Buying a used boat in Southwest Florida?
A used boat that "ran great last season" can hide a tired powerhead, a milky gearcase, or wiring that's one hot day from stranding you. I come to the boat — at the seller's dock, lift, or trailer — and check it like a mechanic, before your money changes hands.
Most used boats in Southwest Florida change hands through Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and private sales — no dealer, no warranty, no recourse. The seller says it runs strong. Maybe it does. But the two most expensive words in boating are "ran fine."
A compression test tells you what the engine's insides actually look like. Gearcase oil tells you whether water has been where water should never be. Ten minutes on the electrical system tells you whether the wiring is marine-grade or a previous owner's weekend project. An hour of inspection can save you the price of a replacement outboard — or give you real facts to negotiate with.
I've been working on boats in these waters for over ten years — Yamaha, Mercury (including Verado), and Suzuki outboards are what I service every week. When I inspect a boat, I'm looking at it the way the mechanic who'd have to fix it looks at it.
You get a straight verbal rundown on the spot and a written summary of what I found — what's solid, what needs work soon, and what that work typically involves. Facts you can negotiate with, or walk away on.
This is a mechanical inspection, not a marine survey. If your lender or insurance company requires a certified survey (hull valuation, accredited SAMS/NAMS surveyor), that's a different service — I'll tell you straight if that's what you need. My inspection is the mechanic's-eye view of the engine and systems: the part of the boat that costs the most when it's wrong.
Seller's dock, marina, lift, driveway, or storage lot — I come to the boat across Southwest Florida:
Good used boats sell in days here. Call or text me the listing — year, make, engine, and where it sits — and I'll tell you straight when I can get eyes on it.
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