Selling your boat is a very significant decision. However, it is also a daunting task and therefore, you could use some hacks to get the sale quickly on free boat listing platforms.
This post will walk you through everything you need to do before selling your inflatable boat, plus a handy list of things you need to do to sell your inflatable boat fast and for big bucks, so let’s get started.
Page Contents
- 1. Prepare Your Boat for Sale
- 2. Take Some Boat Videos and Photos
- 3. Set Your Price
- 4. Create a Sales Plan
- 5. Advertise Your Boat
- 6. Show Your Boat
- 7. Sell Your Boat With Proper Documentation
- Final Thoughts
- Your inflatable boat is getting old. Is it wise to fix it or sell it?
- Cleaning and maintenance tips for your inflatable boat
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Prepare Your Boat for Sale
You need to do some prep work to get the best price for your boat. For example, the boat’s quirks and mechanical conditions that you’ve been living with for years and have grown accustomed to may turn off potential buyers.
That clatter in the engine and the door held open with a rubber band may not be a big deal to you but will make your boat less appealing to potential buyers. Before you show the boat to potential buyers, ensure that everything is fixed.
Because of the inflatable nature of the boat, it is also extremely important that you conduct thorough tests and inspections for things such as holes or small punctures before you move forward with the listing. Problems like these can cause serious structural problems to the boat and can often result in a buyer disputing their purchase if this renders their boat inoperable shortly after purchase.
2. Take Some Boat Videos and Photos
Once your boat is in its most excellent shape, it’s time to get some brilliant on-the-water photos and videos. Always keep in mind that the first impression is key.
A captivating photo or video will be the first reason a buyer would consider your listing over other sellers’ listings. Importantly, avoid taking pictures of the boat on a trailer, in poor lighting, or with a messy background.
Typically, listings with videos sell faster than those without, so it is worthwhile to shoot some captivating videos. It’s also critical that you capture the main purpose of the boat within the videos and pictures.
Since you are selling an inflatable boat, highlight some of its main use cases such as Rubber Duckies being used to rescue people or non motorised inflatable boats being used for rafting and leisure. This will filter your potential buyers further, saving you time and money.
3. Set Your Price
Your next significant step is determining the asking price. However, researching how to price your boat before making important decisions is essential. You can use this tool or other pricing techniques to determine a reasonable price.
Lastly, decide whether or not to conduct a survey. While this is usually thought to be the buyer’s commitment, carrying out one before time will help shorten the time it takes to sell the boat and reveal any potential problems that are better treated ahead of time.
4. Create a Sales Plan
Now that you have the most appealing photos and the asking price for your boat, you can proceed to the decision-making step. Here, you’ll have to create a sales plan by answering essential questions. For example, you’ll have to figure out whether to handle the entire sales process solo or seek the services of brokers and dealers.
And when you’re ready to advertise your boat, you’ll have to make some more decisions, such as whether to use ad placement, target audience, negotiation room (the “reserve price”), and so forth. Will you use print, online advertising, or go with the old-fashioned approach for sale signs and park the boat in a high-traffic area?
5. Advertise Your Boat
Can you recall where you saw your boat advertised? That could be the ideal spot to resell it.
Newsletters, newspapers, and other online classifications can provide additional access to specialty buyers. Furthermore, there is a wealth of information and more detail on why selling your boat online is the best option in most cases.
6. Show Your Boat
You must answer several questions about the boat model, its standard and common features, as well as any add-ons you’ve added. Again, there will very certainly be a slew of questions, so have your sales presentation ready.
When displaying your boat model to your consumers, you should be cautious if the conditions are less than ideal. They wouldn’t want to go on a boating trial during bad weather since the boat may bang about and frighten off a possible buyer.
Remember that you’re not just aiming to turn your boat into cold, hard cash at these times. You’re looking for the “right” buyer—someone who will fall in love with your boat, take care of it as you would, and be a happy boater.
7. Sell Your Boat With Proper Documentation
Remain steadfast, tell yourself that the world will not end, and begin discussing pricing. Avoid being taken advantage of, and handle the paperwork yourself if you can.
First, ensure you know precisely everything you’ll need in advance so that you don’t hamper the final sale. It’s always a good idea to notarize all paperwork, though it’s not always necessary.
Remember to request a deposit on the big day. It is also good to verify with the buyer’s bank to ensure that they are solvent and creditworthy.
To minimize disappointments, scams, frauds, etc., ensure you have met the possible buyer before the transaction. Accept no cash or Western Union payments; instead, insist on being paid through bank transfer or check.
Final Thoughts
After completing the transaction, it’s always a good idea to stay in touch with the buyer for a few weeks to ensure that they are content with their purchase or to answer any questions they may have. This minimises the potential that they will request a refund or leave you a negative review on a sales site, impacting your potential for selling boats in the future. With these tips in mind, selling your inflatable boat will be a breeze and you’ll be back on the water in no time. Happy boating!
Your inflatable boat is getting old. Is it wise to fix it or sell it?
Regardless of your inflatable boat’s type, brand, or price, you need to give it proper care, time, and attention. The spending for maintenance is essential with an inflatable boat, and we assume you were aware of it before purchasing your boat. As with everything else in life, in time, any inflatable boat will require more time, care, and money for cleaning and maintenance. If you are at that point when you no longer know if you should fix or sell your boat for good, the following aspects will come in handy to make a decision.
Here’s why you should fix and keep your boat
Most of us spend a lot of time searching before purchasing an inflatable boat. We recommend you do the same when selling and don’t rush into making a decision.
Sentimental value
Only someone who owns and uses an inflatable boat can truly understand this. More often than not, we become attached to the boat and it’s really difficult to picture ourselves cruising in anything else. Sounds familiar? If you, refurbishing your watercraft is the only decision to make. When you’re emotionally bonded to the boat, that can be enough of a reason to keep on spending time and money on repairs and maintenance. Plus, nobody can say for sure if a new boat will trump the one you currently have!
The costs for repairs still don’t empty your wallet
For most of us, the costs for repairs make the no.1 reason for selling the inflatable boat. Not all repairs are necessary, so we recommend you call a reliable, certified surveyor for a detailed inspection of the boat. Care to remind the surveyor to look into discovering the issue of the boat’s structure. These make for the most expensive repairs when it comes to boats. After you have the surveyor examine the boat, make sure also to hire an experienced mechanic. He will look for problems with the engine, cooling and exhaust system, and fuel lines. Problems with any of these components cause expensive repairs.
If you go through these inspections and conclude that you stay within your budget with the repairs, you might postpone selling your boat unless you’re pressured to sell it for cash.
When should you sell your boat?
All people have their quirks, and we’re aware that some will simply wake up one day and sell their boat without giving it a second thought. For most, one of the following aspects, if not all, are enough reasons to sell.
You don’t have the time and money to fix your boat
If you have had to fix your boat, you know that fixing it doesn’t happen in one day. It takes commitment, time, and money to repair an inflatable boat. Many repairs can even cost you more than the boat itself. When fixing the boat keeps on emptying your wallet, you should consider selling the boat. When you buy a new boat, you know that you save time in the long run—the same way you did with the one you’ve had. We remind you that it’s possible to finance the purchase of a boat over the course of several years. It’s something you won’t be able to do with the costly repairs for your current boat.
It doesn’t fit your lifestyle anymore
It’s common for people to move houses or to have their family dynamic changed over the years. Maybe you’re an empty nester now or have grandchildren—life is full of surprises, for sure! Regardless of the situation, you’re into now, maybe owning and using an inflatable doesn’t match your lifestyle anymore. It’s that easy!
A word on safety
No matter if you decide to fix or sell the boat, always mind your safety. If you’re selling the boat, we recommend you inform the prospective owner of any issues that require immediate repairs. Some of these issues can cause sinking, fire, and other disasters.
Also, seek that your boat is insured. We advise you to verify with your Family Risk Manager to ensure adequate insurance for the boat.
Cleaning and maintenance tips for your inflatable boat
It doesn’t matter if you sell or keep the boat; you should still be a responsible owner and take good care of it. You want your boat to be in its best shape and condition, regardless of who uses it.
Use the adequate cleaning products
Many multi-use cleaners are made for inflatable boats. Experts say that you will be more efficient with some mild soap and detergents. Additionally, these products won’t be as harmful as the multi-use cleaners in stores.
Opt for cleaning products especially made for inflatable boats.They’re made to protect Hypalon, PVC, polyethylene and other materials used for boats. Such products will clean and protect the boats against the elements such as saltwater and UV rays.
The safest household cleaning products you can use for cleaning your inflatable boats are:
- Biodegradable cleaners
- Mild soaps and detergents
- UV protectants
- Citrus cleaners
- White vinegar
We recommend you avoid using abrasive and harsh chemicals that might scratch, dissolve, and permanently damage the boat’s surface. Here are some of these products:
- Acetone
- Chlorine
- Ammonia
- Abrasive scrub pads
- Toluene
- Solvents
- High alkaline products
- MEK
Stay on top with general cleaning
Always run a fast cleaning routine after every use. You will probably do it in 20 minutes or so and it’s the best way to stop gunk from building up.
You only need a spray cleaner, a dry cloth, and a plastic bucket to do it. Apply the spray cleaner on the surface and wait 5 minutes until using the cloth. Continue with rubbing the boat’s surface with the wet cloth. Replace the water if necessary and repeat until the water runs clear.
Remove mold and mildew
Look for mold and mildew removers that will dissolve the fungi causing the problem. Be careful when using such products with your inflatable boat.
Get rid of stubborn stains
When you skip regular cleaning, dark and unsightly stains will form on the surface of the boat. Make sure you have all the necessary tools within reach: an inflatable boat cleaning solution, a dry cloth, a sponge, a UV protectant, and a soft bristle brush. Put on some latex gloves and take time to remove the stains.
Additional Cleaning Tips
Storage
Since you want to safely store the boat, you shouldn’t store it completely inflated. If you need to deflate it due to lack of storage space, you should ensure that all surface is clean and dry. You don’t want mold and mildew to develop until you use the boat again.
Cleaning
Always take a sample to run a ph test before using a new cleaning product. Never use a product that shows a ph level above 11.5.
Inflating
Never over-inflate the boat as you risk blowing up the chamber. Air will expand when the temperature rises. Therefore, you should never inflate completely the boat in a cold morning.
Never have sharp objects around the boat
Even if boats are made with solid materials, you should avoid as much as possible sharp objects. Once you puncture the boat, you have two options: embark on constant repairs or sell it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to wait a lot of time to sell your boat?
Even if nobody can say how fast you will sell your boat, there are some general guidelines. Therefore, you should expect to sell your boat between 8 to 12 weeks. Similar to houses, the higher the price for your boat, the lower the chance to sell it in less than two months.
Is there a perfect time to sell your boat?
Back in 2020, the sales remained high throughout the entire year. However, this situation doesn’t happen often. According to statistics, the perfect time to sell your boat is between the mid-winter months and the beginning of summer. It means that you have a better chance of selling your boat between February to June than you have outside these months.
Are inflatable boats dependable?
Inflatable boats bring many benefits and you can expect to use one a lot more often than a traditional. As they’re easier to transport and get into the water, inflatable boats are more versatile than conventional models. All in all, it’s safe to say that inflatable boats are dependable and long-lasting, incredibly when you clean and take good care of them.
Let’s say you give your boat the best TLC possible. Will it last forever?
Many things in life will require cleaning and proper maintenance for the most extended lifespan and inflatable boats don’t make an exception. If you use the appropriate cleaning products, methods and stay on top with regular cleaning and maintenance, you can expect your inflatable boat to last more than a decade, up to 15 years.
Should you worry that your inflatable boat will sink?
The risk for an inflatable boat to sink is close to zero. However, if a tube deflates, you can get into a dangerous scenario that can end up bad. Inflatable boats can have two to six inflation chambers, which keeps the risk of sinking low.
