How do I check what my boat is worth?

The most reliable way to check what your boat is worth is to compare it against recent sales of similar vessels, then adjust for its condition, equipment, and maintenance history, or to have a credentialed marine appraiser inspect it and issue a written valuation report.

For a rough estimate, look at boat valuation guides such as NADA-style pricing tools, which base a figure on make, model, year, and standard equipment. Then refine that number using real market comparisons: search for boats with a similar length, engine type, and options, and compare their asking prices (and sale prices, if you can find them). Condition often matters more than age, so a well-maintained older boat can be worth more than a newer one with deferred maintenance. Documentation strengthens your case in either direction: maintenance logs, service invoices, upgrade receipts, and any prior survey reports all support a higher value when they show a well-cared-for vessel.

This question comes up often from Louisiana families settling an estate. If you're serving as a succession representative, checking a boat's worth isn't just curiosity, it's a sworn statement on the descriptive list required under Louisiana succession law, measured as of the decedent's date of death rather than today's market. Our guide to how Louisiana succession law treats boats and other movable property walks through that requirement, and date-of-death boat valuation for a Louisiana succession covers why a guide number alone is a weak place to get that figure.

Online guides and market comps are useful starting points, but they can't account for hull condition, hidden system issues, or upgrades unique to your boat. If you need a number that will hold up for an estate inventory, insurance coverage, or a sale negotiation, a professional boat appraisal is the more defensible option. It typically includes:

• An on-site inspection of the hull, deck, engines, electrical, and safety systems at the marina or storage location, or a documentation-based desktop review when the assignment is for an estate or succession.
• A review of title, registration, service records, and prior survey reports.
• A written report documenting the methodology and concluded value, prepared in accordance with USPAP.

Fees for this kind of appraisal are quoted as a fixed amount once the vessel's size, type, and intended use are known, not based on the boat's value. If you're weighing whether you need one, our FAQs page covers more on how the process and pricing work.