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One of the best places to purchase nearly new boats is through an auction. Surging in popularity in recent years are used boat auctions and you can find many websites offering boats for sale through classified ads and auctions.

If you’re in the market for a used boat, the Internet is a great place to start. When purchasing from a used boat auction, use this list as a guide to help ensure that you have a positive experience.

• Once you’ve narrowed down the type of boat you would like to purchase, obtain a copy of the manufacturer’s datasheet. This datasheet will give you all the important specifications about the craft – applicable engines, gross weight, speeds and more. You might also want to find out about manufacturer’s recalls for that particular model.
  
  
• Ask the seller to provide you with a detailed record of the maintenance history. Pay particular attention to regular check ups, engine hours, damage history and paint and interior maintenance. Find out about the number of prior owners.
  
  
• Beware of any claims that seem too good to be true – because they probably are! Get as much information up front from the seller as you can.
  
  
• If you’ve found a used boat auction that peaks your interest and you would like to bid, be sure that you have an excellent idea of the market value of the boat in question. Several marine price guides can help you determine a boat’s market value.
  
  
• Consider setting a firm limit as to how much you are willing to pay in order to avoid blowing your budget and paying more than the boat is worth.
  
  
• Take your time and don’t be hasty. Ensure you have completed considerable up front research so you are confident the boat meets your needs and is a fair market value. Why not watch a few used boat auctions beforehand so that you have a good sense of how the bidding process works. That way you will enter into the process knowing what to expect.