Buying a houseboat can represent one of the largest investments a
person may make in a lifetime. Buying a new houseboat may not be
 without some unexpected problems, and kinks that need to be worked
out, so one must be especially diligent when purchasing a used
houseboat. Also just like buying a home, we all examine the home
thoroughly, most times getting a professional to look at it. This
should not be any different when looking at a used houseboat.
One advantage of buying a used houseboat is that you may get a lot of add-ons that were not included in the original purchase price. These are things the owner may have long forgotten about, thus did not include in setting his/her price. Items such as dock lines, furnishings, fenders, and electronics just to name a few.
It's not as hard as you might think. All it takes is a little common sense and some help from the pros. As you do your inspection make a list of repairs you feel need to be done. These items can be used as leverage when it comes time to negotiate price.
First Impressions
I can remember looking at houses when we were in the market for a new one. Many looked great in the picture, but could be eliminated by a simple �drive-by�. This is the same when looking at houseboats; your first impression can usually save you a lot of time and headaches and money. Give the houseboat the
quick once over from the outside. Simple things like mildew on the carpets, chipped or peeling/faded paint or gelcoat, unkempt dock area. If the owner cannot take care of little things like these, what does it say about the bigger things? On the flip side, if the boat is in good clean appearance, this may be an indication that the owner took care of the boat. But do not take this for granted.
The Outside Inspection
There are many areas to check on the outside of the houseboat. Here are a few areas you will need to check closely:
� Cabin joints � Inspect the areas where the cabin joins the hull. Make sure there are no gaps.
� Hull - If steel do you notice any signs of rust? You will want to inspect the hull from the inside as well as the outside, as many hulls may rust from the inside out. Grab a flashlight, jump down the hatch and inspect the inside of the hull thoroughly. Replacing a steel hull can run several thousand dollars. For both aluminum hulls and steel hulls, inspect the welds joints for cracks, or signs of weakness. If it is a fiberglass hull, check for blistering and stress cracks.
� Roof � Take every opportunity to walk all around the roof. Check for cracks/chips in the gel coat. Also check for weak spots. Weak spots in the rotting are a sign of rotting wood, which can be a costly repair.
� Canvas � Buyers often overlook this. Check the canvas for wear and fading. If the boat you are looking at has a lot of canvas, replacing this can cost a few thousand dollars.
� Carpet � Give a good visual inspection to the carpet. Is there any mold, are the corners curling. This may mean a need to replace the carpet.
� Paint � Visually inspect the paint for fading, cracking, chipping. Take your hand and wipe it over the paint. Does a lot of the paint come off in your hand? This may be a sign of a needed paint job soon.
� Fiberglass � Check the fiberglass for blisters, crazing, and warping.
� Lights � Be sure all running lights and additional exterior lights are in good working order.
The Inside Inspection
If the houseboat you are looking at passes your initial �drive-by� test, it�s time to take a closer look. Upon entering the cabin your nose can usually tell you a lot about the boat. As you walk about the cabin you can be deluged with various smells:
� Moldy/Musty � Can be an indication of roof, window or other leaks. If you smell this, make point to examine the roof along with all other seal and joint areas (windows, cabin base, etc) for water stains. Water damage is not to be taken lightly. Stained paneling or wood, can be unsightly, but the bigger problem is what is behind the stain. Is the wall rotting, what about the floor? If you see water stains be sure to �dig� a little deeper. One good test is to get a hose and spray the side of the houseboat with water, while someone inspects the inside seals for leaks.
� Gas � Can be an indication of leaking LP lines. This is a serious safety hazard. If you smell gas, be sure to have all the lines inspected.
� Waste � When you are around the head area, be sure to smell for holding tank odors. This can indicate leaking holding tanks, which may need to be replaced. Also, if this has leaked into the wood, getting rid of the smell can be very difficult.
� Pet Odors - Pet odors can also be hard to eliminate short of replacing the carpet, be sure to check the carpets thoroughly.
More Inside Inspection
� Water � How is the water pressure? Turn on all the faucets and check. Also check the water pressure while not hooked to the dock. Does the water pump work well? Be sure to check both hot and cold water. Visually inspect all water lines for leakage.
� Wiring � Visually inspect wiring, following all leads. Check all A/C and D/C fixtures.
� AC and Heat- Does the heater heat, and does the air conditioner�well air condition?
� Floors � Again grab a flashlight and head below deck. Crawl under the floor and check for any water damage in the floor. Pay particular attention to sink, shower and toilet areas.
� Appliances� Make sure all the appliances are in good working order. Light the stove, does the frig keep the beer cold? Do appliances work on both AC, DC and LP if so equipped? Try operating several appliances at one time(i.e. microwave, coffee maker, hairdryer, etc), to see if there are any circuit overloads.
� Bathrooms � Check to make sure all heads flush properly. Check for leaks and mold around the shower and head(s).
� D�cor � How is the overall d�cor. Make notes of what you can and can�t live with. Inspect carpet, window coverings, furniture for wear, fading etc. Check counters, cupboards, and closets for needed repairs.
Mechanical Inspection
� Engine(s) � Make a close visual inspection of the engine(s), and generator. Be sure to check fittings, hoses, and belts. Check the oil for signs of wear. Fire up the engines and let them run for some time. This will let you see if there are any overheating or more serious problems. Run them through a series of RPM ranges. Be sure to have your mechanic do a thorough inspection of the engines. Check the bilge area for signs of oil or coolant leakage. Check the shifting. Does it shift easily?
� Generator � Do the same inspections you did with the engine(s). You will also want to test the generator under loads. Fire up the generator, and see how it performs while using several appliances at one time.
� Repairs � See what documentation the owner has for repairs. If there is no documentation, assume the repair was not done. Does the owner have a maintenance log?
Test Drive
Once you are serious about the boat, it is time for a test drive. You need to see how it handles at different speeds. Handling a houseboat is different than your runabout. Does it track well? Does it maneuver well at both high and low speeds? Do all the gauges work properly? Does it shift well? If the boat has a flybridge, operate it from there as well.
Miscellaneous Inspection
Be sure you check all the following:
* Does the owner have an owners manual for the boat, and all motors and appliances?
* Is the prop in good shape?
* Are fire extinguishers up-to-date and working?
* Inspect for any loose fittings.
* Does the boat comply with all US Coast Guard requirements? If you are moving the boat to another lake, be sure to check for local requirements as well.
Professional Inspection
Hiring a surveyor is simple; all you have to do to locate a surveyor in your area is call the National Association of Marine Surveyors at 800-822-6267, or the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors at 800-244-9077 for a listing. You may pay a few hundred dollars for a survey, but this money will be well worth it You might be tempted to use the broker's, the insurer's or even the seller's surveyor, but get your own. You want to make sure the surveyor represents you and your interests. Once you've selected a few surveyor-candidates you need to make sure they are experienced in surveying houseboats. Are they qualified to survey mechanical and electrical systems? Is he/she insured? Do they provide a fair market value replacement cost as required by most lenders?
Try to be at the boat while the surveyor is surveying. This may give you a better understanding of the boat.
The Offer
Well so far, this is the boat you want. You are ready to make an offer. Unfortunately there is not a �blue book� per say for houseboats. This is where doing your homework will help you with negotiations.
First off look over your list of repair/maintenance needs. Do not guess at what you think a repair will cost. If you have any doubt, contact a marine professional and get a quote for doing any needed repairs. The last thing you want to do is guess a repair is �only going to be a few hundred dollars� and find out later that the job will be several thousand dollars.
Research the used market. The Internet, and especially our classified section is a good place for this. Compare similarly equipped houseboats to see how they are priced in relation to the boat you are looking at.
How is the houseboat market? Soft? Hot? This will also give you insight into where you can begin with your offer.
Talk to the dock neighbors, they may share more information about the boat and owners than you think. Also talk with the marina personnel they may have information about the boat.
Ask yourself how much work you are willing to do. How much will you need to contract? Is it better to pay a little more for a boat that has more working features, or are you willing to build seat equity? These are questions I cannot answer. Many Houseboaters want to get on the houseboat after working all week, and get out on the lake. While others take pride in restoring a houseboat.
Doing this research will help you put together an offer that will not insult the owner, and move both of you towards your goals.
When you have your repair list together and your offer, present this to the owner. See if they are willing to do anything about the needed repairs before you buy. Will they make any allowances? A well spelled out offer will show the owner you have done your homework, and are a serious buyer.
Acceptance
Congratulations they accepted your offer! But wait now what? You will want to get the offer in writing. You will want to document not only the price, but also all the equipment that is to go with the boat. The last thing you want is find out not all the equipment is included. For instance, you thought the $500 gas grill was included in the purchase price. The owner never stated, but had planned on keeping it all along.
Buying a houseboat if done right can be a fun and rewarding experience which will lead to many hours of family enjoyment, if done wrong can lead to severe headaches down the road.
If you are looking for information about financing your purchase, check out our finance section.
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1. VERY HELPFULL!
Written by moodyblue8363, on 12-03-2008 19:03
I am in the process of searching for a Houseboat to use as a full time liveaboard and "stumbled" upon this site.There are many things in this article to help me know what to look for when buying a used Houseboat!!!
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