Like used cars and used houses, a used boat can be the bargain of a lifetime or an unending nightmare. Here are some tips to avoid buying a lemon:

1. Think hard about what do you want to do with the boat.
If you like to cruise and explore mostly on weekends, a trailerable boat will increase the places you can reach in a few hours. If you like to ski, look for a boat with an engine that will pop two skiers out of the water quickly. If you'll rarely spend the night aboard, a big, comfortable cockpit is more important than interior amenities. If you plan on overnighting, boats 10-20 years old often are in excellent condition and offer 10-15 feet more length for the same cost as a new boat.

2. Everything should work.
If a piece of electronic or mechanical gear doesn't function properly, ask the buyer to reflect the repair cost in the price or fix it.

3. Used boats sold by dealers often come with limited warranties, usually 30-90 days.
But make sure the warranty clearly states that it covers the hull, engine, outdrives and electronic instruments.

4. Have a marine survey done on any boat more than about 24 feet and equipped with a galley, head and sleeping quarters.
A survey typically costs $10-$12 a foot for boats up to 50 feet (about 1 percent of the purchase price). While it doesn't guarantee a problem-free future, it will find most defects. Even on a boat in excellent condition, surveys often find enough defects that the owner can save far more than the survey cost by negotiating a lower purchase price. A basic survey doesn't cover engines and generators. That requires an inspection by a marine mechanic.

5. Smaller trailer boats usually don't need a survey, but buyers can have a mechanic check the engine.
Other common defects are soft cockpit floors, serious cracking or fiberglass delamination (most often at the transom), hull cracks (especially where the boat sits on the trailer) and separation where the deck joins the hull.

6. Always have the owner start the engine, even if it means hooking up a cooling hose in a driveway.
Four-cycle engines should start as quickly and easily as a car engine. Two-strokes might require a couple of attempts, but once started they should run smoothly.

7. Look in the bilges, especially in the engine compartment.
Oil or gasoline can mean engine leaks or poor maintenance. Water stains and rusty engine bolts or screw heads are evidence of leaks.

8. Powerboats with engines that don't run can be bargains, mostly because they are hard to get rid of.
If the hull, decks and cockpit are in good shape, such a boat might be worth repowering. Basic hull forms in powerboats haven't changed much in 20 years, and an older boat with a new engine is usually as fast and seaworthy as new craft.

9. Steering problems are common on older boats.
When the wheel is turned, the rudder or engine should respond easily and without much noise or vibration. Stiff steering can sometimes be remedied by greasing the system or repairing broken pulleys, but if the steering system needs replacing, it can be expensive.

10. Check for required safety equipment.
Make sure running lights work, the fire extinguishers are charged, flares are not out of date and that it has an anchor and anchor line.

11. Inspect the propellers.
If they are damaged, plan on replacing or repairing them. This will run anywhere from $50 to $1,000 per propeller, depending on the size and material (aluminum or stainless steel). Repairs are less.

12. Remove covers from cockpit and cabin cushions and see that the foam inside is in good shape.
In smaller boats with cockpit seats that lay flat, look underneath to make sure the plywood isn't rotten. Damaged seats can be recovered or replaced, but they might be a negotiating point.

13. Examine cleats and other deck fittings carefully.
They should be bolted through the deck, not screwed into the fiberglass, and backed with wood blocks or metal plates under the deck.

14. Crawl under the boat and examine the trailer carefully.
Make sure the tongue-fitting attaches and releases easily from the trailer ball, that trailer rollers turn smoothly and that the wheel bearings have been serviced.

15. Prices vary dramatically.
Check the classifieds in boating magazines, newspapers and specialty sources such as Boat Trader.

Source: Eric Sharp, Detroit Free Press, May 20, 1999