What and How to learn a boat's history?

rbyham · #1 01-01-2013

In the midst of a search for my first real sailboat, I am wondering what is the best way to research a boat's history? Is there anything that equates to carfax in the boating world? Can the HIN lead me to any information that might be helpful? If the boat is with a brokerage, can I expect to learn anything about previous owners?

chuck53 · #2 01-01-2013

There is no car fax for boats. About all you can do is rely on info the owner gives you and get a good surveyor. If the boat is being sold by a broker, there's a good chance you will never meet, let alone, talk to the owner or previous owners.

steve77 · #3 01-01-2013

If the boat is documented with the Coast Guard you can get some information about previous ownership by searching their database. It will tell you the names and locations of previous owners (assuming each renewed the the documentation when they bought it) and some other stuff like the year it was built and the model year. Nothing really that would help you in deciding to buy the boat though.

The best information you can get would probably come from a good surveyor that you hire to inspect the boat before you hand over your hard earned money.

DRFerron · #4 01-01-2013

Depending on your location, sometimes brokers know at least some of the history of certain boats because they may race or socialize with other boaters. We bought our boat in a sailing town and the broker and the previous owner belonged to the same yacht club. We got some background on it that way.

rbyham · #5 01-01-2013

Thanks all. I do like to know everything I can. I do plan to do a survey that I will also attend...