http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/sports/fishing/if-youre-planning-to-sell-your-boat-heres-how-to-prepare-market-and-sell-your-boat-successfully.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/fishing/if-youre-planning-to-sell-your-boat-heres-how-to-prepare-market-and-sell-your-boat-successfully.html Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500 This article breaks it down into 6 basic steps. If you take this approach you’ll sell your boat faster, easier and get more for it.

Step 1 – Cleaning There’s nothing more beneficial in making a boat saleable than getting it cleaned up really well. This starts from the trailer to the cover and everything in between. Wash and clean the trailer thoroughly. Scrub and polish the hull. Boat dealers and boating centers carry gel coat cleaners and polishes that can remove the scale and residue build up on the hull and restore is color and luster. Clean the carpets, the cup holders the storage areas under the seats. Clean the outboard or out drive thoroughly.
Clean the windows. You should also wax the hull and polish all railings – stainless or wood. Clean all amenities thoroughly – especially the head, galley and sleeping area, if required.

Step 2 – Maintenance and Repairs Make sure that everything is functional on the boat including lights, horn, radio, instruments, depth finders, fish finders, GPS, bilge bumps, fans, blowers, etc. Ideally the boat should be fully functional when it’s sold. No one wants to get stuck on the water due to a malfunction or failure. Your boat will sell much faster if everything is in good working order. The trailer should be well maintained and in good working order including the winch, jack, lights and brakes, if equipped. Tires should be good condition and inflated properly. All wiring and lights should be functional and good order. If the trailer is missing paint or rusty it’s a good idea to give it fresh coat of paint.

Step 3 - Records Pull together all the receipts related to the boat including the purchase receipts when you bought it, the owners manual and all maintenance and repair receipts. Having a good record of all repairs and maintenance especially winterizing, summarizing and repairs tells the buyer that the boat was taken care of very well. And it can have a huge impact in selling a boat quickly. When a potential buyer comes to take a look at the boat, the thing he’s thinking about in the back of his mind is how many things have been broke on the boat and what’s my chances of them breaking again. You should explain in reasonable detail the things that had to be fixed and how the boat was maintained. This can go along way in establishing trust between the potential buyer and yourself. The potential buyer will appreciate the information and honesty and it can help a great deal in closing the sale.

Step 4 – Pricing You probably have an idea of what you think your boat is worth or at least what you think it should be worth. Well, that maybe or may not be the appropriate sales price for your boat. You should do some research in order to determine what the appropriate selling price should be. Check the local newspaper classifieds, your local used boat dealers and the Internet boat classified to find prices for similar boats. You’re likely to see a range of prices depending on the model, features, and condition of the boats. Based on those and your urgency to sell the boat, you can set your sales price accordingly. You should set it a little higher than your target price to give you room to negotiate the price down a bit. Buyers are always looking to get a bit of a price break on a boat they’re considering to buy. You should allow for some room to negotiate.

Step 5 – Advertising / Marketing You have a lot of choices on how you’d like to advertise your boat. You can use the newspaper classifieds, however those run by the day or week and can get costly. You can park the boat near the street with a sign and hope that someone driving by will see it and hopefully buy it. Another option is to use Internet classified ads to market your boat and there’s a wide variety of sites that offer on line classified ads. Some sites are free, but have limited exposure. Others charge a lot for listing your boat with several pictures and then there’s sites like ours BoatFisher that charge a nominal fee and allow the ad to run until the boat sells. It’s up to you to choose the level of expense you’re comfortable with in marketing and advertising your boat. I recommend doing a combination of the above. For example; placing your boat near the street with a sign allows potential buyers to stop and take a quick look. They can write down the phone number and call to make an appointment to review the boat more thoroughly. You should also plan to advertise on an online classified ad site or through the newspapers. I like the online classifieds simply because they’re easy to use and they’re viewable to everyone everywhere. Newspaper ads are generally limited to a specific area or town. Another advantage to internet ads is you can print your color photo ad, make copies and post them in your local stores and bulletin boards.


Step 6 - Selling and Negotiating There’s some very important basic rules to follow when you’re trying to sell a boat. Potential buyers will try to contact you either by phone or email. You have answer the phone when it rings. If you ignore it, the interested party will quickly move to the next available boat that fit’s their requirements and there’s a lot of boats on the market. Similarly with email, it’s important to check for inquiries at least once a day if not more. Quick responses to inquiries can bring a buyer to view your boat and he or she could be the one.

When you do get an interested buyer it’s important to be open and sincere about why you’re selling it, how long you’ve owned and how it’s performed for you. This builds a relationship and trust between you and the potential buyer. This is critical in getting someone comfortable enough to make an offer.

When the buyer does make an offer do not reject the offer if it is lower than your set price. You should counter their offer about ½ way between your selling price and their offer price. The buyer may accept or counter again. If it’s close to your original target price you should probably accept the offer. If the buyer asks what’s the lowest you’ll go, and a lot of people ask that, a good answer is, “ I just listed it or I’m starting to get a lot of calls, so I’ll take. (Use your original target).” The buyer is likely to accept it. The art of negotiating and locking in the sale is psychological thing and it’s very important. It’s called getting a win-win result in a purchasing transaction. Most buyers will either offer you a lower offer or many times will flat out ask what’s the lowest you’ll take for it. This is your chance to make a friend and make the sale.

We’ll that about covers it. A few last comments on the monetary transaction. If the buyer offers you a deposit, make sure you write out a receipt – 2 copies, one for you and one for the buyer. It’s a good idea to have these prepared before meeting potential buyers. You should prepare deposit receipts that provide a blank for the amount and set a time limit for holding the boat after which the deposit is forfeited. Also prepare sale receipts in advance that specify the key items below:

Ø Boat is being purchased in “As Is” condition
Ø No written or verbal warranty or guarantees apply (unless mfg. Warranty is still in effect)
Ø As of this day and time, legal ownership, responsibility and liability is transferred to said purchaser
Ø Purchaser is buying said boat for and accepts all responsibility and liability for said item
Ø Make sure both purchaser and seller sign it and date it.
Ø Write down the buyers drivers license # on your receipt
Ø Specify Date, Time, Seller Name, Buyer Name (blank), Boat Description

Last note about bank checks – lately some people are using laser printers to print false checks. It’s becoming a fairly big problem. If the buyer is paying by check you should go to the issuing bank to make sure it clears. The bank will be able to tell you if more time is needed for the check to be cleared. Do not let the buyer take the boat until the check is confirmed and cleared by a bank. If the buyer is reluctant or resists in going to the bank, you should insist on cash.


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To list your boat on line fast, easy and cheap just go to http://www.BoatFisher.com. List your boat for only $9.95 until it Sells!. You can also find information and resources on boat covers, boat trailers at: http://www.BoatFisher.com/boatResources.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/fishing/trailering-your-boat-this-summer-heres-what-you-need-to-do-to-keep-it-on-the-road.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/fishing/trailering-your-boat-this-summer-heres-what-you-need-to-do-to-keep-it-on-the-road.html Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Well, if you’re planning to trailer your boat and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a pontoon boat, power boat, cruiser, a sailboat or even a small fishing boat, here’s what you need to check and fix before you hit the road.

Tires- Tires are probably the most common things to fail and cause someone to get stuck on the side of the road. The reason is because a lot of people store their boats and trailers outside and they sit in storage a good deal of time. The rubber gets old, loses pressure, cracks and so on. So check your tires for wear and cracks. If you don’t have at least an eighth of an inch of tread depth or if you see cracks in the tires and they should be replaced. Also, check the tire pressure. When your trailer sits in storage for long periods of time and the temperature rises and falls this causes the tire to lose pressure slowly over time. There should be inflation specifications on the side of the tire or check your boat and trailer owners manual. Make sure to inflate your tires to the proper tire pressure. Under inflated tires or over inflated tires can fail and keep you stuck on the side of the road for a long time.

Lights, wiring and connections - These can cause serious accidents if not working correctly. When they’re not working properly the people behind you don’t know when you’re stopping or turning. On highways, this can cause fatal accidents. Check to make sure the lamps are not burned out and make sure both filaments are in tact. Check the lamp housings to ensure the seals are not broken or deteriorated. Check the lamp sockets for corrosion. Apply a light coat of electrical grease around the base of the lamp and socket to keep out moisture and reinstall the lamps. Check the wiring to insure the ground connections are not corroded or broken. Also, check the wiring along the frame. Make sure that it’s in good condition and properly fixed to the trailer. Check the fittings and connections between the trailer and vehicle to make sure the male / female plugs are not corroded. If they are, they should be cleaned and reconnected. Have someone stand behind the trailer each time you hook up and make sure your running lights, brake lights and turn signals are working correctly.

Note: you should disconnect the trailer lights harness from the vehicle before backing the boat into the water. This will prevent the trailer lamps from shorting and blowing out.






Brakes – if your trailer is equipped with brakes, check the brake fluid. If it’s low, fill to the appropriate level with approved brake fluid. Check the brake pads or shoes to make sure that they are not worn and replace them if they are. Check the brake wire connections between the trailer and vehicle are in properly connected. They control the braking mechanism to apply or release the brakes as needed. Always check that the brakes are working properly before on a short test drive before towing at your boat at high speeds. Have a friend or family member stand behind and to the side of the trailer. Confirm that the brake and turn signal lights are working. If you’re not familiar with repairing brakes and replacing brake pads and shoes, take your trailer to your local boating center or trailer dealership.

Bearings - Bearings should be checked at least once per year to ensure they are properly greased. A frozen bearing can cause the wheel to lockup and the tire to blow out. Most trailer spindles have a dust cover that covers the bearing. Just remove the cover and inspect. Some have a zerk or grease fitting at the end of the spindle. You can add grease easily without disassembling the bearing assembly. If you don’t have a zerk fitting, the bearings need to be removed and repacked the old fashion way. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about then you need to take your trailer to your local boating center or a trailer sales and service company. The bearings should be checked and grease at least once per year. Always use a manual grease gun and replace the tang washer. They should not be reused. If you frequently use your boat and trailer, you should check them twice per year.

Coupler - Couplers get worn and more frequently become misadjusted so that the fit between the coupler and the hitch ball becomes loose. If you’re towing your boat and the coupler is loose it could bounce off the hitch ball and cause a serious accident. It’s happened. I’ve seen it. To avoid this kind of catastrophe, make sure the under side of the coupler is free from dirt and debris. Spray lubricant on the lever and clasp mechanism and also on the hitch ball. Check to make sure you are using the correct size ball for the coupler. They should be stamped the size. Make sure they are the same. Attach the coupler to the hitch. Close the lever and insert the safety pin. Confirm that the fit is tight and the tongue of the trailer cannot move up or down at all. If you have a wheel type coupler you can adjust it to tighten the fit. If you have a lever type, some have a nut on the underside of the coupler that can be adjusted to tighten the fit. If not, you should take your trailer to a boating center or trailer dealership for repair. Note: the pin is very important on the lever type of couplers and needs to be inserted. If the pin is missing, it needs to be replaced.

Winch - Make sure the winch is working properly and spay lubricating oil on the gears. This will keep the winch working freely for the entire boating season.

Tongue jack – grease the jack through the zerk fitting or pop the top cap and insert grease. This should be done at least once per year. Make sure that the jack operates freely all the way up and down.

Safety Chains - These are extremely important, especially if the coupler fails. I’ve seen a lot of trailers without them, but they are very important to have. They should be securely attached to the trailer, one on each side of the tongue and attached to side of the hitch. They need to long enough to allow the trailer to turn, but short enough to prevent the tongue of the trailer from hitting the ground if the coupler comes off the hitch.

Rollers - If your trailer is equipped with rollers, spray a little lubricating oil on the spindles. This will keep them rolling freely.

Frame - Check the frame of the trailer for cracks, especially at the weld joints. There should be no signs of cracks or fatigue. Frame or weld crack are generally not a problem, but when towing a heavy boat they can be. If you see any signs of cracks in the frame, take your trailer to your nearest boating center or trailer dealer for service.

General - your trailer should be hosed off after each use to prolong it’s appearance and to keep it in good working order. This is especially important if you using your boat and trailer in salt water. When storing or parking your trailer, you should never let the tongue rest directly on the ground. Use a cement block or wooden block to rest the tongue on. This will keep dirt and debris from accumulating in the underside of the coupler.

If you are unsure about any of the maintenance items or how to do them, take your trailer to your local boating center or your local trailer dealership. They will be able to assist you in servicing your trailer properly.

For more information on boat and trailer maintenance - check out http://www.boatfisher.com/boatMaintenance.cfm.

Always remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t be one of those guys or families on the side of the road wondering what went wrong. Do the required maintenance and checks on your trailer before you hit the road and you’ll be on the water in no time.


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BoatFisher.com Boating Maintenance Info.. BoatFisher.com New and Used Boats, Boating Suppies, Resources and Information.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/fishing/boats-come-in-all-shapes-and-sizes-but-which-one-should-i-buy.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/fishing/boats-come-in-all-shapes-and-sizes-but-which-one-should-i-buy.html Wed, 02 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500 To answer that question, you’ll have to think about how you will use your boat and define your specific needs. So before you start searching the boat classified ads or go looking for a new boat for sale or used boat for sale, here’s some of the things to think about to help you define what type of boat and how large a boat you need.

- What kinds of activities do you want to do - leisure boating, water sports such as water skiing, fishing or better yet travel and overnight excursions?

- What types of water will you use your boat in - small inland lakes, large inland lakes, waterways, bays or larger bodies of water?

- How many people do you need to accommodate while boating?

When it comes to fishing you can fish in small aluminum boat 10-12 feet with a small outboard. These are considered utility boats and are perfect for small inland lakes and ponds. They’re relatively inexpensive, light and easy to move around. And on calm days you can use them on larger lakes near shore. In terms of capacity, they can hold two adults or an adult and a child. Larger aluminum boats come in 16-18’ range and can hold 4-6 persons.

Taking a step up you get into the 14-18 foot range which are considered small boats. They’re available with an open or closed bow and in many varieties – from deck boats, ski boats to powerboats and fishing boats. Fishing, ski and deck boats have unique features for those activities. Our first boat was a 14 foot Bayliner Bowrider, meaning it had an open bow and seating for two in the front. It also had 3 seats across in the rear. It was good for 2 – 3 persons comfortably. If I wanted to take my boys out cruising on a small inland lake, this would have been the perfect size. It was equipped with a 50HP Chrysler Force outboard and moved fairly well for a small boat. It was even capable of pulling a skier as long as the skier wasn’t too heavy and the boat wasn’t overloaded. We skied with it when we pretty thin and there was only 1 or 2 persons in the boat – more than that and it had a difficult time pulling a person out of the water. But it was fine for pulling tubes or other water accessories. We once had it out on a larger inland lake when the water was pretty choppy with 2 to 3 foot waves. That was pretty rough. The boat was bouncing around to the point where we had to get it out. If you’re going to take a smaller boat out on larger waters, for example 14-16 footer, it’s only enjoyable and safe when the water is fairly calm. If you’re target is general or recreational boating, then a powerboat or deck boat provides the ability to do a number of activities. But if you have a specific focus, like fishing or waters skiing, you’ll want to take a closer look at boats in those categories.

Advantages: low to mid cost depending on whether you buy new or used, easy to trailer, launch and store, perfect for dad and kids in small to midsize lakes
Disadvantages: minimal seating capacity, smaller engines means limited ability for recreation and sports


If you’re planning on larger parties and pulling adult skiers, you’ll want to move up to the 18-24’ range. These boats generally come with larger motors, outboards or inboards and hold 4 or more passengers comfortably. They’re great on both small and larger lakes and because their depth or draft is relatively low, they’re also good on shallow lakes.
Many of these boats come with large outboard motors or 4cyl., 6cyl. or even 8 cyl. engines. Reliability is generally high and gas mileage is pretty good. You can also find 6 or 8 cylinder I/O’s for added speed and power.

Advantages: mid-cost range, fairly easy to trailer, launch and store, good for families and larger parties of 4-6
Disadvantages: generally without sleeping amenities, head or shower

If boating and sleeping over night is in your blood, you may need to consider 26 to 30’ footer with a cuddy cabin. These boats offer usually offer sleeping for 4 or more, toilet, shower, and some include kitchen amenities. This size of boat is getting fairly large and you’ll need a good size truck to pull it. These boats are perfect for the larger inland lakes and waterways. You can also get them out in the inlet waters off the coast or in bay areas in calm waters. In this size of boat you’ll have the ability to cruise to different locations or hot spots for fishing, swimming, overnight camping and the like. They’re fitted with larger gas tanks, around 100 gal and also hold 15-30 gallons of water. They provide large storage areas and amenities to keep every member of the family satisfied.

Advantages: ability to do a variety of boating recreational activities- from skiing, tubing, fishing and more
Disadvantages: more expensive than mid-size, requires a larger truck and trailer, more expensive to operate, store and maintain.

Lastly, if you want to spend even more time on the water, either traveling or overnight trips, you may be interested in 30-36’ boat. Now you’re in the large size boat range or small size yacht range. These guys are not towed frequently. They are usually kept at a marina, stored and maintained there. They generally have twin or triple inboard motors and outdrives and are well detailed inside and out. You can easily sleep for 4 or more and you’ll usually find a stove, refrigerator, TV, shower and toilet.

Advantages: ability to travel, stay overnight and enjoy all the comfort features of home
Disadvantages: cost is generally high to purchase, operate and maintain, also harder to trailer and store, usually done professionally



There are many boat manufacturers of all types and you have quite a large choice depending on where you’re at and what your local dealers offer. Here’s a few to get you going. Check these boat manufacturers out.

Utility /Small Boats: BRIG , Whitehall
Fishing Boats: Sea Swirl, NITRO, TRACKER, SYLVAN, LUND, SMOKER CRAFT, TROPHEY
Ski Boats: EPIC
Pontoon Boats: Sun Tracker, Manitou, TRACKER, Sunchaser, Premier, Gillgetter, Northwood
Power Boats: Bayliner, Sea Ray, MAXUM, Rinker, Four Winns, Wellcraft
Race /Cruisers: Formula, Fountain
Yachts: TIARA

Well, that should give you some things to think about. Look around, shop around and also talk to your friends that already own a boat. They’ll be able to offer some great advice. But it’s more important to really figure out what you want to do and where you want to do it. If you do that before you go out and start searching your local boat classified ads or start looking at new boats for sale or used boats for sale, you’ll be well on your way to deciding what type of boat and how big a boat you really need to buy. And remember, it’s not the size that counts, it’s just being on the water!

Find out more about Boating or find your next New or Used Boat and Boating Supplies at: BoatFisher.com


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BoatFisher.comNew and Used Boats also find boat covers, trailers, accessories, information on boating, boat safety and more at http://www.boatfisher.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/boating-rules-and-regulations--what-you-need-to-know-to-stay-safe-and-out-of-trouble-when-youre-on-the-water.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/boating-rules-and-regulations--what-you-need-to-know-to-stay-safe-and-out-of-trouble-when-youre-on-the-water.html Wed, 02 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Age requirements: Persons must have attained the age of 14-16 years to operate a motorboat with an engine size greater than 15 horsepower. Persons between the ages of 12-15 may operate a boat provided he or she is accompanied by an adult. This regulation varies from state to state, so check your local authority.

Boating in Restricted Areas - Restricted areas are normally marked with buoys, beacons or diver down flags. Be careful to check for restricted areas at your local DNR launch site or steer clear of marked areas.

Slow-No Wake Zone: Marked zones require that you operate your boat as to not create a wake.

Riding on Bow: It is illegal to ride on the bow, unless equipped with seating, or gunwale of a boat that is traveling at speeds greater than slow-no wake speed.

Improper Distance: It is illegal to operate a boat when traveling greater than slow-no wake speeds within 100 feet of a shoreline in water less than 3 feet deep, any moored or anchored vessel, any dock or raft, a marked swimming area. Personal water crafts must stay at least 200 feet from any Great Lakes shore and not cross within 150 feet of another vessel.

Failure to Regulate Speed: It is illegal to operate a boat at speeds that could cause danger to property or life or speeds that make it impossible for you to safely manage your vessel including;
 speeds greater than 55mph on small inland lakes
 faster than reasonable speeds in severe conditions
 speeds greater than slow-no wake speeds with persons riding on bow

Reckless Operation: Includes operation your vessel that endangers the safety of others or the property of others. For example; weaving your boat through congested waterways, jumping the wake of another boat, driving close to another vessel with restricted visibility, chasing or harassing wildlife or causing damage from the wake of your boat.

Pulling Skiers: Towing skiers must only be done during daylight hours. That means from dawn until dusk. It is unlawful to pull skiers from sunset to sunrise. Boats towing skiers must be equipped with a wide angle rearview mirror or have another person on board, 12 years or older, to observe the skier.

PWC (Personal Watercraft) - Operation and Regulations: applies to Jet Skis and other types of watercraft that the user sits on or stands on as opposed to sits in.
 each occupant must wear a life preserver or life jacket
 if equipped with a kill switch – cord must be attached to the driver
 inflatable life jackets are not acceptable or approved for PWC’s
 can only be operated during daytime hours and cannot be used from sunset to sunrise
 must maintain at least 50 foot distance from other objects including boats, shore, docks, swimmers unless moving at no-wake speed
 jumping the wake of another vessel or driving excessively close is unlawful
 it is unlawful to operate the vessel in a designated area for bathing, fishing, swimming or in a restricted area
 operated the vessel while intoxicated (blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher)
 it is unlawful to operate the vessel within 50’ of a diver down flag

Note: there are additional requirements and regulations for PWC – personal watercraft. (Jet skis, etc.) See your local state DNR, Secretary of State for applicable rules and regulations.

Alcohol and Drugs: In some states, alcohol is involved in as much as 25% of boating accidents. It is illegal to operate your boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is also illegal for the owner of a boat to allow another person who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs to operate their boat. In most states, if you have a blood alcohol level in excess of 0.1 % you are guilty of a misdemeanor. In some states it’s 0.08%. If you’re BAL is 0.07%, your local Sheriffs deputy can apply other tests to determine if you are under the influence.

Your blood alcohol level is dependent on your weight, your metabolism and how much food is in your stomach. Heavier persons or persons that have recently eaten will have a higher tolerance to the effect of alcohol.

Blood Alcohol levels - FOR REFERENCE ONLY

For a medium size adult male weighing approximately 175lbs his blood alcohol level will be as follows;

1 drink in ½ hour - .016
2 drinks in 1 hour - .032
3 drinks in 1.5 hours - .048
4 drinks in 2 hours - .064
5 drinks in 2.5 hours - .08
6 drinks in 3.5 hours - .096

For a large size adult male weighing approximately 225 lbs;

1 drink in ½ hour - .01
2 drinks in 1 hour - .02
3 drinks in 1.5 hours - .03
4 drinks in 2 hours - .045
5 drinks in 2.5 hours - .06
6 drinks in 3.5 hours - .067

Blood Alcohol Levels and How it Feels Physically:

.02 – relaxed feeling
.05 – less alert and physical coordination and impairment starts
.07 – legally intoxicated in many states

According to this reference data, it’s clear that a few drinks over a period of a few hours maybe enjoyed and managed, but 4 or more drinks regardless of your size puts you and others at risk. So as they say on TV – don’t drink and drive and if you choose to drink – do so responsibly.

Find out more about Boating and Boating Safety at: BoatFisher.com



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BoatFisher.comNew and Used Boats also find boat covers, trailers, accessories, information on boating, boat safety and more at http://www.boatfisher.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>