How to Trade in a Boat at a Boat Show

Ready to upgrade your boat? One way is to trade it in at a boat show--you'll get a discount on your new boat and won't have to sell your old boat yourself. Here's how to go about it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Check the Blue Book value for your boat. Remember, you won't get the full value on a trade-in--the dealer has to turn a profit.

2. Do your research. Check out "Consumer Reports" and other reviews and compare prices for any boats that interest you.

3. Prepare your current boat for sale. Clean it, charge the battery and organize your records.

4. Visit dealers at a boat show.

5. Negotiate a purchase price for the new boat, including the trade-in value you will receive for your current boat.

6. Turn over all the legal paperwork on your current boat to the dealer.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to trade-in your boat at the beginning of the boating season in your area; you'll get the most for it then.
• Trade-ins often get you the least amount of money for your boat.
• Many boat dealers do not accept trade-ins for used boats.

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