How do I find out what my boat is worth?

Getting an accurate value requires checking online pricing tools first, then confirming that figure with a professional, on-water inspection if the value needs to hold up for a real transaction. Online calculators pull from recent sales and listings using year, make, model, length, condition, and engine hours, so they're a fast way to see a market range. But because they assume "average" condition and can't see your specific vessel's equipment, maintenance history, or wear, they're a starting point, not a final number.

If the value needs to be defensible (for insurance coverage, an estate or probate matter, divorce settlement, or financing), a professional marine appraisal carries far more weight than an online estimate. A professional boat appraisal involves a credentialed appraiser physically inspecting the vessel's hull, systems, and equipment at the marina, dock, or storage location where it's kept, then documenting a concluded value in a written report. This matters because:

• Insurers, lenders, and courts generally require documented, defensible values, not screenshots of an online calculator.
• Condition drives value more than any algorithm can capture: engine hours, deferred maintenance, upgrades, and equipment all shift a boat's worth up or down.
• A written report prepared in accordance with USPAP (the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) gives you a value that can withstand scrutiny if it's ever challenged.

If you just want a rough sense of your boat's worth before listing it or renewing insurance, start with online tools and comparable listings. If you need that number to hold up in a transaction, claim, or legal matter, request a boat appraisal so a credentialed appraiser can inspect the vessel and confirm the figure. For more on how appraisers arrive at that number, see how boat value is determined.