The off-season is a buyer's market. Sellers don't want to pay storage over winter, and there's less competition than in May. But a "great deal" can turn into a rebuilt motor and a new transom fast. Before you spend money on a professional inspection, here are 10 things you can check yourself in about 20 minutes.
1. The seller won't let you hear it start cold
A warm engine can hide hard starting, smoke and noises. Ask the seller not to run it before you get there, and put your hand on the engine when you arrive.
2. Smoke that doesn't clear
A little smoke on a cold start can be normal on some engines. Blue smoke that keeps going, or white smoke with a sweet smell, is worth asking about.
3. A weak telltale stream (outboards)
On an outboard, the small stream of water out the side should be steady once it's running. A weak stream or none at all can point to cooling problems.
4. A soft or flexing transom
Push and pull on the lower unit while someone watches the transom. It should not flex, and there shouldn't be cracks around the motor mounts. Transom repairs are big jobs. See Transom Repair.
5. Soft spots in the floor
Walk the whole deck. A spongy floor can mean water got into the core.
6. Milky or metallic lower unit oil
Ask to see the gear oil. Milky oil means water intrusion, and glittery flakes can mean worn gears. Here's what that means.
7. No maintenance records
Not a deal breaker on an older boat, but a seller who "always took care of it" should know when the impeller and oil were last changed.
8. Fresh paint in odd places
New paint on an engine block or a patch of fresh gelcoat can be maintenance, or it can be hiding something. Ask why.
9. A trailer that's been ignored
Rusty springs, dry-rotted tires and seized bearings add up quickly, and you need the trailer to get the boat home.
10. The paperwork doesn't match
In Texas, check that the hull identification number (HIN) on the transom matches the title and registration, and that the seller's name is on the title. Outboard motors also carry their own title in Texas, so check that the motor's paperwork matches too.
What a pro inspection adds
You can't see inside an engine in a driveway. A shop inspection looks at the motor, the outdrive, the hull, the interior, the oil, the trailer and the engine's diagnostic data, and you get a written summary at the end. One of our customers put it this way after an inspection: "I can close this deal with confidence." See what's included in our Pre-Purchase Boat Inspection.
Make the inspection a condition of the sale
Tell the seller up front that the deal depends on an inspection. Honest sellers usually don't mind. If someone pushes back hard, that's red flag number 11. Call (833) 754-5978 to set one up.
Call (833) 754-5978 for a phone quote
Tell us what the boat is doing and where it is — we'll tell you what to expect.
