If you’ve recently inherited a boat, or if you’ve neglected maintenance on an older boat of your own, you might be stuck with a vessel that no longer operates as intended. What are you supposed to do with it?
Decide on Your Goals
The best thing to do initially is decide on what your goals are. Obviously, you want to get rid of the boat. But what else do you want to accomplish while you're doing that?
Do you want to:
- Make as much money as possible. Some people are motivated to try and make as much money as possible out of the deal. If you paid money for this boat, you probably won't make all your money back and you definitely won't make a profit if the boat isn't in good shape. If you got this boat for free, you might be interested in getting at least some money out of it before you part ways. There are certainly ways to increase the money you can get out of your boat, but these also come at the cost of other possible priorities.
- Get rid of the boat as quickly as possible. You might also be interested in getting rid of the boat as quickly as possible. If the vessel is taking up too much space in your garage or if you're tired of paying for storage, this may be your highest priority. If you're moving to a new location, you might similarly be motivated to dispense with the boat quickly.
- Minimize hassle as much as possible. If you live a busy life, or if you're dealing with a lot of other stress, you might be looking for the most simple and straightforward path to boat disposal. In the best-case scenario, you'll be able to sell or otherwise dispose of the boat without so much as lifting a finger.
- Protect the environment as much as possible. There are some methods of getting rid of your boat that can be harmful for the environment. If you simply send your boat to the landfill, it's going to take up precious space and the components that were used to construct it will find no future use.
Inspect the Condition of the Vessel
The condition of the boat will play a massive role in determining what your next steps can be. If you have a boat that's in usable condition and it looks great, and you're only disinterested in the boat because you no longer have the time or stamina for it, you should have no trouble selling the vessel to an interested bidder. On the other hand, if the boat looks dirty and it hasn't run in years, even the biggest vultures of the boat buying world aren't going to bite.
Spend some time inspecting the vessel before you decide what to do next. You'll learn all about this boat's condition and the strengths and weaknesses that buyers will be able to detect. If you don't know much about boating, or if you haven't had much experience with this vessel personally, it may be better to hire a professional boat inspector. They'll be able to give it a thorough review and make a list of all the things that need to be fixed or corrected.
Selling the Boat
Once you understand the condition and quality of your vessel, you’ll be in a position to decide whether you want to try selling the boat. Selling is often one of your fastest and easiest options to get rid of the boat, and it can make you a hefty profit – or help you recoup some of your losses. Even better, some people are willing to buy up old boats even if they don’t run or aren’t in good superficial condition.
The trick here is to use the right strategy. You need to use the right channels to list your boat. You need to price it at a point that’s enticing for prospective buyers. You also need to describe its qualities and characteristics in as much detail as possible – and include plenty of photos. With the right positioning and marketing strategy, you can get a significant amount of money out of even the most damaged or worn-down boat.
Restoring the Boat
If you have a bit of boat maintenance or vehicle restoration experience, you might be able to fully restore the boat to its former glory. If you’re willing to spend the time and money searching for parts, doing swaps, and clearing away the gunk and debris, you could beautify this vessel, get it running again – and eventually sell it for a sizable profit.
Donating the Boat
If you’re not interested in making a significant profit and you just want to get rid of the boat as environmentally responsibly as possible, consider donating it. Giving it to a boat restorer or even a local boat broker could give it a chance to find a new home – without hassling you in the slightest.
Scrapping/Recycling the Boat
There’s an interesting problem with recycling boats. Most boat hulls are made from a combination of polyester and fiberglass; this combination is incredibly strong, but their strength also makes them tough to separate and recycle properly.
The body of most boats is also made of fiberglass, which is difficult to recycle in many conditions. Of course, there are plenty of recyclable materials to find in boats, as long as they are dismantled and sorted out properly. Depending on the recycler you work with, you may even make a little bit of money by handing your boat over.
One of the fastest, easiest, and most profitable ways to get rid of an old boat is to sell it online. You can put together a listing in just a few minutes, then instantly make your vessel available for purchase to people all over the world.
And at TheYachtMarket, we have all the tools you need to make the transaction quick, secure, and convenient for both parties. Start selling your boat today!