Free Guide To Buying, Selling A Boat Available Online

Have you found a great off-season deal on a used boat and want to know if there have been any manufacturer recalls that needed correction or major complaints from other owners? Are you comfortable with the fine print in a sales contract?

The answers to these questions and many more are answered in a free guide, Buying and Selling a Boat, from BoatU.S. Consumer Affairs and available online at http://www.BoatUS.com/guide

The 34-page guide will help prospective boat owners navigate unfamiliar waters and remind the seasoned boat owner of landmarks to steer by and trouble spots to avoid when trading up or selling. Unlike buying an automobile, the guide explains what to look for when buying a new or used boat, such as manufacturing standards, surveys and sea trials.

Also likely to be unfamiliar to the new boat owner — and clearly spelled out in the guide — is information on warranties, federal documentation, osmotic blisters, marine insurance and boat loans.

Important information is also included on how to use the BoatU.S. Consumer Bureau's free services, including the boating industry's only Recall Alert Registry that tracks safety defects for new and subsequent boat owners. Also covered is the association's unique national online complaint database for boats, engines and service providers as well as information on the BoatU.S. dispute-mediation program.

For sellers, there's a checklist to help evaluate your boat's condition, information on the pros and cons of selling on your own versus using a broker, and how to write a sales agreement.