Buying a pontoon boat is probably one of the most affordable ways to get your fun in on the water. You can do almost anything with a pontoon that you could do with any other boat. Add to that the fact that the newer styles of pontoons are much more sleek and appealing to the eye than the older models. Still if you're looking at used pontoon boats for sale there are a few things you need to be aware of.
Make Sure To Have An Engine Inspection:
Your pontoon is only as good as the engine that runs it. As with any type of motorized vehicle there are many things that could go wrong with the engine so you want to make sure that it is in good working order. If you're not knowledgeable about boat engines it might be best to hire an independent mechanic to look it over. That way, if there are any problems that need to be addressed you can include that in your negotiations or insist that they are taken care of before the sale.
Check The Overall Condition Of The Boat:
You also want to check to make sure that the overall condition of the used pontoon boats for sale is good. Water inside the pontoons could be an indication that there is a leak somewhere; cracks or damage to the canvas could also be a sign of potential problems. Even finding mold or mildew on the floor could be a sign of water damage or that rotting is taking place.
Check The Furniture:
Even the furniture could be telling you something about how well the boat was taken care of. Knicks, cracks, rips and other damage in the furniture could be an indication that the boat was overused, improperly stored, or not taken care of properly. While damaged furnishings may not be an indication that the boat is in poor working condition it speaks a lot about how diligent the previous owner worked at maintaining it.
Get An Appraisal:
If at all possible, when looking at used pontoon boats for sale it's always a good option to get an appraisal of the boat before you decide to make an offer. The appraisal can provide you with the true condition of the boat, it's current value and its history. From the report you can learn a lot about whether or not the purchase would be worthwhile.
There are many things to check before purchasing a used boat of any kind and unless you are qualified to inspect all these different aspects of a pontoon boat it may be wise on your part to pay the extra money for an official inspection. This way, you can be sure that you're not purchasing someone else's problem and you'll guarantee yourself a better time doing what you want to do. Getting scammed in the used boat business is quite common but those who are savvy enough to take the extra time to get a thorough inspection and find out all there is to know about the boat have a better chance at making a deal they can live with.