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Step 1
Establish a budget. Establishing a budget before looking at any ski boats on the market will help prospective buyers set a firm spending limit before they have a chance to become enthralled with a particular ski boat. If buyers later establish that the original budget was unreasonably low and they still wish to purchase a used ski boat, a new budget can be created provided it is not irrational or financially dangerous.
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Step 2
Research available ski boat models. It is best to check out some of the major ski boat manufacturer websites first so you can get a handle on the different models you can expect to see on the secondary market. Companies such as MasterCraft and Malibu Boats have developed several different models of ski boats throughout the years, and prospective buyers are likely to find one of their models on the secondary market.
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Step 3
Determine what features you would have on the used ski boat. While ski boats are all relatively similar in terms of features, some of the hardware on the boats such as the engines will differ dramatically. If you are looking for a specific type or size of engine, you're going to need to determine that prior to searching.
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Step 4
Explore the numerous websites dedicated to the secondary ski boat market. Boattrader.com, Usedboats.com and eBay.com are all good places to start your search for a used ski boat (see Resources below). If these particular sites are unsuccessful, try searching the classified sections of local newspapers or newspapers located in an area where boating is likely to be a popular leisure activity, such as Florida or the Gulf Coast of Texas.
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Step 5
Make contact with the seller and let them know of your intention to buy. If you have settled on buying a ski boat that has a number of available options on the secondary market, you will be well served to negotiate a reduced price with the seller.
