Frequently Asked Questions

The rightful owner of any vessel, such as a boat, yacht, or personal watercraft (PWC) may list their property on the FSBOAT platform. Any seller who has their boat listed with a yacht broker and wish to advertise their boat for sale with FSBOAT are welcome to do so in their own name and with the appropriate disclosure in the listing. Since the steps to list require verification of the seller's identity and proof of ownership, yacht brokers or dealers may not create listings on behalf of their clients.

An ad for your boat, often called a boat listing, starts at $49.99 per month. But you may choose enhanced services to make your ad even more attractive. View our listing services.

The boat buying process with or without a broker follows the same essential steps. Without a representing broker, the buyer presents a written offer and a deposit, usually 10% of the purchase price, held in escrow by a third party. A maritime attorney can be hired to draft the agreement and oversee the transaction, or you may use our optional escrow services. The agreement includes an "accept/reject" date by which the buyer must perform inspections and surveys. The buyer can hire a surveyor or mechanic to inspect the vessel. After inspections, the buyer either accepts or rejects the vessel. Upon acceptance, the parties move towards closing, where the seller may need to make repairs and the buyer finalizes financing and insurance. A lender or documentation agent can be hired to handle the vessel's documentation after closing. To find trusted local pros, visit our Marine Directory.

Adding media to your listing is made easy on the FSBOAT platform. Adding photos of your boat: Upload your photos in any format, and our built-in tool will take care of the resizing, as well as optimizing the image for a fast load time. You may use our photo editor features to adjust the contrast, brightness, and colors. Adding videos of your boat: Add a link to a YouTube video of your vessel, or send us your video files and for a modest fee, we'll create a video showcasing your boat and add it to your listing. Don't have adequate photos or videos? Hire a professional to handle this for you, request professional media services now.

Once you've entered all of your boat details and uploaded your images, it only takes a few minutes for your listing to be published and visible to all visitors on the FSBOAT site. We also share your listing with partner websites and advertising networks to give your boat more visibility – this may take a few hours to complete.

Setting the right asking price is critical to attracting buyers. Price too high and you'll lose interest; price too low and you'll raise red flags. Research your boat's market value before listing and use the pricing guidance that we supply inside the FSBOAT platform. You will see current asking prices for similar vessels, including average, high, and low ranges, so you can price competitively and confidently.

Wondering what your boat's actually worth? There isn't a Kelly Blue Book for boats, and unfortunately the NADA guides no longer reflect today's market, so turn to FSBOAT's pricing tool for accurate, up-to-date valuations. Cross-reference this with comparable vessels listed in your area to get a realistic sense of what buyers are willing to pay. Real listings beat outdated guides every time.

Absolutely - you're free to make any changes to your listing as you see fit. These changes are reflected on your listing almost immediately. So if you want to change the asking price, add some photos, or provide additional descriptions about your vessel, you may do so at any time.

Detail your listing with precise specifications and descriptions: exact measurements, including depth and air draft (bridge clearance), engine and generator hours, tank sizes, and specific brand names for equipment and accessories. Don't forget your dinghy or trailer if one conveys with the sale of your vessel. Use the manufacturer's specs as your guide and follow the prompts when creating your listing on the FSBOAT platform, we try to make it as easy as possible for you! And instead of stating something is "new" specify the date of replacement or installation and be specific with the usage of the boat. Finally be completely truthful in the condition disclosure that you'll make when you submit your listing. Capture professional-quality photos and videos showing every angle of your vessel: interior, exterior, waterline, and deck, plus all the systems. You want to give buyers a complete view. And make sure the boat is clean and free of clutter. First impressions are everything!

When selling a high-value item like a boat, it's important that you are reaching a qualified audience and protect yourself from potential scams and "tire kickers". With the FSBOAT you not only get more exposure to promote your boat, you have access to better tools to include high quality photos and videos, and support to assist in the transaction. Thanks to our user verification, both buyers and sellers on the FSBOAT platform can be assured of the other party's intent: sellers are serious about selling their boat, and buyers feel good knowing the boat advertised is not a ghost listing or outdated ad. And both parties feel more confident in their shopping experience.

How long it takes to sell a boat depends on exposure and pricing. But this assumes you've already covered the basics: an accurate listing with proper descriptions of the boat and its equipment, and great looking photos and videos - Remember: first impressions are everything! Regarding exposure: the most critical step is to create a listing on a platform you know will reach the right buyers. Not only does the FSBOAT platform reach thousands of qualified buyers, your listing will also be promoted on other listing sites and advertising networks to attract more eyes to your listing. We're so confident you'll love FSBOAT that we are offering you to list for free for the first 30 days. Start listing your boat today! Finally, price is your biggest lever: competitively priced boats move faster than overpriced ones. Use the FSBOAT pricing tool when you build your listing to determine the best asking price for your vessel. You will be able to compare your vessel to similar listings and find the sweet spot that attracts serious buyers quickly.

A bill of sale legally transfers vessel ownership from seller to buyer. Both parties must sign it, and depending on your situation, you may also need witness signatures, lender approval, or notarization. Only complete and sign the document after the buyer has paid (meaning, the funds have cleared on the seller's bank account, or the funds are being held in escrow with a closing agent) and the seller has delivered the boat.

A trusted marketing place like FSBOAT is the best way to not only get your boat in front of verified buyers quickly, but to guide you and the buyer in the next step of the sale. Other channels are often helpful to grow your exposure: placing a "for sale" sign on your boat is always a good idea, and sharing your FSBOAT listing on social media and on Facebook Marketplace is also a good practice to increase your reach.