Set the equipment and delivery scope
Send both dealers a one-page request describing what you need and where you will take delivery. List exact model year, engines, steering and propellers, navigation equipment, shore power, cabin heat or air conditioning, and any equipment needed for your usual boating. For an inventory boat, ask for the hull identification number and engine serial numbers when available. For a factory order, ask when the production slot and the specification will be confirmed.
Set the handover location and condition. A boat loaded for transport at a factory and a boat commissioned in the water at your marina have different remaining costs. Ask for the amount and responsible party for inland transport, cradle, launch, rigging, sea trial and commissioning, even when the seller rolls some of them into one charge. Specify whether you need delivery to your home marina or are collecting the boat at the dealer.
Keep optional upgrades outside the base comparison. If one boat includes radar and the other does not, add a written installed radar price to the second boat only when radar is part of your required scope. If the higher priced boat includes a premium finish you would never buy, ask whether that option can come off the order. A stocked boat may be available only as configured.
Delivered price worksheet
Enter each amount once. Write “included” when a line is already in a package and “unknown” when you need a written quote. Keep estimates labeled and note their source. Compare pre-tax delivered totals first, then add the tax and title or documentation amounts applicable to each offer.
| Price component | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Hull, engines, controls and propellers | ________ | ________ |
| Required options missing from the package, installed | ________ | ________ |
| Freight, transport preparation and delivery | ________ | ________ |
| Rigging, launch, commissioning and dealer fees | ________ | ________ |
| Import charges or currency adjustments, if applicable | ________ | ________ |
| Unconditional written discount, deducted | ________ | ________ |
| Comparable pre-tax delivered total | ________ | ________ |
| Applicable tax, title, registration or documentation | ________ | ________ |
| Comparable total at delivery | ________ | ________ |
| Unpriced items and who must confirm them | ________ | ________ |
A lower advertised price can produce a higher delivered price
In this hypothetical example both boats are comparable for the buyer’s mission, and both quotes cover delivery to the same marina. The buyer requires installed electronics that Dealer B includes. Neither total includes tax or title charges.
| Component | Dealer A | Dealer B |
|---|---|---|
| Quoted boat and engines | $289,000 | $315,000 |
| Required electronics, installed | $12,000 | Included |
| Freight and delivery | $13,000 | $4,000 |
| Commissioning and handover | $8,000 | Included |
| Comparable pre-tax delivered total | $322,000 | $319,000 |
Dealer A starts $26,000 below Dealer B and ends $3,000 above it after you add the items the buyer needs. A written $2,000 discount on A would bring its total to $320,000. A $2,000 deposit would be part of the price paid if the contract credits it at closing. Keep the deposit, trade-in, interest costs and any discount contingent on financing visible in a separate payment schedule.
Compare warranty and contract terms
- Price and schedule. Ask for quote expiration, order milestones, the estimated delivery window, and who pays for change orders, exchange-rate moves or freight increases. For an import, ask who is the importer of record and which charges the seller’s fixed price includes.
- Deposit and acceptance. Ask when each payment becomes due, what can be refunded and what happens after a delayed delivery or an inspection finding. Record who will pay for a haulout or additional sea trial. Have any material conditions reflected in the signed agreement.
- Warranty and local support. Identify the hull, engine, electronics and dealer-installation warranty providers. Ask when each warranty begins, whether labor and haulout are covered, and which specific shop can perform authorized work near your marina.
- Paperwork. Ask the seller what proof of ownership, lien releases, equipment serial numbers, keys, manuals and registration documents come at handover. Confirm requirements with your state boating agency and the National Vessel Documentation Center if federal documentation is part of your plan.
Ask the dealer to list every included accessory and installation in the order or bill of sale. A clear equipment and acceptance schedule makes it easier to identify what still needs to be demonstrated on the sea trial.
Budget beyond delivery
Collect separate quotes for insurance, slip or storage, winterization, haulouts and scheduled maintenance for each configuration. Price your typical fuel use with a range of annual hours and the representative flow observed on trial. For a used boat, use the survey and service history to list immediate work separately from predictable annual expenses.
Finish with three figures for each boat: comparable delivered price, cash due through handover, and estimated first-year ownership costs. The first compares the purchase, the second shows the timing of payments, and the third shows whether it fits the budget once it is in the water. Keep the scope, date and unresolved items beside all three figures.