Whatever your reason, high gas prices, starting a family, it’s time to sell your boat. Where do I start? What is it actually worth? How do I know I’m not getting taken to the cleaners? All good questions so where do you start?

First off, get all the information about your boat that you can. Manufacturers name, make, model, serial number, motor make, motor serial number, hours on motor. Then head to your computer, that is if you have internet access and type in nadaguides.com. If you do not have internet access you can buy a nada book at your local parts or book store, make sure it is the boat edition. Place all your information in the nada form and be honest with condition. Once you have done so it will come up with a list of different prices ranging from poor to excellent. Please note that most boats fall into the fair to good range. Now you have a range of pricing for your boat.

Next, search the internet for boats that are for sale exactly like yours to see what they are going for price wise. Just because your boat is valued at $30.000 doesn’t mean that’s what you will get out of it. I know, to depressing. Many market factors weigh in to decrease or increase your price. But you once again will get a price range of market value for your boat.

Now the worst part. Head out to the boat with some cleaning products because its time to put some elbow grease into it. You don’t need much education on this one. Get that bad boy looking like it did when you bought it, the payoff is worth the hassle. Usually to the tone of sold or still in the sitting in the garage.

Back to the computer to do some searching. What are we looking for? Where to post my boat to sell it. With so many websites out there you can find free classified websites like BoatingSwapShop.com or even Craigslist.com to post your boat free of charge. Once you find your sites, make sure to list your boat with details. I can’t emphasize this enough. The more details about your boat you put into your ad the easier it will be to sell. Also, add pictures that are not blurred or distorted but crisp and clean. This will answer a lot of questions a potential buyer may have.

Now the hardest part of all, waiting. You will soon know by the amount of calls or by the lack of calls as to your efforts. Be honest with buyers and answer all their questions to the best of your knowledge. If you have done your homework as listed above you should be soon replacing your ad with a sign saying Sold!