It’s natural to wonder, “How much is my boat worth?” or “What should I pay when I buy a boat?” but it’s also important to ask, “Who is providing the information?”.
So let’s establish this up front: There are no Kelley Blue Book® Values for boats. Of course, if you need a value for apassenger vehicleor motorcycle,we can help there.
But where can you turn if you’re looking for boat values since Kelley Blue Book doesn’t offer them?
If you pull up a search engine and type in “boat values,” “Blue Book boat values,” or “boat values KBB,” a lot of sites come up. Many are legitimate but do read reviews. They can give you a general idea of the price of a boat like yours or the boat you might consider adding to your fleet.
But be careful. Not all boat value sites are legitimate. Almost every site out there throws the words “Blue Book” in there to confuse the issue. Some sites cover their pages with phrases like “Boat Blue Book Value” or “KBB Boat Book” to try to attract shoppers and search engines alike. They hope you’ll assume their boat values are genuine Kelley Blue Book boat values. But they’re not.
Because – bottom line – none of those sites is working with Kelley Blue Book. Kelley Blue Book has been providing car values since 1926, but we don’t offer boat values. As a result, many boat owners choose to use a combination of online sources to arrive at a value. But there are other options.
How Can You Get an Accurate Boat Value?
While online sources can give you a general estimate, boat values vary widely because of differences in care, climate, and condition. Has the boat been in storage or dry dock in the winter, or was it used year-round? Has the boat seen most of its miles in saltwater or freshwater? (That sea air can be a corrosive killer!) Plus, equipment and customization can vary a lot from one boat to another. Advanced electronics & navigation and the choice of materials will affect the price or value.
So what should you do? Many people pay the professionals and hire a boat surveyor to appraise it in person. A boat surveyor will consider your boat’s unique construction, condition, and equipment and then inspect your boat stem to stern. To come up with a value, a professional surveyor will analyze the hull and either the rig or the engine (sailboat vs powerboat). TheSociety of Accredited Marine Surveyors(SAMS) andthe National Association of Marine Surveyors(NAMS) are two great places to find a surveyor. They maintain lists of boat surveyors in your area.
Another thing to consider: If you stick with online sources, their boat values are usually based only on brokers or boat dealers. These sources don’t take into account the significant number of boat sales between private parties. This isn’t surprising since data is hard to come by, verify, and normalize.
Does Kelley Blue Book Have Boat Values?
Kelley Blue Book doesn’t provide values for boats. This also includes boat-related products like outboard motors and trailers.
Why doesn’t Kelley Blue Book offer boat values? Good data is too hard to come by. Getting a large enough sample size to set a boat value with the confidence and accuracy we demand is impossible. We don’t put the name Kelly Blue Book on just any value. We have almost a century of valuation expertise and trust to consider.
Kelley Blue Book only provides vehicle trade-in values, private party values, and Fair Market Range when we can get our hands on enough actual transactions across a wide enough range of the country to ensure we can produce values that are both fair to all parties and reflect the ever-changing market.
Getting a value for a boat isn’t easy, which is why many people choose to work with a professional boat surveyor. In the end, there are online sources that can give you an estimate, but Kelley Blue Book isn’t behind any of them. Good luck.
Kelley Blue Book Can Help You:
LearnWhat Your Car is Worth– help you with selling or trading your vehicle.
Much like the Kelly Blue Book is used for valuing automobiles, there are three main price guides used for valuing boats: NADA Marine Appraisal Guide, BoatWizard's SoldBoats database, and the ABOS Marine Blue Book.
While boat costs vary significantly, you can expect to pay anywhere from $15,000 to $75,000 for the average new vessel, and upwards of $100,000 for a more luxurious model.
Online boat value calculators, boat listing websites, and professional used boat appraisal services are all good options. Online boat value calculators are an excellent resource for determining the worth of your vessel. They can provide a ballpark figure based on the make, model, year, and condition of your boat.
An ACV policy provides coverage up to the current market value of the vessel in the event of a total loss, taking into account depreciation and the condition of the boat at the time of the loss.
Established and reputable brands often hold their value better than lesser-known counterparts. Popular and well-regarded models are also more likely to attract buyers and retain their value over time. The condition and performance of a boat's engine and mechanical systems significantly impact its resale value.
What is “Carfax for Boats”? What will it do and how will it help boat owners? “The recent Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels Act (UCOTVA) that was dubbed the "Carfax for Boats Law" is a law that requires hull-damaged vessels to be branded as such on a title.
Is it clean? Are there signs of rust, hull blisters, peeling paint or varnish, previous repairs, cracks or corrosion? Don't forget to check operating gear like winches, steering systems, running and standing rigging on sailboats, lights, head and galley equipment, electronics and instrumentation.
As we mentioned, boats depreciate over time, much like cars. Unless it has some collector's value, a 15-year-old boat isn't going to be worth much, no matter how valued it was in its prime. The brand is probably more of a factor than it should be.
Add a new canvas or clean the current canvas and your boat's value will increase. Above all, spend for regular boat maintenance. A well-maintained boat free from mechanical problems and other issues is a boat likely to fetch top dollar when put on the market.
In the case of a new boat, terms may seem less negotiable. But you can lower the price by avoiding extra features, warranties, and prepaid maintenance plans, which can drastically increase costs. Even if you're eager to get out on the water, don't rush and spend more than you need to.
Typically, a well-maintained pontoon boat can last anywhere from 20 to 30 years or even longer. However, the lifespan is influenced by factors such as material quality, maintenance practices, environmental conditions, and frequency of use.
Many boats are highly specialized, which is great for families who only plan on enjoying one activity. For those who want to enjoy a wide range of activities, a pontoon is the perfect choice. On a pontoon, you can wakeboard, water ski, tube, and foil with ease. On that same boat, you can also fish or entertain guests.
An insured value appraisal is typically used by banks, lenders, or insurance companies, and is conducted to determine the value of a vessel for the purpose of writing an insurance policy. In this type of appraisal, the value of the vessel is based on the cost to replace it with a similar model or age.
The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a 12- or 14-character serial number that uniquely identifies a boat. The HIN is analogous to a VIN on a car. The last two digits of the HIN number represent the model year. The 3rd and 4th digits from the end are the date of manufacture.
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