Having the right paperwork can make a used boat sale go smooth and avoid any
surprises, says BoatUS.
Two Must-Have Forms For Every Boat Buyer or Seller
Ensuring a Smooth Sale
Behind most
successful used-boat transactions, there’s a Purchase Agreement and Bill of
Sale that clearly spell out how the boat was bought or sold. The BoatUS
Consumer Protection Department now offers both of these documents at no cost online.
“A Purchase
Agreement is necessary if you intend to buy a boat, but require that certain
things must be done before you will accept the boat, such as a satisfactory
marine survey, specific repairs, and the ability to finance or insure the boat,”
said BoatUS Consumer Protection Director Charles Fort. “It also describes both
parties’ obligations. Once a buyer accepts the boat, the bill of sale is used
as proof of purchase. You can download and print both forms 24-hours a day.”
Fort also
added that while the two forms were designed to meet the needs of most buyers
and sellers, they may want to seek legal advice if there are any questions
about whether the forms are appropriate for their situation.
The BoatUS
Consumer Protection Bureau offers a dispute mediation service, the only
national boating complaint database, and provides consumer-oriented information
to help boaters make smart buying decisions. For more go to
BoatUS.com/consumer.