Sell your boat with a clear price, a contract and a safe handover

Make the deal verifiable

Set a justified price, describe the boat honestly and write down exactly what the buyer gets. Sales between private individuals are covered by köplagen (the Swedish Sale of Goods Act), but the contract matters a lot. Document known faults before the sale and coordinate payment, receipt and handover. The phrase “as is” doesn't remove all liability.

Prepare a clear listing and use Marinpedia's listings to reach buyers. Check which listing categories are available before you publish.

Set the price based on condition and documentation

Start with the correct boat model, engine installation, equipment and any known outstanding work. Asking prices in listings are not the same as actual selling prices. A well-serviced engine with documentation and an engine with no traceable history are not like-for-like comparisons, even if the power output is the same.

Look up the basic details in the boat catalogue and identify the engine in the engine catalogue. Be clear if the year of manufacture is uncertain or the installation has been modified. Don't state something as verified fact in your listing if it's only a guess. Describe what needs checking instead.

Your listing should reduce the buyer's uncertainty

• Boat model and identification, plus engine and serial number where appropriate.
• Current photos of the hull, deck, interior, engine and known damage.
• Servicing carried out, with dates and records.
• Known faults, repairs and anything that doesn't work.
• What's included: instruments, loose gear, trailer and other equipment.
• Where the boat is and how viewings, sea trials and any survey will be arranged.

Information in the listing can affect what the buyer is entitled to expect. So keep the listing and relevant messages together with the contract.

What should the purchase agreement include?

State the parties, the identity of the boat and engine, price, payment method and handover date. Attach an equipment list, known faults and agreed repairs. If the purchase depends on a survey, financing or sea trial, the condition should describe what happens if the requirement is met or not met. A vague promise to “sort it out later” leaves room for dispute.

Under the rules of köplagen (the Swedish Sale of Goods Act) on “as is” sales, goods can still be defective if, among other things, they differ from the information given or the seller withheld a material fact the buyer should have been told. So don't just refer to a standard phrase. Describe the actual faults.

Payment and handover at the same time

Verify the other party's identity and that you have the right to transfer the boat. If financing or other rights affect the sale, they must be resolved before handover. Check the payment in your own online banking; don't rely solely on a screenshot or message shown by the buyer.

Write a dated receipt and hand over the agreed keys, manuals, service records and equipment. Confirm how the berth and winter storage are handled; don't assume they come with the boat. Coordinate the end and start of insurance with each insurer. Do a walkthrough together so the buyer knows how the engine stop, seacocks and other key functions work.

Tell private sales apart from dealer sales

This guide covers private sales between individuals. When a business sells to a consumer, other mandatory consumer protection rules apply. Konsumentverket's (Swedish Consumer Agency) industry agreement on boat contracts was drawn up for business sales and should not be described as a mandatory private contract. Read about pre-purchase surveys if the buyer wants the boat inspected before deciding.

Frequently asked questions