Practical Tips When Buying A Used Sea Ray Boat Or Yacht

Purchasing a used sea ray boat or yacht instead of a new one is certainly more cost efficient and why there are many more pre-owned sold each year than new. Naturally, used boats are cheaper, but there are many factors to consider when buying a used boat or yacht that should be considered in order to protect yourself from making a poor decision. As a rule of thumb, maintenance for used vessels is certainly more expensive and come more frequest than brand new boats that are still considered under warranty. This is where the need for hiring a reputable marine surveyor becomes important as the boat or yacht needs to be thoroughly inspected before any paperwork is signed.

The pre-owned Sea Ray market is the largest of any other boat builders out there, selling thousands of vessels each year worldwide thanks to many years of tens of thousands of new boats being produced.

Of course, before anything else, you need to know the exact kind of sea ray boat you want to buy. But this is really a case of knowing what you need the boat for. Will you use it for long range cruising or for day boating? How many people will you take with you aboard the boat? Where will you store the boat? Are speed and size important considerations for you?

The answers to these questions will help you determine the kind of used Sea Ray boat or yacht for sale you should look for, as well as the price of the boat you will purchase.

At this point, you have to consider if you need to get a yacht broker. A local boat broker can make the process of finding a boat easier. With the yacht broker’s help, you can widen your search parameters and narrow the boats you will take on a sea trial. Experienced yacht brokers can help guide you every step of the way from making your selection, helping to uncover the history behind the boat, negotiate on your behalf, and even take care of the closing paperwork. United Yacht Sales is proud to have one of the best support teams in the industry that ensures that the purchase or sale of your Sea Ray boat or yacht runs as smoothly as possible.

As with any kind of purchase, remember not to buy anything during the first sea trial. Even if you think you already found the boat you want to buy on your first day of canvassing, continue your search. However in today's market, there aren't as many quality pre-owned vessels on the market as there used to be. Because most manufacturers, including Sea Ray, slowed production during the recession years of 2008 to 2012 there are fewer late model used yachts on the market today than in normal years. So while being careful and researching the market thoroughly is recommended, you also may face stiff competition for a low hour, late model boat or yacht that just comes on the market.

Read About The Effect Of Brunswick's Decision On The Pre-Owned Sea Ray Market

Once you find the right Sea Ray boat that fits your needs, budget, and looks to be in the condition you want, the next step is a sea trial. Sea trials are a great way for a prospective buyer to make sure the boat runs and handles properly. Having an experienced yacht broker with you on a sea trial is a great way to make sure you get a professional second opinion on its condition.

But assessing a used sea ray boat for sale is more than just feeling the vessel; it is also about looking at the technical aspects of the boat.

Don't forget to confirm the engine hours via its engine hour meter. The lower the hours it has been used, the more hours it has left for you. But make sure you check the meter before the sea trial and after. This way, you know if the meter is working properly. If the meter barely moved after the test, it means the meter may not have clocked the boat’s hourly usage properly.

Make sure you get a cold start of the boat when you test — meaning, that should have been the first time the boat’s engine has been started that day. Pre-owned boats have older engines; the older the engine, the more effort it might take to start. Obviously, if you have a problem starting the boat’s engine during the test, it could only get worse when you buy it. A cold start will give you the opportunity to listen to odd noises or performance problems. You should also check the engine’s oil dipstick; make sure the oil on the stick isn’t black as ink. The engine should have no strong gas smell as well.

There are many different styles and models of Sea Ray Yachts on the market today. Some of the more popular recent models include the Sea Ray Sundancer and Sea Ray L-Class which fall under the Sea Ray Yachts division. Sea Ray recently announced that they are going to stop building yachts and focus more on their bowrider and sport boat models. This will undoubtedly change the pre-owned Sea Ray market for years to come. Contact your United Yacht Sales broker today to have the discussion as to whether owning a Sea Ray is the right brand for you.

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