The Best Time to Sell a Boat

• The Best Time to Sell a Boat
• Start Early
• Plan, Prepare, Execute
• Further Considerations
• Sell Your Boat Now

The best time to sell a boat is as soon as possible after you’ve finalized your decision to sell. The second-best time to sell your boat is right before boating season, typically between the months of March and June depending on your location.

Start Early

The sooner you sell, the fewer costs you’re likely to incur. This is a no-brainer if you pay a monthly slip fee, but keep in mind that maintenance and insurance costs add up as well. Boaters know that boats have a tendency to break down and require constant vigilance in order to maintain their condition. A storm or unforeseen event before you get the chance to sell could cost you more than you’d like.

Plan, Prepare, Execute

Planning

Decide what you want your timeline to look like. Do you want to sell your boat within the next week? The next month?

Next, make a list of things that need to be done before putting your boat on the market, and when they can be done.

Decide if you want to use a broker, and if so, make a list of brokers that would be interested in helping you find the best time to sell a boat. Get rates from multiple brokers to work out the best deal.

Preparation: The do’s and don’ts of preparing to sell your boat.

Do:

• Execute items on your to-do list that can be done right away. For example:
  • Cleaning/tidying up
  • Routine maintenance
  • Gathering a list of potential buyers
• Schedule time to work with any other parties if needed
  • Make a list of names and phone numbers (brokers, surveyors, mechanics, etc.)
  • Set aside time to schedule showings for potential buyers and/or your broker
• Hold yourself accountable
  • Create a timeline and/or schedule and stick to it

Don’t:

• Neglect maintenance in order to cut costs
  • If your boat doesn’t sell as quickly as you expect, this could hurt your boat’s value going into pricing negotiations.
• Procrastinate
  • Remember, the best time to sell a boat is the moment you’ve decided to sell. You begin to incur unwanted costs from that point forward. Unless you enjoy lighting money on fire, procrastination is a bad move.

Execution

Once you’ve got your ducks in a row, it’s time to execute. If you’re selling your boat yourself, we recommend listing your boat on boat listing websites, such as yachtlify.com to capture as wide of an audience of potential buyers as possible. Other websites such as Facebook marketplace can also be helpful.

Further Considerations

Keep in mind that during peak boating season, it’s possible that brokers and surveyors’ schedules may be booked. This is why we say that the second best time to sell a boat is right before or at the very start of the season, so that it’s easy to find a spot on someone’s schedule.

Sell Your Boat Now

The best time to sell a boat is the moment that you’ve decided you want to sell. List your boat with Yachtlify to sell your boat faster (it’s free).