
Boat Buying Basics
Melanie Sunshine Neale(Author)
Globe Pequot Press
Published on 5. August 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-1-4930-8961-1 (ISBN)
Description
The essential handbook for making your boat-buying journey stress-free
Buying a boat in today’s environment can be confusing, whether you’re looking for a fishing boat, a sailboat or powerboat, or a yacht, and whether you’re planning to spend weekends offshore or become a live-aboard cruiser. The typical consumer has many options, from searching for boats on eBay or Facebook Marketplace to engaging a buyer’s broker to stand by your side and guide you each step of the way.
Boat Buying Basics takes you through how to find and purchase the boat that will best fulfill your dreams and needs. The process is presented chronologically, starting at the very beginning—when boat ownership is just a dream—with a focus on educational steps, such as attending boat shows and considering the pros and cons of renting or chartering. From there, veteran broker Melanie Sunshine Neale provides clear, step-by-step guidance on researching and analyzing boat listings, understanding the survey, making the purchase, navigating the complexities of the closing, and securing insurance and financing. This guide also includes suggestions of further resources that will enable you to enjoy your new boat to the fullest. Helpful checklists and questionnaires throughout make this book an accessible resource to bring with you on your search.
Buying a boat in today’s environment can be confusing, whether you’re looking for a fishing boat, a sailboat or powerboat, or a yacht, and whether you’re planning to spend weekends offshore or become a live-aboard cruiser. The typical consumer has many options, from searching for boats on eBay or Facebook Marketplace to engaging a buyer’s broker to stand by your side and guide you each step of the way.
Boat Buying Basics takes you through how to find and purchase the boat that will best fulfill your dreams and needs. The process is presented chronologically, starting at the very beginning—when boat ownership is just a dream—with a focus on educational steps, such as attending boat shows and considering the pros and cons of renting or chartering. From there, veteran broker Melanie Sunshine Neale provides clear, step-by-step guidance on researching and analyzing boat listings, understanding the survey, making the purchase, navigating the complexities of the closing, and securing insurance and financing. This guide also includes suggestions of further resources that will enable you to enjoy your new boat to the fullest. Helpful checklists and questionnaires throughout make this book an accessible resource to bring with you on your search.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Old Saybrook
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight
222 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4930-8961-1 (9781493089611)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
By Melanie Sunshine Neale
Content
Introduction
Chapter 1: So, You Want to Buy a Boat?
Chapter 2: First Steps
Chapter 3: Getting Onboard
Chapter 4: Making the Decision
Chapter 5: The Offer
Chapter 6: The Survey
Chapter 7: After the Survey
Chapter 8: Back to School
Chapter 9: Less Traditional Buying Methods
Chapter 10: Have Fun!
Index
Chapter 1: So, You Want to Buy a Boat?
Chapter 2: First Steps
Chapter 3: Getting Onboard
Chapter 4: Making the Decision
Chapter 5: The Offer
Chapter 6: The Survey
Chapter 7: After the Survey
Chapter 8: Back to School
Chapter 9: Less Traditional Buying Methods
Chapter 10: Have Fun!
Index