this one's 1' shorter and older, so I'm sure it'd be less than the ~ $340/year they quoted me for the 18' Fisherman a couple weeks ago.

Also - he's got a 99 Silverado pick-up. He's got a hitch, but no wiring yet. He thought there was a wiring harness package you could get from GM that you just hook up and it's ready to go...is there?

Dave Hall

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatDetails.jsp?currency=USD&units=Feet&currencyid=100&boat_id=1605907&checked_boats=1605907&back=%2Fcore%2Flisting%2Fcache%2FsearchResults.jsp%3Fmanc%3D34%26uom%3D126%26currency%3DUSD%26units%3DFeet%26duom%3D126%26sm%3D3%26wuom%3D126%26luom%3D126%26currencyid%3D100%26currencyid%3D100%26ps%3D20%26man%3DLUND%26slim%3Dquick%26so%3D0%26n%3D1%253A1%253A2609%253A115612%253A34&searchtype=

(if that's too long,, just go to Yachtworld and run a search for Lund, 17 feet)

Your husband definitely wants to have the engine checked before finalizing the deal. If the shop is closed when he's looking at the boat, the seller will probably agree to take the boat to the shop during business hours and your husband can pay for the inspection via credit card or whatever. A smart seller will ask for a deposit of at least enough to cover the inspection fee, with the stipulation that the deposit will be applied to the purchase price if your husband goes ahead with the purchase. Not-so-smart sellers in the same situation will not only see the sale itself evaporate in the face of an unfavorable inspection, some buyers (less honorable than your husband, of course) will refuse to pay for the inspection they demanded if the results aren't what they hoped for.

If the seller balks at allowing your husband to inspect the engine, particularly at your husband's expense, your guy should run (not walk) to the nearest safe place and make the sign of the cross. :-)

Each state has slightly different licensing laws. If the tabs or plates on the trailer are current, he *probably* doesn't need to transfer title to the boat and trailer prior to hauling it away. Many states don't require insurance on a boat and trailer in order to legally move it, but the law of common sense will require that some insurance agent issue you at least a binder- if not a complete policy, before driving off. The statistical probability of having an accident is going to be much higher the first time or two that your husband tows a new load.

Can't say for sure about the wiring harness, but GM will probably only supply wiring to the receptacle on the aft bumper. There are so many ways to wire a trailer that I'd be surprised to learn GM carries a specific hookup for a specific boat trailer. (I used to rent trucks and trailers from one of my businesses, and we needed to rely on some pretty creative ways to connect standardized trailer wiring to a variety of factory and home-grown gizmos on trucks. Half the time we'd give up and use "Tap-a-Lites" inserted through the tail lamp lenses.

I'm in Michigan. We have a permanent trailer license that's something like $300 and you don't have to renew it - but I don't know if that's a transferable plate, or if a new owner would have to re-register it if it's sold.

Re: the hitch/wiring. He did not get the truck with a hitch on it. He had a hitch installed a year ago so he could help his cousin tow a camper into the woods for deer hunting. So it's not wired at all - just the hitch.

I'm not sure what all else is included - I think he mentioned a FishFinder/GPS and marine radio. I don't know if the the boat comes with a bimini top or a boat cover, etc.

But so far it sounds like, depending on the condition of the trailer especially, it's probably a bit overpriced and DH should make a lower offer.