 | Deck Boat Buying Guide  
Deck boats do a lot of things well, and when properly optioned out, can become a custom boat that takes your fun to the next level. |
Discover Deck Boats
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Discover Deck BoatsVersatile deck boats come in many sizes. The deck boat model you choose should reflect your lifestyle. Those likely to entertain should usually choose a larger deck boat than someone who plans to just go water skiing or fishing. Deck boats used for entertaining should have seating that promotes conversation, multiple coolers, and a full-feature wet bar in addition to twin tables. Deck boats carry the beam all the way forward, providing a very roomy bow area (like pontoon boats), but some have designs closer to bowriders that become more narrow as you go forward. Look for a deck boat that provides enough legroom for people facing toward each other. Also consider the body of water and size of your family. A deck boat that operates on larger lakes or coastal areas should be able to comfortably handle choppy water. Deeper-V hulls and catamaran designs work better in rougher waters and those with a low open bow are safer in rougher conditions. A deck boat with a flatter hull can make a good choice for use in sheltered water, offering faster planing and improved side-to-side stability. If you like to fish, make sure the deck boat you choose has a livewell, fishing seats, and rod holders. Get a larger fuel tank as an option if you plan to cruise. Most deck boats can be equipped with a camper enclosure that can keep you cruising in comfort during inclement weather or even provide a place for you to sleep on the deck boat. |  Back to top |
  Buy Deck Boats With Confidence
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Buy Deck Boats With ConfidenceHundreds of deck boats on eBay Motors will likely interest you. When trying to select the right boat, get to know exactly what you're buying, research the seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you. Know your purchaseMany sellers put a lot of time into creating their listings, making an effort to ensure they include all the information buyers need. Carefully read the details in listings for the boat(s) you consider buying and carefully review available photos. Before placing a bid or buying an item, be sure to: Have all your questions answered. If you still have questions after reading the listing and reviewing the photos, contact the seller using the Ask seller a question link in the “Seller information” box in the top right corner of every boat listing. Also request additional photos if you want to see the boat from a particular angle that isn’t shown in the photos included in the listing. If you have more questions than you can address in email, get the seller’s phone number and give him/her a call. Some boat sellers even include their phone number so you can call them directly. Just remember that you need to actually bid and buy on eBay in order to be covered by eBay and PayPal protection programs (see "Buyer protection" below for more details).
Get delivery details. Calculate and include delivery costs into your final price. This may simply be the cost of driving across the city or state if the boat is close-by or it may mean working with a shipping company that can transport the boat from anywhere in the country. To learn more about shipping costs, ask the seller or contact DAS, an eBay Motors-approved vehicle shipping service.
Complete your transaction on eBay. Always complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay and PayPal protection programs (see "Buyer protection" below for more details).
Know your payment options. Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know. Instead, pay with PayPal for amounts less than $2,000 (including deposits), a money order, or direct bank-to-bank fund transfer.
Track items with eBay Toolbar. Use the free eBay Toolbar to track items you bid on and watch. It includes Account Guard, a feature that indicates when you're visiting a verified eBay or PayPal website and warns you when you enter your eBay password into an unverified site, even if it looks like eBay or PayPal.
Know your sellerJust as important as researching your boat purchase is getting to know the seller. Take time to research the seller so that you can feel positive and secure about every transaction. Key things to look for when evaluating a seller are: Sales history. Find out how long the seller has been a registered eBay user and look at the types of items a seller typically sells. It’s okay to buy a boat from a seller who hasn’t sold one before — many of the boat listings on eBay are from individuals selling their own boat. If the seller’s feedback seems low, take the time to look at the Feedback details; sometimes a seller's Feedback looks low until you realize that they’re a boat dealer and their Feedback count comes entirely from boat sales.
Terms and conditions. What are the terms and conditions of the sale? Are the terms agreeable to you? Sellers typically set terms and conditions, but you should make sure you agree with them. If not, find another seller/boat or contact the seller to find out if he/she is open to your suggestions.
Good communication. Once you’ve initiated communications with the seller, how is he/she communicating with you? Is the seller courteous and professional? Is the seller responsive? Once you bid on a big-ticket item such as a boat, communicate with the seller through My Messages in My eBay. All legitimate Second Chance Offer messages will come through My Messages and not to your email address alone. Always contact the seller before accepting a Second Chance Offer, and never respond to any request to send money via Western Union or other instant cash transfer service.
Buyer protectionIn the unlikely event a problem arises during your transaction, you can typically work it out with the seller. However, if you can’t, eBay and PayPal are there for you. eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection up to $20,000: Each boat purchased through eBay is automatically covered against fraud and material misrepresentation up to the cost of the boat or $20,000 (whichever is lower) with eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection. To qualify for this safety program, complete your transaction on eBay with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer.
Put down a deposit with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay up to $2,000 without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. Also, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. While $2,000 may not be a high enough limit for the full purchase price of most boats, it's great for deposits (many sellers require a deposit on a boat within several days of the close of a listing).

Introduction and "Discover Deck Boats" were provided by Boating World. © 2006 Trans World Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. |  Back to top |

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