Just bought Yamaha Jet Boat

[itsdgm]

One option would be to fly out, test boat, pay for boat, get paperwork, hire shipper and leave it with the shipper. Then fly home. sure it would cost a few extra bucks, but yould be protecting your hard earned money.

At the very least, IMHO, I wouldn't pay anything more that a few hundred dollar deposit until my shipper was looking at a boat, then fund the balance.

I can tell you this, if it's a California title (both for trailer and boat) and he has the title in hand, there should be no lein on it. It is possible that there was a leinholder at one time. If so, it should be signed and released on the front of the title (by the leinholder).

@txav8r i believe the problem with registering your previous boat was that it came into CA and might not have been CARB compliant (an emissions thing)

Either way, good luck with the purchase @dansshin i would check it out for you if I lived closer to the boat.

 

[Eurocat]

I sold my last boat using Escrow.com.
Once you receive the boat and have a chance to inspect it they release the title funds to the seller and the title to you. Not sure seller would agree to it t this point, but can't hurt to ask. At minimum you should ask for a scan copy of the titles.
If ebay has some kind of insurance policy against misrepresentation, then you should be ok.
Last advice is a bill of sale that cover any possible liens or other problems. It's not ironclad, but if you had to go to court there is something in writing. there are examples online if you search, or otherwise, let me know and I can email you the one I used.

Good luck and happy boating.

 

[The Wanderer2]

A few years ago I bought a 2006 Sea Doo Utopia off ebay. The boat was in Florida and I lived in Michigan. I told the seller after wining the auction, I would submit a $500.00 deposit thru paypal to hold the boat until I came down and inspected the boat. I even told him I was going deer hunting the next week and couldn't get down until the following week which was Thanksgiving. He agreed to the deal and helped me get a room on the water for a good rate for the week. I went down and we took the boat for a sea trial and spent a couple of hours cruising and talking about how the boat operates. After that we went back to the hotel and reviewed the title for the boat and trailer and both were clean. We agreed I would go to the bank in the morning and get a Cashiers Check for the balance and then we would complete the transaction. He did provide a sales receipt. After the week, I return to Michigan with the jet boat......and that is how I got into jet boats for the first time.

 

[Noko]

Another thought is if you can't get out to see the boat, maybe you could get the owner to send you a video of it running. With live video streaming through a smart phone, it would be pretty easy. The boat can be run out of the water with a hose running for coolant. And it would be even nicer if you could get a current video of the boat topping out to see what it will do.

The pics on EBay look nice. Looks like the owner took care of it.

 

[txav8r]

The thing that makes so many of us worry about a "scam", is the fact that these boats are so popular, and in demand. So what makes a guy sell a boat on Ebay at a price much less than he could get by running an ad on craigslist/boat trader/etc? It always has me scratching my head.

 

[The Wanderer2]

I really can't explain, but here in Michigan I know several people that have bought expensive express cruisers and go fast boats thru ebay auctions.

 

[jcyamaharider]

If the owner has the title to the boat and trailer, there shouldn't be a loan on the boat. I say shouldn't. If you have a loan on a boat and trailer, you are supposed to give the titles to the loan company. When you pay off the loan, you are given the title, just like buying a car and paying off the car loan. I agree with a couple of the above posts and not buy this boat without looking at it. No matter what EBay says, you will end up with a big hassle trying to prove you got a POS boat. I'd want to take a test drive on the boat, which a legit seller should do and at least make sure it runs. There are a lot of places to shop for a boat the might be better. Boat trader is one place or try a dealer near you. You may not get such a great price as what's on EBay with a dealer, but you will know what you are getting is legit. I bought a year old boat from a dealer. I may have paid a little more than if I bought if from someone but I new I had a place to go back to if I had issues.

Welcome to the forum and good luck with whatever you decide.

This isn't always true. Here is Missouri we give them the title but we get the title back with a lien company on the title. After it is paid off we are issued a lien release to which then we go to the DMV and apply for a new title clear title.

 

[txav8r]

I agree with @jcyamaharider , you should definitely find out what your state requires, what their clear title process is, and if your buying out of state, either find out from "several" members here from that state, or call the state and find out directly from their marine division and auto division of whatever their title agency is called. Because it varies state to state.

While the hold up for Danny and Cheryl was originally because it was thought that my boat may not Carb compliant in Calif., one department to another in Calif proved that like most bureaucratic agencies, every office doesn't view or operate by the same rules. Too much is left to interpretation by local offices and they get it wrong as much as they get it right. When Danny and Cheryl went to the top state authority, he laughed and immediately granted registration, stating that jet boats are exempt! Kinda funny, you move to Calif with the same boat and they won't let you register it? Same as buying a pre owned boat out of state. Now selling new, that is a whole 'nother ballgame. But if you like red tape...just deal with any government agency, federal to local...they are experts at red tape.

 

[Zarrella]

In Florida there is a Bill in the Senate to change the color of "Red Tape" to Blue!!

 

[David D]

I may consider this as I promised the kids I would take them to Yellowstone this year. But 2000 miles is heck of drive not to mention with a boat behind you! I may see if having it shipped to Yellowstone is an option too. Thanks for the suggestion.

Did the trip from Ohio to Yellowstone and Montana towing a 5th wheel with the kids. Great vacation. And you only have to tow on the way home! Go for it!

 

[Zeus2013]

In NY, I have received a copy of the title with no lien holder noted. Then I get a call from the bank stating I need to send them the title so they can have it changed. If I do not send it in, I have a title and there is a lien holder listed. The bank eventually gets the correct title with lien holder listed.

 

[txav8r]

In NY, I have received a copy of the title with no lien holder noted. Then I get a call from the bank stating I need to send them the title so they can have it changed. If I do not send it in, I have a title and there is a lien holder listed. The bank eventually gets the correct title with lien holder listed.

Hence the reason for a title search beforehand...I don't know who might do it in your area, but it isn't too expensive.

 

[dansshin]

Thank you everyone for being so helpful.

Here is the latest -

I received photo copies of Boat & Trailer title. It did have a lean on it but there was signature and stamp on the release section of the title from the bank on the title. Looks like he got the title on July 2013 and bank released it Sept 2013. I sent my full payment via Paypal.

I received a shipping offer of $1,100 from uShip and I accepted. Still bit concerned about this as I didn't see a lot of reviews for this shipper and his uShip id had "...Kid" in it. LOL! Seller has offered to keep his insurance on the boat until I receive it so between the shipper's liability and boat insurance I'm hoping anything would be covered if something happens. uShip guy did ask me to meet him in Des Moine, IA, which is only 250 miles from my home and I'm totally fine with that to get bit of discount on the shipping fee. I saw that he may be bidding on another job on uShip to deliver two small dogs which goes through Des Moine to Chicago, IL. I suspect he may try to cancel mine if other job doesn't pan out.

I'll provide another update when I get my boat. In the meantime I ordered the trailer hitch parts for my MDX and will be trying to get that installed myself.

 

[mark_m]

@dansshin have you contacted your insurance agent yet? If you haven't I suggest you do and get that going and see what they recommend given your unique situation. Is he mailing the title to you?

 

[dansshin]

@dansshin have you contacted your insurance agent yet? If you haven't I suggest you do and get that going and see what they recommend given your unique situation. Is he mailing the title to you?

Unfortunately my home/auto insurance company doesn't do boats. I remember this even from first time I owned a boat. Do you have any recommendation on boat insurance?

I just sent him the Paypal payment today so I'll ask him to certify mail the titles, any recipes & tax documents for boat and trailer he may have.

 

[itsdgm]

I'm pretty sure that his insurance won't cover the boat once it's your boat.

Also, not sure if that year/model has hour meters. But have him send pics of the hour meters so that you can charge the shipper for any hours of use he puts on it while en route Just kidding, congrats, hope it's smooth sailing from here.

 

[dansshin]

LOL, In fact when I just sent an email asking him to send the title and paperwork via certified mail I asked him to mail the keys too. I had that thought about shipper taking it for a spin some where between here and there! LOL....

 

[Freezer41]

nice deal man, good luck.

 

[Zarrella]

With all of the members on this site...we should be able to deliver the boat to you. If everyone along the route kicks in for 200 miles we could have it to you in 2 days. Lol

 

[MikeyL]

Unfortunately my home/auto insurance company doesn't do boats. I remember this even from first time I owned a boat. Do you have any recommendation on boat insurance?

Call PROGRESSIVE immediately. They have many wonderful features that make them the preferred choice.
Please do this REGARDLESS of who/where/how or whom delivers/picks up/inspects/etc the boat for or with you.
Progressive has excellent damage coverages, and policies, and advantages for their policy Holders.
Please do not let the boat leave where it is currently residing unless YOU, as the new owner, have full and complete insurance coverage on it.
Most likely the policy will also not be "in effect" unless it is paid for first.
Good Luck, Mikey Lulejian