Boat Buying Guide for New & Used Boats

How To Buy a Boat in the UK

Wondering how to buy a boat? Find out how in Bates Wharf’s handy boat buying guide.

As leading boat dealers and traders near London in the UK, boats have been our business for many years, so let us help you with yours. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or you’re upgrading to a newer model, boats purchasing & selling is made simple with our industry-leading boat brokerage services.

From the drawing up of contracts and the handling of paperwork to the final handover, Bates Wharf make the process of buying a boat easy, so you can start your next adventure on the water quickly, and in greater confidence.

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Our Boat Buying Guide for New & Used Models

If you’re wondering ‘how to buy a boat?’ it can feel a little overwhelming seeing the options available to you, as well as the legalities behind making a purchase. So Bates Wharf is here to take the stress away and streamline the process for you.

With seasoned staff members who possess years of industry experience in the field of first-hand and second-hand boat buying, we are ready to help guide you through the process with expert advice and first-class customer service.

Read on below to discover the steps you should take if you’re considering purchasing a new or second hand boat in the UK, and get in touch with our friendly sales team for further guidance, or to discuss financing options.

How To Buy a Boat in the UK: Key Steps

Step 1: Budgeting

Establish your usage requirements, and your budget.

Where do you plan to use your boat? River or sea?
Who will use the boat? Is it a day out for two or for all the family and friends?
What will the boat be used for? Just overnight or weekends away?

Step 2: Research

Research! Have a look through our boats for sale. We have multiple brands, styles, ages & all specifications are available for you online. Local to London? Check out our boats for sale near London at our Chertsey Office.

We can quantify the costs involved in relation to keeping your chosen boat on an annual basis with insurance, mooring, cleaning, servicing and maintenance.

Financing Available: Call Us On: 01932 571141

Step 3: Viewings

Arrange viewings! We encourage mutiple viewings to establish the right model for you.

Step 4: Demonstrations

Making an offer once you have found the boat for you; we can guide you through this process. Once agreed a contract is drawn up and a deposit is payable. These are usually subject to demonstration, survey or finance (all if applicable).

We offer a demonstration on our listed pre-owned and brokerage boats where possible. Upon demonstration, we run through all the systems with you on-board to arrive at a basic snagging list. Once back in the office (refreshments offered and sitting comfortably), we run through any snags found on the demonstration and explain procedures to further the purchase and what to expect in terms of costs and responsibility so there are few surprises once the surveys are completed.

Step 5: Paperwork

Subject to all the above being satisfactory and funds are cleared, the legal paperwork is prepared and your handover date will be fixed. We advise to allow a day for this as we explain all the paperwork first, then boat systems and handling.