What’s up guys I’m interested in buying a 17/18ft bass boat this winter and just trying to get my **** together. Has anyone used a marine surveyor before on a bass boat? The boat I’m looking at is fairly new 2018 and from a reputable dealer. Do I need a survey? This is my first boat so just trying to make sure I don’t get screwed. I’m also a little concerned I won’t by able to do a sea test because most waterways may be frozen over this winter. Any help is greatly appreciated!

There are some great threads on here about boat buying, but I'm not too good at digging them up.  If the dealer is reputable and has a track record of good service (customer and maintenance), I'd be fairly comfortable...at least, a lot more confident than buying from a FB or Craigslist stranger.  I never heard of a survey....is that like a CarFax?

So I honestly wouldn't buy a boat unless I can test drive it. I want a print out on the motor to see hours and maintenance.  Check the trailer, dig through the boat, investigate. Look in all compartments, batteries, thru hull conections, plumbing, transom bolts. Any electronics shouldn't matter if there are any as 2018 models are outdated now. Price is always negotiable.  Look how things are mounted, anything loose, look under the boat. Yes shimmy under that thing and look at it the bottom  for any kind of stress cracks in the hull. Don't impulse buy.  Just do your due diligence.  And almost forgot, if it has a prop, look at it. Any dings could have lower unit damage that may not be known about. Make sure your motor is rock solid and once you decide it's  the boat you want, ask them what the real number is, bought mine used and was listed at 18k, but was sold for 13.5. After my add ons it came out to 18k. 

I test ran a "perfect" boat a couple years ago and it started sinking under me. Then the fuel system failed and I had to pump and restart 5 times to limp back to the dock. You can't fish until ice out anyway. I strongly advise waiting until you can do a sea trial. If you have a knowledgeable friend to go with you I definitely recommend doing that. Marine surveys are generally for much more expensive and complex vessels.

Suggest you start with Glenn’s video “Tips on buying your first bass boat”.

Tom 

Shouldn't need a survey. Take it to a reputable dealer and either get the seller to pay for the cost of an inspection or split the cost with him. Shouldn't be more than 2 hours labor. An hour to run the computer report for the engine and an hour to go thru the boat to make sure everything operates the way it's supposed to. I'd rather be out $150 if the inspection failed than tens of thousands buying the boat blind.

I’m looking at this 14 crestliner, the dealer sent me a pic of the rear compartment. It’s pretty dirty. Is this a clue that it was kept in the rain or does it just need to be cleaned? The rest of the boat looks good

1 hour ago, Jonald said:

I’m looking at this 14 crestliner, the dealer sent me a pic of the rear compartment. It’s pretty dirty. Is this a clue that it was kept in the rain or does it just need to be cleaned? The rest of the boat looks good

Probably just somebody that fished/trailered in  the rain, or maybe kept it tied to a dock. those hatches aren’t waterproof 

Looks like Battery fumes and the batteries are not in a bracket tied down.

Tell the dealer to replace the batteries with AGM’s, clean all the wire terminals and check the onboard charger.  Lead acid battery compartment should be vented!

Tom