How to price a boat for sale
The right asking price is close to what boats like yours are asking today, adjusted for what makes yours different. Here is how to work it out, with the asking prices of the used boats on Hull Connect right now.
Start with boats like yours
Look for the same builder and model first, then the same kind of boat at the same length, within a couple of feet. Keep the model years close to yours, and the engine as close as you can.
Asking prices are the easiest place to start, but they are what sellers hope for, not what buyers paid. A boat that has sat at one price for months is telling you something about that price.
Adjust for what makes yours different
Two boats of the same model and year can be worth quite different amounts.
- Engine hours. Fewer hours than similar boats is worth saying up front. More hours means pricing below them, unless the engine has been rebuilt or replaced.
- Service records. Receipts for regular maintenance make a buyer more comfortable paying your number.
- Condition. Upholstery, flooring, the hull and the canvas are what a buyer sees first. Fix what is cheap to fix before you set the price.
- Upgrades and electronics. A newer engine, a tower, a surf system or current electronics add value, but price them at what buyers of boats like yours expect, not at what they cost you.
- A trailer. Say whether one is included and what shape it is in. Buyers compare boats with trailers to boats with trailers.
- Where the boat is. The same boat can ask a different price in a different part of the country, so weigh the boats near you most.
Get a second opinion
J.D. Power publishes values for used boats by builder, model, year and engine. Use it alongside asking prices, not instead of them: a price guide does not know your boat's condition or what is for sale near you.
Decide how quickly you want to sell
Price in line with boats like yours if you want enquiries soon. Price above them only if your boat has something the others do not, and set a date to look at the price again if nobody asks about it.
Make the listing match the price
Buyers decide from the photos and the details before they ever call. Shoot in good light, from every angle, with the helm, the engine and the hours on the gauge. Write out the length, engine, hours and features. A boat with a fair price and a thin listing still looks overpriced.
Used boat asking prices on Hull Connect today
What the used boats live on Hull Connect are asking right now, by kind of boat. These are asking prices, not what boats sold for. About half the boats of each kind ask less than the middle price and about half ask more.
| Kind of boat | Boats | Lowest | Middle | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center Console Boats$12,999 to $1,599,993 | 289 | $12,999 | $109,900 | $1,599,993 |
| Pontoon Boats$5,495 to $280,893 | 289 | $5,495 | $44,875 | $280,893 |
| Bowrider Boats$2,499 to $815,983 | 270 | $2,499 | $44,997 | $815,983 |
| Wake Boats$6,995 to $409,000 | 204 | $6,995 | $89,995 | $409,000 |
| Ski Boats$3,800 to $153,000 | 153 | $3,800 | $38,000 | $153,000 |
| Cabin Cruisers$11,900 to $849,993 | 130 | $11,900 | $116,949 | $849,993 |
| Deck Boats$5,972 to $201,043 | 112 | $5,972 | $40,698 | $201,043 |
| Dual Console Boats$25,853 to $699,990 | 66 | $25,853 | $134,900 | $699,990 |
| Yachts$29,900 to $2,999,993 | 61 | $29,900 | $484,900 | $2,999,993 |
| Fishing Boats$2,540 to $735,993 | 58 | $2,540 | $34,270 | $735,993 |
| Jet Boats$7,393 to $84,900 | 51 | $7,393 | $35,000 | $84,900 |
| Bay Boats$14,990 to $200,992 | 41 | $14,990 | $61,040 | $200,992 |
| Cuddy Cabin Boats$12,900 to $249,988 | 14 | $12,900 | $83,250 | $249,988 |
| Personal Watercraft$4,999 to $16,040 | 10 | $4,999 | $9,495 | $16,040 |
Common questions
- How do I find out what my boat is worth?
- Find boats like yours for sale now, with the same builder, model and length and similar years, and note their asking prices. Adjust for hours, condition and extras, then check a used boat price guide such as J.D. Power as a second opinion.
- Should I price my boat high and come down later?
- Only a little. A price well above boats like yours is often skipped by the buyers comparing them. Leave some room to negotiate, and look at the price again if nobody asks about the boat.
- Does a trailer change the price?
- It can. Say in the listing whether a trailer is included and what condition it is in, so buyers compare your boat with the right ones.
- What does it cost to sell my boat on Hull Connect?
- For a private seller, nothing up front. Hull Connect charges 2% of the sale price when your boat sells, and nothing if it does not. Dealerships list their inventory with a monthly plan.
Selling your boat?
List it on Hull Connect. Nothing up front, and 2% of the sale price when it sells.