How To Sell Your Sailing Boat - A Step-By-Step Guide

Selling a sailing boat is an exciting yet challenging task. With the right information and plan, the process can be made to feel smooth, whilst also allowing you to make a solid profit. In this article we discuss several prerequisites, talk about how to choose a realistic price, describe in detail how to write an attractive listing, and finally demonstrate how to use the free Boat Peak platform.

1. Preparation

Prior to listing your sailing boat for sale, it's important to consider the following:

• Cleaning: Cleaning both the interior and exterior helps make a good impression to any prospective buyer. Be sure to remove any debris, polish as appropriate, tighten screws, clean the sails, etc.
• Repairs: Be sure to inspect the boat and identify anything that needs repairing. Conducting minor repairs now will make your sailing boat more attractive to potential buyers, and also give you the opportunity to increase your profit.
• Documentation: Collect all documentation together. Doing so lets you easily refer to it and eventually transfer the correct documents to the buyer. Such documentation may include boat registration details, maintenance records, warranties (if applicable), proof of ownership, etc.

2. Decide on a Fair Price

Pricing your boat is a crucial step. Pricing it too high will lead to a lack of interest, whereas setting the price too low will hurt your profit. When pricing a sailing boat, it's advisable to look at how similar boats perform. When price matching, it's best to look for sailing boats with a similar model, age and condition. Our advice is to set the initial starting price at a high level, then reduce over time if required. Boat Peak lets you increase/decrease the price of your listing at will.

3. Write an Attractive Listing

Now comes the challenging part. Making an accurate listing is essential to drumming up interest in your sailing boat, and can make the difference between a quick/easy sale and a prolonged one. Be sure to showcase your sailing boat's best qualities.

• Basic Information: Begin by listing basic information such as the boat's year, model and dimensions. Include details of the type of material the hull is made from (fiberglass/wood/etc.) and also state the type of rigging.
• Engine & Performance: If your sailing boat has an engine, state the type of engine (inboard/outboard), its horsepower, its engine hours and its service history. If you know the fuel efficiency and cruising speed, state it.
• Interior: Describe the interior of your sailing boat. How many beds, what facilities there are (e.g. kitchen, stove, fridge, sink, washing), which electronics are present (e.g. chart plotters, radar, autopilot), whether there are any heaters or air conditioning, etc.
• Condition: Honesty is key when describing your sailing boat's condition. Whilst we recommend repairing as much as possible before the sale, doing so is not always possible. Potential buyers appreciate honesty. Describe the condition of the sails, the condition of the hull, the condition of the deck, and list any customisations that have been made.
• Viewings: Invite potential buyers to arrange a viewing. Be flexible in your viewing times as people may have to travel across the country to see your boat. Make sure to show off all of your boat's features when conducting a boat tour.
• Photos: Creating high quality photos is key. Take into consideration the lighting. Taking pictures in soft lighting is miles better than taking them in direct sunlight which can create shadows. Early morning or late evening pictures are preferred. Be sure to show multiple angles and showcase as many parts of your sailing boat as possible. Include both interior and exterior images. If your sailing boat has an engine, take pictures of it. Also take pictures of any included equipment/gear.

4. Use Boat Peak To Advertise Your Sailing Boat

Boat Peak is a free to use website which lets you post your own boat listings for as long as needed at no cost. Follow the below steps to create a free listing to advertise your sailing boat. Don't hesitate to contact us if you experience any issues.

Step 1 - Make a Free Account

Create a free account here:

Step 2 - Create a Free Advert

After you've activated your free account by following the instructions in the registration email, please log in. You will then be able to create a new advert by clicking on the "New Advert" link. You can also do so by clicking here.

Create a Free Advert

Choose the type of advert from the drop down list. To sell a sailing boat, select "Sailing Boats":

a. Fill in the Basic Information

Fill in the following basic information. This is used to help users search listings and contact you:

b. Fill in the Description

Fill in the description. To make your advert more interesting, you can use colours, bold text, underlined text, different font sizes, and more:

c. Upload Images

Upload your best images. The top image will be used as the main image which is displayed on the home page.

Step 3 - Publish Your Free Advert

Finally, return to the UCP, select the "Publish" action and press "Submit". Your advert will then go to "Pending Approval" status.

Please allow up to 24 hours for approval. After approval, your advert will appear on the home page.