Quote:
Originally Posted by sailingdog
If the boat is at a marina, you could ask around the marina and find out how long the boat has been listed for sale...
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Excellent tip and one that I have used. If you travel to visit a boat (for me it's usually a Saturday) ask the neighbors. Like anything else, though, you have to interpret the results carefully. You could be asking a chum or an enemy. Questions like "Do you see this boat go out much?", "Has it been for sale long?" will yield better returns than "Is this a fast boat?" or "Does Joe Scupper know much about maintenance?"
If the boat is at a marina with a maintenance yard ask if the owner does his own work or has them do it. This can also go either way. I've been at marinas that had top-shelf yard staff and others I didn't trust as far as I could spit.
Another clue is to look at the state registration sticker. If it is a 2004 chances are the boat has been idle that long.