With a bit of luck, you may find a dealer who will help you value and sell your used powerboat. However, dealers will probably give you a low value on the boat to make a considerable profit on the sale. The blue book does give you a high and low value for a used boat, but with a dealer, you can expect to only be offered the lower price, as is the only way for him to make a profit on the transaction.
Of course, the valuation officers of insurance agencies and banks are a good source of a more accurate value on your powerboat. If you are lucky then the manufacturer of your new powerboat will let you trade in your old one to have a convenient transaction and deducted the payable amount on your purchase.
You will be amazed to know how quickly the value of a powerboat can drop over a short period. This is of course thanks to the constant improvements in technology and design that the market sees. So before you buy a new boat it is wise to check out the staying power of the models you are looking at. The most fashionable boats that you see at the dealer’s may not have the longest staying power. In such a case you will be at the losing end when it is finally time to trade that boat in for another one.
There are a few things you could try to maximize the chances of getting a better deal when you trade in your used powerboat. Firstly you must take good care with the presentation of the boat itself. Make sure it is spic and span and in fine working order to get the best price for it. You are trading in the boat, and you need to be the salesman to the dealers in such a case.
If you get your timing right, you should be selling your boat at the beginning of the boating season in the area. That is when the prices reach their peak, both in terms of new and used boats.
Apart from the boat’s working order, think about its cosmetic condition. The first impressions are often the lasting ones as we all know, so clean out any junk you may have accumulated on your boat. Make sure it looks clean and tidy, and maybe you could even patch the paintwork if it can be done inexpensively.