One scary thing that I’ve heard about lately is buyer shows up to purchase item (skiff?) with cash, “seller” only ever intended to rob the buyer!🤬 Inform seller that you’re not buying with cash!Caution, keep your head on a swivel, meet at a police station? Check all hull, engine, trailer numbers, title! Trust your gut!

 

A guy came up to Tampa to buy my friend’s 16’ Whipray with 40 large in cash and the transaction went smooth as could be. We were packing heat just in case, but never an issue.

I have bought and sold a few boats in my time and have done both cash and cashiers checks. I always meet them at their bank and then get the cashiers check directly from their bank, closest to me. Only then will I sign over the title.

You would be surprised that a lot of people deal in cold hard cash.

 

Lots of good info at this link

 

A reasonable seller should give you a few days to get your financials in order. If they have a lean on their boat and you are borrowing as well, your bank will cut a check to their bank and you a check for the difference. The title will transfer straight from one bank to the other. If you have cash you can either cut them a check for the full amount with bill of sale in hand and they will send you the title (takes banks a week or two to release a title). Or you can cut their bank a check directly and the seller the difference and the title will be sent to you. This has been my experience but things could be a little different depending.

 

... kind of like buying/selling used cars. Clear title to boat and trailer. Mechanical knowledge of what you are looking at, or better yet - have the whole rig surveyed by a dealer familiar with the motor. Sea trial ! .. you wouldn't buy a car without driving it - you need to put the boat in the water and run it. Your own, or a State standardized Bill of Sale with VIN's of hull and trailer - in addition to signing over the title. Cash or bank check verified at your bank or theirs. Verify seller's ID, if possible, by driver's license. You want to be sure you're gaining legal title to what you are buying, and that it's in a certain mechanical condition.

 

Make the transaction at the sheriff's office as the entire parking lot will be on camera.

 

You need a bill of sale and the owner needs a title for boat and trailer. The seller should be able to sign the title over to you. Then take the title to you DVM . It's like buying a car

 

That sheriff Department sounds good ,but i know damn well i wouldnt pull my junk to sheriff Department just to sell it !

# 1 Dont go alone!
#2 take protection 🤪
#3 dont show money till everything checks out!
#4 see his license be sure names match title!
#5 be sure he signs title in correct areas!
#6 make sure title numbers match boat ! The "HIN" on stern, NOT JUST BOW NUMBERS !
#7 check trailer ,grease, air pressure, strapped down correctly ,pull that yacht home 👍😊😎 be sure motor
foot has good clearance from road...
#8 ask to be sure what size the trailer Ball is he should be able to tell you soon as you ask 🤨👍
#9 and im sure just waking up for night shift ive forgot something, but check your tow vehicle as well oil ,tires ,ect....its still holds true !!!

The happiest Days of a captains lifes is the day he buys a boat and the Day he sells it 😅🤣😂👍😋

 

What state? different rules

 

Not sure if your doing research for yourself or just dug up a post from 2022 cause you was bored, but i will add DO NOT Accept a cashier check unless you actually see it cut at credit union or bank! While cashier checks use to be the gold standard the scammers have took away what security they use to offer....i had a guy that told me his friend had a corvette stolen from him ,the buyer used a cashier check to purchase the vett two weeks later the bank notified him the check was no good!the vett long gone!

Id be careful even with cash now days ! A large amount id have the bank check it clear it first 👍😎

 

I would meet them at the bank