Website that gives damage history on yachts?

Hi,

I am sure a few others here would also be interested so when you find this site please post a link so we can all enjoy the benefits.

Learning a yacht's history

Carfax is a pretty good tool for cars, but it's only one tool and they don't try going international. We use them because they're a cheap way to safeguard a few thousand dollar purchase. For boats it's on each purchaser to investigate, and it's not really that hard. Follow the documentation trail to previous owners, get to their captains, engineers and mechanics. If you don't have the tallent to investigate hire a PI or an independent broker to do it. If you're about to spend copious amounts of money on a toy, suveyors, fuel, etc., etc. what's a couple of thousand for it's history when that may keep you from making a bad deal.

Good advice NYCapt.

BTW... CarFax is a flawed system. Independent body shops do NOT have to report. Slip a $50 to the estimator at a car dealer and he'll keep the repair off the radar as well.

Oh... and now that you're a Senior Member, you have to lead by example. Avatars need to be marine related.

Hi,

I am not sure of the amount of historical data available to purchasers of US Flag vessels ( I am assuming that this is a US Flag vessel you are looking at) I have not been on one so can only write about non US Flag vessels.

I am fairly sure that I have never worked on a vessel that identifies the Owner by name in anyway at all in it's registration documentation. This would make finding previous Owners difficult and then you would have to find out how to contact them, Captains and Crews often have to sign employment contracts that include sections which provide recourse to the employer if they are found to have been talking out of school about the boat/owner etc.

If the vessel is classed this can be a good place to look for anything regarding a class notifiable problem. The current survey status is also a very valuable thing to have, it's just not available to everyone though for obvious reasons.

Scott49:

If you are looking at a 106 Westship, I assume you are utilizing the services of a yacht broker who should be able to give you any and all info regarding previous "issues" that boat may have experienced. He/she may find that info easily from the current listing broker or, having to dig a bit, may need to call surveyors, yards, or former crew.
Regarding a website whose mission is to report on the 'bad news' of particular vessels, I can imagine no faster or more certain way of finding one's self speaking with Legalman.

Are there any full disclosure laws on boats where you are? Can he afford to lose a sale in this market? My opinion of salespeople is not the highest. That doesn't mean he's not honest, just human.

Your broker has an equal fiduciary duty to both buyer and seller.
That said, it is just good business to disclose all, including the warts, if the broker has such knowledge. The surveyors and the haul-out will find all the issues anyway, possibly even evidence of past repairs due to a grounding or a lightning hit.
Perhaps the "right question" is "Tell me everything you know about this boat & builder, both good and bad." If he's smart, he's thinking about getting the listing from you when you're ready to sell.

Loren,
Indeed that is the right question. All the better if it and the response are in writting. After that question a failure to disclose would move from bad business to fraud.
Any good salesperson will tell you though that silence is golden..."let the product sell itself". This broker is the sellers agent, and his responsibilities even to him are very limited. Would you use the same divorce lawyer as your spouse is paying for? When selling a boat or even a car have you ever had a broker ask you to tell him everything that is wrong with it? He doesn't want to know.
That's not dishonesty, it's salesmanship. It's also why I don't sell.

Sounds like you're very well represented. I think I can safely guarantee you won't find snow when you land.