Houseboat Buying Tips
Buying a houseboat can represent one of the largest investments a person could make in their lifetime. And buying a new houseboat may not be realistic, and getting into a used houseboat without some problems can be almost unrealistic too. There always seem to be some issues that need to be worked out, so you must be especially diligent when looking to purchase a used houseboat. Also its just like when buying a home, we need to examine a home thoroughly before getting a professional once over. There’s really not any real difference when looking at and considering a used houseboat purchase.
One advantage of buying a used houseboat is that you may get a lot of add-ons that were not included in the original purchase price. These are things the owner may have long forgotten about, thus did not include in setting his/her price. Items such as dock lines, furnishings, fenders, and electronics and other useful things of value may just come along with the purchase of the boat. And It's not as hard as you might think. All it takes is a little common sense and some help from the pros. As you do your inspection make a list of repairs you feel need to be done. These items can be used as leverage when it comes time to negotiate price.
First Impressions:
I can remember looking at houses when we were in the market for a new one. Many looked great in the pictures, but could be eliminated by doing a simple drive-by. This is the same when looking at houseboats; your first impression can usually save you a lot of time, headaches and money. Give the houseboat the quick once over from the outside. Simple things like mildew on the carpets, chipped or peeling/faded paint or gel coat, unkempt dock areas. If the owner cannot take care of little things like these, what does it say about the bigger things? On the flip side, if the boat is in good clean appearance, this may be an indication that the owner took care of the boat but do not take this for granted.
The Outside Inspection:
There are many areas to look over on the outside of the houseboat and here are a few areas you’ll want to look at closely:
Cabin joints: Inspect the areas where the cabin joins the hull. Make sure there are no gaps and everything appears sound.
Hull - If steel is there any signs of rust? You will want to inspect the hull from the inside as well as from the outside, as many hulls will rust from the inside out. Grab a flashlight then jump down the hatch(s) and then inspect the inside of the hull thoroughly. Replacing a steel hull can run thousands of dollars. For both aluminum hulls and steel hulls, inspect the welds joints for cracks or other signs of weakness. If it is a fiberglass hull, check for any blistering and stress cracks, crazing, and warping.
Roof: Take every opportunity to walk all around the roof looking for any cracks/chips in the gel coat. Also checking for any soft spots, weak spots usually are a sign of rotting wood which can be a costly to repair.
Canvas: Buyers often overlook checking the canvas for wear and fading. If the boat you are looking at has a lot of canvas, replacing it can cost a few thousand dollars.
Carpet: Give a good visual inspection to the carpet is there any mold, are any of the corners curling. This may mean you’ll soon need to replace the carpet.
Paint: Visually inspect the paint for fading, cracking, and any chipping. Take your hand and wipe it along the paint does a lot of the paint come off in your hand? This may be a sign of a soon needed paint job.
Lights: Be sure all running lights and any additional exterior lights are in good functional working order.
The casual Inside Inspection:
If the houseboat you are looking at passes your initial drive-by test, it’s now time to take a closer look. Upon entering the cabin your nose can usually tell you a lot about the boat. As you walk about the cabin you can or may be deluged with a lot of various odors.
Mold and Musty Odors: Can be an indication of roof, window or other leaks. If you smell this, make point to examine the roof along with all other seal and joint areas (windows, cabin base, etc) for water stains. Water damage must not be taken lightly. Stained paneling or wood can be unsightly, but the bigger problem is what is behind the stain. Is the wall rotting, what about the floor? If you see any water stains be sure to dig a little deeper. One good test is to get a hose and spray the side of the houseboat with water, while someone inspects the inside seals for any penetration.
Gas Odor: Can be an indication of leaking LP lines. This is a serious safety hazard if you smell gas, be sure to have all the lines inspected.
Waste Odor: When you are around the head area, be sure to smell for holding tank odors. This can indicate leaking holding tanks which may need to be replaced. Also, if any seepage has soaked into the wood, getting rid of the smell can be very difficult.
Pet Odors: Pet odors can also be hard to eliminate short of replacing all the carpet, be sure to check the carpets thoroughly.
So it’s passed the casual inside inspection and you’re maybe seriously considering an offer there’s a lot more detailed things you need to look at and check yet.
Water: How is the water pressure? Turn on all the faucets and check and also check the water pressure while it’s not hooked to the dock. Is the water pump work well? Be sure to check both hot and cold water and visually inspect all the lines for any leakage.
Wiring: Visually inspect wiring by following all the leads. Also check all A/C and D/C fixtures.
AC and Heat- Does the heater produce any heat, and does the air conditioner seem to cool well?
Floors: Again grab a flashlight and head below deck under the floor and check for any apparent water damage anywhere. Look particularly close to areas under the sink, shower and toilet for any dampness or rot.
Appliances: Make sure all the appliances are in good working order. Light the stove, does the frig keep the beer good and cold? Some appliances can work on AC, DC and LP if so equipped, do they still function with all three sources? Turn on several appliances at a time (i.e. microwave, coffee maker, hairdryer, etc) to see if there are any circuits that overload.
Bathrooms: Check to make sure all heads flush and function properly. Check for leaks or mold around the shower and head(s).
Decor: How is the overall decor? Make notes of what you can and can’t live with. Inspect carpet, window coverings, furniture for wear, fading etc. Check counters, cupboards, and closets for needed repairs.
The Mechanical Inspection:
Engine(s): Make a close visual inspection of the engine(s), and generator. Be sure to look at all fittings, hoses, and belts. Fire up the engines and let them run for some time this will allow you see if there are any overheating or more serious problems. Run them through a series of RPM ranges. Also be sure to have your mechanic do a thorough inspection of the engines and outdrives. Check the bilge area for signs of oil or coolant leakage. Check the shifting, does it seem to shift easily?
Generator: Do the same inspections you did with the engine(s). You will also want to test the generator under a load, fire up the generator and see how well it performs while using several appliances at once.
Repairs: See what documentation the owner has retained from past repairs, if there is no paperwork assume the work was never completed. Has the owner kept any kind of maintenance log?
Test Drive:
Once you are really serious about the boat, it is now time for a test drive. You need to see how well it handles at different speeds handling a houseboat is a lot different than your runabout. Does it seem to track well? Does it maneuver well at both high and low speeds? Do all the gauges function and work properly? Does it also shift smoothly from forward to reverse? If the boat has a fly bridge you should operate it from there as well.
Miscellaneous Inspection, Be sure you check all the following:
Does the owner have an owner’s manuals for the boat all motors and appliances?
Is the prop in good shape?
Are all fire extinguishers up to date and appear functional?
Does the boat comply with all necessary US Coast Guard requirements?
If you are moving the boat to another lake, be sure to check for their local requirements as well.
Suggest a Professional Inspection:
Hiring a surveyor is simple all you have to do to locate a surveyor in your area is call the National Association of Marine Surveyors at 800-822-6267, or the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors at 800-244-9077 for a listing. You may haft to pay a few hundred dollars for a survey, but this money will be well spent. You might be tempted to use the broker's, the insurers or even the seller's surveyor but get your own. You want to make sure the surveyor represents you and your interests rather than the sellers. Once you've selected a few surveyor candidates you need to make sure they are experienced in surveying houseboats. Are they qualified to survey mechanical and electrical systems? Is he/she insured? Do they provide a fair market value replacement cost as required by most lenders?
Try to be at the boat while the surveyor is completing the survey because you may learn and have a much better understanding of the boat.
The Offer:
Well so far this is the boat you wanting you are ready to make an offer? Unfortunately there is not a blue book per say for houseboats this is where doing your homework will help you with negotiations.
First off look over your list of repair and maintenance issues and don’t guess at what you think a repair will cost. If you have any doubt, contact a marine professional and get a quote for doing any necessary repairs. The last thing you want to do is guess a repair is only going to be a few hundred dollars and find out later that the job will be into the thousands of dollars.
Research the used market. The Internet and especially the classified sections is a good place for this. Compare similarly equipped houseboats to see how they are priced in relation to the boat you are considering.
How is the local houseboat market? Are there just a few or numerous boats available for sale? This will also give you more insight into where you can begin with your offer.
Talk to the dock neighbors, they may be willing to share more information about the boat and owners than you think. Also talk with the marina personnel they may have useful information about the boat.
Honestly ask yourself how much of the work you are willing to do. How much will you haft to contract? Is it better to pay a little more for a boat that has more working features, or are you willing to build some equity by doing it yourself? These are questions only you can answer. Many House boaters only want to get on their boat after working all week, and get out onto the lake. While others take a lot of pride and satisfaction in working on and restoring their houseboats themselves.
Doing this research will help you put together an offer that should not insult the owner, and move both of you towards your goals. When you have completed your repair list together with your offer, present this to the owner. See if they are willing to help do anything about the needed repairs before you buy or are they willing to make some allowances. A well spelled out offer will show the owner you have done your homework and are a seriously interested buyer.
Acceptance:
Congratulations they have accepted your offer now what? You will want to get the offer in writing and you will want to document not only the price, but also all the equipment that is to go along with the boat. The last thing you want is find out that a lot of equipment you assumed was included wasn’t for instance; you thought the $500 gas grill was included in the purchase price. The owner never stated, but had planned on keeping it all along.
Buying a houseboat if done right can be a fun and rewarding experience which will lead to many hours of family enjoyment, or done wrong can lead to severe headaches down the road.
One advantage of buying a used houseboat is that you may get a lot of add-ons that were not included in the original purchase price. These are things the owner may have long forgotten about, thus did not include in setting his/her price. Items such as dock lines, furnishings, fenders, and electronics and other useful things of value may just come along with the purchase of the boat. And It's not as hard as you might think. All it takes is a little common sense and some help from the pros. As you do your inspection make a list of repairs you feel need to be done. These items can be used as leverage when it comes time to negotiate price.
First Impressions:
I can remember looking at houses when we were in the market for a new one. Many looked great in the pictures, but could be eliminated by doing a simple drive-by. This is the same when looking at houseboats; your first impression can usually save you a lot of time, headaches and money. Give the houseboat the quick once over from the outside. Simple things like mildew on the carpets, chipped or peeling/faded paint or gel coat, unkempt dock areas. If the owner cannot take care of little things like these, what does it say about the bigger things? On the flip side, if the boat is in good clean appearance, this may be an indication that the owner took care of the boat but do not take this for granted.
The Outside Inspection:
There are many areas to look over on the outside of the houseboat and here are a few areas you’ll want to look at closely:
Cabin joints: Inspect the areas where the cabin joins the hull. Make sure there are no gaps and everything appears sound.
Hull - If steel is there any signs of rust? You will want to inspect the hull from the inside as well as from the outside, as many hulls will rust from the inside out. Grab a flashlight then jump down the hatch(s) and then inspect the inside of the hull thoroughly. Replacing a steel hull can run thousands of dollars. For both aluminum hulls and steel hulls, inspect the welds joints for cracks or other signs of weakness. If it is a fiberglass hull, check for any blistering and stress cracks, crazing, and warping.
Roof: Take every opportunity to walk all around the roof looking for any cracks/chips in the gel coat. Also checking for any soft spots, weak spots usually are a sign of rotting wood which can be a costly to repair.
Canvas: Buyers often overlook checking the canvas for wear and fading. If the boat you are looking at has a lot of canvas, replacing it can cost a few thousand dollars.
Carpet: Give a good visual inspection to the carpet is there any mold, are any of the corners curling. This may mean you’ll soon need to replace the carpet.
Paint: Visually inspect the paint for fading, cracking, and any chipping. Take your hand and wipe it along the paint does a lot of the paint come off in your hand? This may be a sign of a soon needed paint job.
Lights: Be sure all running lights and any additional exterior lights are in good functional working order.
The casual Inside Inspection:
If the houseboat you are looking at passes your initial drive-by test, it’s now time to take a closer look. Upon entering the cabin your nose can usually tell you a lot about the boat. As you walk about the cabin you can or may be deluged with a lot of various odors.
Mold and Musty Odors: Can be an indication of roof, window or other leaks. If you smell this, make point to examine the roof along with all other seal and joint areas (windows, cabin base, etc) for water stains. Water damage must not be taken lightly. Stained paneling or wood can be unsightly, but the bigger problem is what is behind the stain. Is the wall rotting, what about the floor? If you see any water stains be sure to dig a little deeper. One good test is to get a hose and spray the side of the houseboat with water, while someone inspects the inside seals for any penetration.
Gas Odor: Can be an indication of leaking LP lines. This is a serious safety hazard if you smell gas, be sure to have all the lines inspected.
Waste Odor: When you are around the head area, be sure to smell for holding tank odors. This can indicate leaking holding tanks which may need to be replaced. Also, if any seepage has soaked into the wood, getting rid of the smell can be very difficult.
Pet Odors: Pet odors can also be hard to eliminate short of replacing all the carpet, be sure to check the carpets thoroughly.
So it’s passed the casual inside inspection and you’re maybe seriously considering an offer there’s a lot more detailed things you need to look at and check yet.
Water: How is the water pressure? Turn on all the faucets and check and also check the water pressure while it’s not hooked to the dock. Is the water pump work well? Be sure to check both hot and cold water and visually inspect all the lines for any leakage.
Wiring: Visually inspect wiring by following all the leads. Also check all A/C and D/C fixtures.
AC and Heat- Does the heater produce any heat, and does the air conditioner seem to cool well?
Floors: Again grab a flashlight and head below deck under the floor and check for any apparent water damage anywhere. Look particularly close to areas under the sink, shower and toilet for any dampness or rot.
Appliances: Make sure all the appliances are in good working order. Light the stove, does the frig keep the beer good and cold? Some appliances can work on AC, DC and LP if so equipped, do they still function with all three sources? Turn on several appliances at a time (i.e. microwave, coffee maker, hairdryer, etc) to see if there are any circuits that overload.
Bathrooms: Check to make sure all heads flush and function properly. Check for leaks or mold around the shower and head(s).
Decor: How is the overall decor? Make notes of what you can and can’t live with. Inspect carpet, window coverings, furniture for wear, fading etc. Check counters, cupboards, and closets for needed repairs.
The Mechanical Inspection:
Engine(s): Make a close visual inspection of the engine(s), and generator. Be sure to look at all fittings, hoses, and belts. Fire up the engines and let them run for some time this will allow you see if there are any overheating or more serious problems. Run them through a series of RPM ranges. Also be sure to have your mechanic do a thorough inspection of the engines and outdrives. Check the bilge area for signs of oil or coolant leakage. Check the shifting, does it seem to shift easily?
Generator: Do the same inspections you did with the engine(s). You will also want to test the generator under a load, fire up the generator and see how well it performs while using several appliances at once.
Repairs: See what documentation the owner has retained from past repairs, if there is no paperwork assume the work was never completed. Has the owner kept any kind of maintenance log?
Test Drive:
Once you are really serious about the boat, it is now time for a test drive. You need to see how well it handles at different speeds handling a houseboat is a lot different than your runabout. Does it seem to track well? Does it maneuver well at both high and low speeds? Do all the gauges function and work properly? Does it also shift smoothly from forward to reverse? If the boat has a fly bridge you should operate it from there as well.
Miscellaneous Inspection, Be sure you check all the following:
Does the owner have an owner’s manuals for the boat all motors and appliances?
Is the prop in good shape?
Are all fire extinguishers up to date and appear functional?
Does the boat comply with all necessary US Coast Guard requirements?
If you are moving the boat to another lake, be sure to check for their local requirements as well.
Suggest a Professional Inspection:
Hiring a surveyor is simple all you have to do to locate a surveyor in your area is call the National Association of Marine Surveyors at 800-822-6267, or the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors at 800-244-9077 for a listing. You may haft to pay a few hundred dollars for a survey, but this money will be well spent. You might be tempted to use the broker's, the insurers or even the seller's surveyor but get your own. You want to make sure the surveyor represents you and your interests rather than the sellers. Once you've selected a few surveyor candidates you need to make sure they are experienced in surveying houseboats. Are they qualified to survey mechanical and electrical systems? Is he/she insured? Do they provide a fair market value replacement cost as required by most lenders?
Try to be at the boat while the surveyor is completing the survey because you may learn and have a much better understanding of the boat.
The Offer:
Well so far this is the boat you wanting you are ready to make an offer? Unfortunately there is not a blue book per say for houseboats this is where doing your homework will help you with negotiations.
First off look over your list of repair and maintenance issues and don’t guess at what you think a repair will cost. If you have any doubt, contact a marine professional and get a quote for doing any necessary repairs. The last thing you want to do is guess a repair is only going to be a few hundred dollars and find out later that the job will be into the thousands of dollars.
Research the used market. The Internet and especially the classified sections is a good place for this. Compare similarly equipped houseboats to see how they are priced in relation to the boat you are considering.
How is the local houseboat market? Are there just a few or numerous boats available for sale? This will also give you more insight into where you can begin with your offer.
Talk to the dock neighbors, they may be willing to share more information about the boat and owners than you think. Also talk with the marina personnel they may have useful information about the boat.
Honestly ask yourself how much of the work you are willing to do. How much will you haft to contract? Is it better to pay a little more for a boat that has more working features, or are you willing to build some equity by doing it yourself? These are questions only you can answer. Many House boaters only want to get on their boat after working all week, and get out onto the lake. While others take a lot of pride and satisfaction in working on and restoring their houseboats themselves.
Doing this research will help you put together an offer that should not insult the owner, and move both of you towards your goals. When you have completed your repair list together with your offer, present this to the owner. See if they are willing to help do anything about the needed repairs before you buy or are they willing to make some allowances. A well spelled out offer will show the owner you have done your homework and are a seriously interested buyer.
Acceptance:
Congratulations they have accepted your offer now what? You will want to get the offer in writing and you will want to document not only the price, but also all the equipment that is to go along with the boat. The last thing you want is find out that a lot of equipment you assumed was included wasn’t for instance; you thought the $500 gas grill was included in the purchase price. The owner never stated, but had planned on keeping it all along.
Buying a houseboat if done right can be a fun and rewarding experience which will lead to many hours of family enjoyment, or done wrong can lead to severe headaches down the road.
Posted by blog.houseboatodyssey1.com at 2/2/2010 1:49 PM 
Categories: Buying Tips, Article, Houseboat Buying Tips, Houseboat(s), Various 101's
Tags: purchase buying tips houseboat information
Categories: Buying Tips, Article, Houseboat Buying Tips, Houseboat(s), Various 101's
Tags: purchase buying tips houseboat information
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