Ross Hubbard

We all know that it’s getting harder and harder for people to buy boats because of the ‘economy’. Everyday we hear about consumer confidence slipping, eroding, you name it. To believe ‘them’ we’re all going to the really hot place, really fast, in a hand basket. And true to form, there is some truth in what ‘they’ are saying. It can be tough to get a boat loan if you can’t prove income and don’t have a strong FICO score. And it’s tough to get a loan on a boat that’s over 15 years old. But it’s not impossible and many people that are doing their homework and taking the time to get qualified are getting loans, really good loans. Many others are using the best negotiating tool, cash. So when a boat does get an offer, why don’t more boats actually pass sea trials, mechanical inspections and marine surveys? For an example, let’s look at what I witnessed recently as the marine surveyor on a sailboat my client was trying to buy. My client “Joe” and his wife found the boat onl…