Unfortunately, boats and yachts are not like cars. There is no default way of tracking a boat's price. You can't just look for blue book value boats on-line or at the library, because there is no blue book value of boats. The best you can do is get a good estimate from trusted boat or yacht brokers. Of course, this isn't always the easiest task. Whether you are looking for new or used boats for sale, luxury yachts or repossessed boats, you need to find a broker you know has your best interests at heart. Here are a few suggestions for making sure the broker you find is the right one for you.

First, you shouldn't actually have to pay the broker. You're already going to be paying for the boat! A good broker should be getting a part of the commission that the seller pays its broker to sell the boat. If that doesn't quite make sense, look at it like this: the seller is paying its broker a commission to find someone who can buy the boat. The seller's broker might work with people directly, or it might contact buyer's brokers and pay them a sort of "finder's fee" to handle most of the legwork involved in finding a buyer. One works with the buyer, one works with the seller, and everyone's interests are well protected.

The best brokers are liscensed and bound to a specific code of ethics. Naturally, these might be difficult to find, as Florida and California are currently the only two states that have professional regulations for yacht brokers. Failing this, a background check of the broker's past business practices is a good secondary option. Remember, a boat can be a major investment, and you would want to trust your broker the same way you would want to trust a real estate agent when you are buying a new home.

It also helps if your broker has actually owned a boat and has experience working with one. A broker without hands-on experience might not be able to recognize all the little details that could increase or reduce a boat's value. Remember: blue book value boats don't exist. Your broker is your only estimate of how much a boat is worth, and an inexperienced broker could miss details that could save you hundreds of dollars.

Additionally, it can be beneficial to pre-qualify for a boat loan before you begin shopping for a new or used boat for sale. A well-connected broker could very well be able to put you in touch with marine finance sources, as well as boat or yacht insurance brokers. This can be a big help and give you some extra leverage in negotiations.

In the end, finding the right boat or yacht broker is one of the most important steps in buying a repossessed boat, luxury yacht, or other means of marine travel. Almost, in fact, as important as finding the right boat. There are no blue book value boats, so you have to make do with the best alternate source of information available. Fortunately, a skilled boat trader can not only provide a good estimate of a boat's value, but also invaluable information regarding how to go about buying and even using your new boat.