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BoatSharp
Check a Boat

Independent used-boat research

Know the boat before you buy.

BoatSharp helps you research value, history, ownership records and potential red flags before money changes hands.

Research a Boat Used Boat Buying Guide

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The four checks, in order

Each step answers a different question, and none of them substitutes for another. Do them in sequence and you rarely overpay or inherit someone else's problem.

  1. 01

    Value it

    Work out approximate market value and whether the asking price makes sense before you fall for the boat.

    Boat values →

  2. 02

    Research it

    Learn the model, the manufacturer, the specifications and the issues owners actually report.

    Buying guides →

  3. 03

    Verify it

    Check the HIN, registration, title, theft records and whatever history records exist.

    History & HIN →

  4. 04

    Inspect it

    Use a proper inspection or an accredited marine survey before you hand over money.

    Checklist →

Start your research

Our most-used guides and reference pages

Valuation Boat Value Guide How to build a defensible number instead of trusting one guide. Identification Boat HIN Lookup Where the hull number lives, how to read it, and what a lookup can return. Records Boat History Reports What a paid report shows, what it misses, and when it is worth the money. Comparison Best Boat History Reports Providers side by side, with unverified fields labelled as such. Paperwork Registration Lookup State agencies, titling rules and what the public can actually see. Inspection Used Boat Checklist A working checklist from first message to final payment.

Buying a used boat?

No single database tells you everything.

A clean history report does not mean a boat is mechanically sound, and a good survey does not necessarily reveal title problems. Smart buyers check several different kinds of information — and know which one answers which question.

See the buying methodology

A history report can help identify

  • Registration records tied to the HIN
  • Reported theft information
  • Certain title or salvage indicators
  • Manufacturer and build information

It generally cannot establish

  • Mechanical or hull condition
  • Hidden corrosion and repair quality
  • Every accident the boat has had
  • Every lien in every jurisdiction

Where we send you for primary sources

Where a free official resource answers the question, we link to it rather than routing you through a paid product.

U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety NICB State boating agencies