How to buy a speedboat: offers from owners and dealers
A speedboat is bought together with the motor and trailer
The price of a speedboat is the hull, the motor, the trailer and the equipment, and it is worth asking about each separately. The motor is a large part of the cost, and a trailer with papers can change the total considerably. So in your request it is better to say at once what you need: a boat “ready to go” with a motor and trailer, or the hull only.
The types of speedboat differ. Open boats (bowriders) are handy for rides and water fun. Cabin boats have a living space and suit multi-day trips. Fishing boats have high sides and places for rods. A RIB is a rigid boat with inflatable tubes that holds a wave well. The hull is fibreglass (quieter and more comfortable) or aluminium (stronger and lighter).
How to search through BlaBlaPrice
You write a request and describe the boat you need, and dealers and private owners reply: model, motor, year, price, photos and inspection terms. The request is checked first, and you are told what is missing. Sellers see where their offer ranks and compete for your choice. Your phone number is hidden. Details are on the “How it works” page.
What to put in your request
- Type of boat — cabin, open, fishing, RIB.
- Model, if you have already chosen.
- Length — in metres.
- Motor — outboard or inboard, make, power, engine hours.
- Year — exact or “not older than”.
- Hull material — fibreglass or aluminium.
- Equipment — trailer, fish finder, cover, electronics.
- Technical condition — running or after repair.
- City and budget, if you want to state them.
Example: “I am looking for an aluminium fishing boat, 4.5–5 m, with an outboard motor of 60–90 hp, not older than 2012, under 300 engine hours, with a trailer and fish finder. Chennai, inspection on the water. Budget up to ₹10 lakh.”
Inspection and comparison
On fibreglass look for wavy areas, signs of osmosis, cracks and signs of poor repairs, especially near the transom and keel. On aluminium look at the rivets, welded seams and dents. Check the seats, wiring, pumps and steering. Start the motor and listen, and check the compression and engine hours. For an outboard, ask when the gearbox oil was last changed. Check the kit: the price gap between two similar offers is often explained by the trailer, electronics or the motor.
Ask about papers: the registration of the vessel, its papers, proof of ownership and any licences. Find out whether transport and launching are in the price.
The price depends on the length, the motor, the age, the material, the kit and whether the boat was used for hire. Boats with a powerful outboard and a fish finder cost noticeably more than simple ones, and used ones with high hours can be good value only after a careful inspection. So word your request so that sellers state the condition of the engine and hull at once.
Common mistakes
Buying “from photos” with no inspection on the water. Not matching the engine hours with the real condition. Choosing a boat that is too big, without counting fuel and berthing costs. Not counting the cost of storage in the off-season. If you want something simpler, look at motorboats, and for an overview see the “Boats and watercraft” section.
