Tips For Buying A Used Houseboat
 Used Houseboats
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.
These items can be used as leverage when it comes time to negotiate price.
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
Here are a few areas you will need to check closely:
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. 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. If the boat you are looking at has a lot of canvas, replacing this can cost a few thousand dollars. This may mean a need to replace the carpet. Does a lot of the paint come off in your hand?This may be a sign of a needed paint job soon.
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. This is a serious safety hazard.If you smell gas, be sure to have all the lines inspected. 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.
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. Check all A/C and D/C fixtures. Crawl under the floor and check for any water damage in the floor.Pay particular attention to sink, shower and toilet areas. 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. Check for leaks and mold around the shower and head(s). 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.
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? 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. If there is no documentation, assume the repair was not done. Does the owner have a maintenance log?
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.
If you are moving the boat to another lake, be sure to check for local requirements as well.
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?
This may give you a better understanding of the boat.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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