I love the online appraisal format to give me a good idea of what my boat is worth without showing the boat. The appraisal fee is more than reasonable, and I love your professional service!
MARINE VALUATION
Louisiana Boat Appraisers
Boat and marine vessel appraisal services for insurance, estate settlement, divorce, and financing, covering powerboats, sailboats, yachts, and houseboats. Louisiana Boat Appraisers serves New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and boat owners across the state.
- USPAP-compliant fair market value reports
- Credentialed marine appraisers
- Fixed-fee quotes confirmed before work begins
VESSEL TYPES
Louisiana Boat Appraisers Appraises All Types of Marine Vessels, Including Powerboats, Sailboats, and More
We prepare valuations of recreational, luxury, and commercial vessels across Louisiana's coastal and inland waterways.
Powerboats & Center Consoles
- Bay boats and flats skiffs
- Center console fishing boats
- Bass boats
- Bowriders and deck boats
Sailboats & Cruising Yachts
- Coastal cruising sailboats
- Racing sailboats
- Catamarans
- Blue-water cruisers
Yachts & Luxury Vessels
- Motor yachts
- Sport fishing yachts
- Express cruisers
- Custom-built vessels
Houseboats
- Pontoon houseboats
- Cabin houseboats
- Live-aboard vessels
Commercial & Work Vessels
- Shrimp boats and trawlers
- Crew and supply boats
- Charter and tour vessels
Pontoons & Personal Watercraft
- Pontoon boats
- Deck pontoons
- Personal watercraft
OUR PROCESS
How a Louisiana Boat Appraisal Works
- 01
Request & Scoping
Tell us about the vessel and the purpose of the appraisal so we can scope the assignment and confirm a fixed fee.
- 02
Documentation Review
We review title, registration, service records, and any prior surveys relevant to the vessel.
- 03
Vessel Inspection
A credentialed appraiser inspects the vessel's condition, systems, and equipment on-site at the marina, dock, or storage location.
- 04
Report Delivery
We deliver a USPAP-compliant written report documenting our methodology and concluded value.
CREDENTIALS
Credentialed Marine Appraisers
Our appraisers hold credentials with leading organizations such as the ASA, NAMS, and CAGA, and every report is prepared in accordance with USPAP.
American Society of Appraisers
ASA
National Association of Marine Surveyors
NAMS
Certified Appraisers Guild of America
CAGA
CLIENT VOICES
What Boat Owners Say About Our Appraisals
Excellent final product. Very professional. Questions were answered promptly, and the pricing was reasonable. I would highly recommend them and will continue to do so.
Everyone I interacted with was kind, and they promptly complied with my urgent request.
Insights
Appraisal Guides & Insights
Guides on appraisal values, the appraisal process, and what to expect from a USPAP-compliant report.
Louisiana Boat Personal Property Tax by Parish: What New Orleans Owners Actually Owe
Louisiana boat personal property tax is set parish by parish, not by one statewide bill. This guide explains which parish can tax your vessel, why many gasoline-powered boats are exempt, and what records to keep if an assessor questions your value.
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How to Win a Louisiana Commercial Boat Property Tax Appeal on an Inflated Assessment
A Louisiana commercial boat property tax appeal follows a strict sequence: parish Board of Review, then the Louisiana Tax Commission, then district court, each with its own deadline. This guide walks owners of tugboats, OSVs, crew boats, and charter vessels through the filing requirements, the appeal path, and the evidence that actually moves an inflated assessment.
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Does Louisiana Charge Sales Tax on a Private Boat Sale Near Lake Pontchartrain?
Louisiana generally does not tax a casual, one-time boat sale between private individuals, but the rules change fast if the seller resells boats regularly or works through a broker. Here is how buyers near Lake Pontchartrain can tell which rule applies and protect themselves if the sale price is ever questioned.
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Date-of-Death Boat Valuation for a Louisiana Succession: What Heirs Need to Know
A Louisiana succession requires every boat to carry a fair market value as of the decedent's date of death, not a guide number or a later sale price. Here's why a documented date-of-death appraisal protects the succession representative and can double as federal estate tax support if the estate needs it.
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How to File Louisiana Form R-1331 for Watercraft Sales Tax Certification
Filing Louisiana Form R-1331 correctly is what stands between your new boat and a completed LDWF registration. This guide walks New Orleans-area buyers through every step, the paperwork each sale type requires, and when a professional appraisal belongs in the file.
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How the 2025 Louisiana Boat Sales Tax Cap Changes What Gulf Coast Buyers Owe
Louisiana now caps combined state and local sales tax on a registered boat at $20,000, but the math only helps buyers above a certain price point. Here is how the cap actually works for a New Orleans or Lake Pontchartrain purchase, and what documentation you need to claim it.
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When Does a Louisiana Boat Loan Require an SBA-Compliant Appraisal?
Louisiana shrimpers and charter operators financing a vessel through an SBA 7(a) or bank loan need to know when the lender will require an independent marine appraisal rather than a desktop review. This guide walks through the dollar thresholds, value definitions, and inspection standards that determine when an appraisal becomes mandatory.
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How Louisiana Succession Law Treats Boats and Other Movable Property
Louisiana's civil law succession system handles boats differently than probate in other states, and getting the value wrong on the sworn descriptive list can slow down a family's inheritance. Here's how succession representatives identify, list, and value a boat for a Louisiana estate.
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Louisiana Community Property and Boats: How Divorce Courts Value and Split a Vessel
In a Louisiana community property divorce, a boat bought during the marriage is presumed marital property no matter whose name is on the title, and state law values it as of trial, not the day you filed. This guide explains how classification, timing, and a neutral fair market value appraisal determine what each spouse actually walks away with.
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Louisiana Boat Insurance Claims for Hurricane Damage: How Appraisers Prove Pre-Loss Value
A Louisiana boat insurance claim for hurricane damage lives or dies on pre-loss value evidence. Here's how agreed value and actual cash value policies pay out differently, what documentation an appraiser needs, and how Louisiana's proof-of-loss deadline works.
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Louisiana's New Boat Sales Tax Cap Under Act 11: What Owners Must Know
Louisiana's new boat sales tax cap limits combined state and local tax on a registered vessel to $20,000, but only if you pay within 90 days and meet a handful of conditions under Act 11. Here is how the cap works, what Form R-1331 requires, and why a documented appraisal matters for boats brought in from out of state.
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Boat Appraisal Louisiana: How to Get Your Marine Vessel Professionally Valued
Louisiana boat owners need a formal appraisal for insurance claims, hurricane casualty losses, charitable donations, and succession or divorce matters, and that process is entirely separate from LDWF titling and registration. Here's when you need one, what it costs, and exactly how to get it done.
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Commercial Vessel Appraisal in Louisiana: What OSV, Tug, and Barge Owners Need
A commercial vessel appraisal in Louisiana values offshore supply vessels, tugs, barges, trawlers, and crew boats as income-producing assets, not pleasure craft. This guide explains when Gulf Coast operators need one, which valuation approach applies, and how USCG documentation shapes the appraiser's scope of work.
Read more →
COMMON QUESTIONS
Boat Appraisal Questions
What is a marine vessel appraisal used for?
A marine vessel appraisal establishes a documented, defensible value for a boat or vessel. Common uses include insurance coverage and claims, estate and probate settlement, divorce and equitable distribution, and financing or lending.
Is the appraisal done in person?
Most vessel appraisals include an on-site inspection at the marina, dock, or storage location where the vessel is kept, since condition and equipment are central to a marine valuation.
What does a boat appraisal cost?
Fees are quoted as a fixed amount after we scope the assignment, based on the vessel's size, type, and the intended use of the report, not on the vessel's value or condition.
What standards do your reports follow?
Every report is prepared in accordance with USPAP (the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice), and our appraisers hold credentials with organizations such as the ASA, NAMS, and CAGA.
How long does an appraisal take?
Turnaround varies by project based on vessel size and complexity, and we confirm timing up front once we understand the scope. Tell us about any deadline, such as a court date or claim filing, and we will let you know if expedited service can meet it.
Request a Boat Appraisal
Tell us about your vessel and we'll follow up with next steps.