The brokerage market, like any market, is always competitive. Only so many boats are for sale at any given time, and if yours is one of them, you want to get the best value you can in the deal. That means looking for ways to help your boat stand out from the rest. Here are seven easy ways to increase your boat’s value ahead of a sale:
- Invest in regular maintenance
- Switch to LED lighting
- Soft goods makeover
- Clean up or get a new canvas
- Think smart about electronics
- Freshen up the bottom paint
- Consider all angles
List your boat & start earning an avg. of $20K yearly with Boatsetter
1. Invest in regular maintenance
Savvy boat buyers look at the mechanicals first and the cosmetics last. A boat that has been regularly maintained— with service records that include parts manufacturers and parts numbers for easy reference— will go a long way toward giving potential buyers peace of mind about your boat being a good investment.
If a boat’s engine, genset, and other mechanicals are in good shape, buyers are often happy to overlook necessary upgrades on things like out-of-fashion drapery and other soft goods. Focus on maintenance that will help give your boat a clean survey, and potential buyers will see the value on every 2. Switch to LED lighting
LED lighting has been popular for several years on boats. This type of lighting consumes less power, which is always a good thing on board because of every boat’s limited power supply underway. Here are the pros of switching to LED lighting:
- LED lighting helps to keep the boat’s interior cooler.
- LED lamps tend to last longer.
- LEDs are also brighter, a terrific upgrade in spaces like a below-READ MORE: How to Sell a Boat (A 7-Step Guide)
3. Soft goods makeover
Cushions, drapery, and other fabrics that are continuously exposed to the sun will fade over time, giving the boat a lackluster appearance. A soft goods makeover is the way to remedy this situation.
You don’t have to buy all-new cushions; just new cushion covers and perhaps some dynamic throw pillows to add a splash of contemporary color. Drapes can be swapped out while keeping the same mounting hardware.
Even changing out old-fashioned bedspreads can inject new life into a boat, making it seem years newer than it previously looked. For vinyl- or leather-covered seats, consider using a vinyl and leather restoration product to help jazz up the worn-out areas.
4. Clean up or get new canvas
5. Think smart about electronics
Some boat owners consider updating older 6. Freshen up the bottom paint
True: hauling out the boat and refreshing the bottom paint can be a 7. Consider all the angles
We all think our boat is the most beautiful on the water, but if we’re being honest, it has a good side and a bad side. Or, maybe, it looks better from the Alternatives?
If you change your mind about selling your boat, you could always list your boat for rent and join the hundreds of boat owners making an extra income off of the boat-sharing economy. All you have to do to start listing is click here.
About us
Boatsetter is a unique boat-sharing platform that gives everyone— whether you own a boat or you’re just renting — the chance to experience life on the water.
List. Rent. Earn— Only at Boatsetter
Kim Kavin has been on boats in more than 50 countries and islands, including in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Pacific, Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. She grew up learning to steer a ski boat and Hobie Holder at her grandfather’s lake house in New Jersey, and went on to spend time aboard everything from America’s Cup racing sailboats to submarines.
Kim is a PADI-certified scuba diver and animal lover who always enjoys a good, long look around a coral reef. Her award-winning writing and editing regularly appears in national marine magazines and on leading websites. In her early years, she was a Dow Jones editing intern and a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. When she’s not writing, Kim can usually be found hiking northwest New Jersey’s beautiful park trails with her adopted shelter mutt, Ginger.
