Selling a boat

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

The bow numbers only stay the same if the boat is staying in New Hampshire.

I would not release the boat to the new owner until it was registered in their name. You can be sure if the new owner does something illegal or gets into any kind of an accident you, as the registered owner of the boat, will be named in any lawsuit or at a minimum be called as a witness in any court proceeding. It would be very risky if the new (potentially inexperienced) owner shows up to pick up his/her new boat with mom and the kids for a day of tubing on the big lake in a boat registered to you. No thank you!

You can leave the bow numbers in place as they need to stay, but just remove the state registration stickers. Easy solution.

[codeman671]

I have bought and sold MANY boats over the years. During my 10 years at the lake we owned over 25 different boats and jet skis (yeah, I have a boat problem and am still seeking counseling).

I bought and sold many using craigslist and ebay. You certainly get a few clowns, but typically I got well qualified buyers. Once you weed out the scam emails (ask people to provide real contact information when replying) the rest are decent people.

Using ebay, almost every boat I listed sold, only once during the actual auction. Most were off ebay through contacts that I made during the auction process. Not small stuff either, one pontoon went for almost $100k, and 3 wakeboard boats totaling over $175k.

The internet can be your friend.

I tried the consignment route as well. I don't think any of mine ever sold on consignment. Usually I would continue to market it myself out of the area, and typically got a deal done myself faster and for more money than the dealers. lets face it, unless they get a local sale anyone else is going to find it online.

If its a $10k boat, I would use craigslist. Post it in NH and Mass (2 different email addresses needed).

[radioman]

I know nothing about Irwins but I know a lot about Shep Browns. Do yourself a favor and contact Jim Bochetta, I guarantee that you will not be sorry!! 279-4573

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by codeman671

You can leave the bow numbers in place as they need to stay, but just remove the state registration stickers. Easy solution.

Again, the bow numbers do not need to stay unless the boat is going to remain in NH.

Peeling the registration stickers off does not cancel the registration, it only means that YOUR BOAT is not displaying valid evidence of registration. If the boat is involved in an accident or incident and the officer runs the registration number guess what? The boat is still registered to you, but you could be cited for failing to display valid evidence of that registration.

If you cancel the registration with the state and then allow a person to take the boat from your dock while you know it is no longer registered you could also be in violation. It would be similar to letting someone drive your car who you know has no drivers license.

Some tricky legal ground that the lawyers will have years to take apart!