hamburger-icon
cart-iconuser-icon
liked-iconcart-iconuser-icon
Banner-image

Boats for sale in Florida on Craigslist

Discover the best boats for sale in Florida on Craigslist.

search-icon
craiglist-logo

Boats for Sale In Florida on Craiglist

View popular boats for sale on Craiglist in Florida

Explore boats for sale in Florida

How to buy a boat on Boatzon

search-by-location1
Search By Location

Visit Craigslist.org and navigate to your city or area

filter-search-results2
Filter Search Results

Search by desired boat type or boat brand

contact-craigslist-seller3
Contact Craigslist Seller

Ask important questions such as boat history and maintenance records

go-see-and-purchase-boat4
Go See & Purchase Boat

Conduct your in-person inspection and purchase the boat


Boatzon finally makes buying a boat easy, and fun. Boatzon brings the dealership to your doorstep with transparent pricing and instant pre-qualification for financing and insurance from the comfort of your home. In just a few minutes, you can pre-qualify for financing, see your estimated insurance quote, set your video or in-person appointment to see the boat, and even choose to pick it up or ship it to your house. It's that easy.

Buying a Boat on Craigslist in Florida

Florida boats for sale

Discover Your Dream Boat for Sale in Florida on Craigslist

If you are looking for a boat for sale in Florida, Craigslist can be a good resource for finding your boat. Many of the boats for sale on Craigslist are “by owner”, so you typically have more opportunity for negotiation. Prices can be potentially more competitive on Craigslist, but it is important to approach buying a boat on Craigslist with a little more caution.

Clear and effective communication with a boat seller on Craigslist is very important. Craigslist typically allows you to communicate with a boat seller by email, phone, and SMS text message. Often, the boat seller will post their phone number directly in the ad as well.

Before negotiating the price of the boat, ask about the boat’s history. We recommend asking:

  • How long have you owned the boat?

  • Do you have the title for the boat

  • Do you have any maintenance records available?

  • What is the current condition and are there is any current issues with the boat?

  • Is there any included or missing accessories or equipment?

  • Can I do a compression test on the engine with a mechanic?

Read Less
Florida boats for sale

Inspecting a Boat for sale on Craigslist

After narrowing down your search and talking to a boat seller on Craigslist, now it is time to schedule an in-person boat inspection. Keep in mind, that you are typically going to visit a boat seller on Craigslist at their house, boat ramp, or a marina. We recommend bringing a certified mechanic with you and always conduct an engine compression test. Depending on the type of boat, we also recommend conducting a proper sea trial on the water as well.

During the inspection, evaluate the boat’s structure, engine, bilge components, and electrical systems. We put a few tips below:

  • Take your time and turn everything on and off. Depending on the type of boat, this can include light switches, bilge switches, live well pumps, and windlass switches.

  • Walk around the boat and look for any “soft spots”

  • Look for signs of damage that could have come from an accident or even the boat sinking.

  • Take a 5-gallon bucket of water and pour it in the bilge to make sure all pumps and safety components works properly.

  • If conducting a sea trial, throttle the engine(s) to variable RPMs and pay close attention to the engines and how they sound. For example, throttle to 2500 RPMs, then 3000 RPMs, then 4000-4500 RPMs.

Read Less
Florida boating destinations

Buying a Boat on Craigslist in Florida & Required Documents

Once you have negotiated the price, seen the boat in-person, and are happy with your inspection, now it is time to organize your purchase steps. First and foremost, make sure the Craigslist seller has a clean title for the boat.

We outlined a few steps and provided sample documents below to ensure you are safely purchasing a boat on Craigslist in Florida.

  • Ask the boat seller to provide a Bill Of Sale. This is a simple document outlining the details of the boat purchase, price, and seller and buyer details. You can download a sample Bill of Sale document here: Link

  • The boat seller will have to provide the title to you for signing. This can also be done at a local tag agency to transfer the boat title to you as the new owner. Depending on the type of boat and size, you may have to pay registration fees and tax on the boat.

  • A small tip, confirm the private seller’s name is on the title and ask to see his or her driver’s license or ID.

  • Ask the boat seller for any boat, engine, or accessories documents, warranties, or maintenance records.

Read Less

Explore New And Used Boats For Sale In Florida

New Boats For Sale in Florida

New Boats For Sale

Explore the largest selection of new boats for sale available now

Used Boats For Sale in Florida

Used Boats For Sale

Shop over 60,000 pre-owned boats for sale nationwide

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the safest way to pay for a boat for sale on Craigslist?
-
It is recommended to make a payment by check, cash, cash, cashier’s check, or wire **after seeing the boat** and private seller. Never make a deposit or down payment to save or reserve the boat. It is not recommended to bring cash to an in-person inspection of the boat. If you bring a check or cashier’s check, make sure the private seller signs the title over to you at the time of the transaction
What documents are needed to buy a boat on Craigslist?
-
The most important document needed for buying a boat on Craigslist.org is a Bill of Sale and the title of the boat. Confirm the title of the boat has the seller’s name on it, and ask to see the seller’s driver’s license or ID. A Bill of Sale is a simple document that outlines the buying transaction with the boat information, sale price, and the buyer and seller information. You would typically take the title and Bill of Sale to a local tag agency to register your boat. Another tip, double check that the boat VIN number matches the title and registration. You can download a sample Bill of Sale form here for free: [Link](https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/NVDC/CG-1340_Bill_of_Sale.pdf?ver=2017-05-09-113141-317)
What if a Craigslist seller does not have a boat title?
-
We recommend not proceeding with buying a boat without a title. You have no proof of ownership or if the boat was stolen. We are human, people lose titles. However, ask the private seller on Craigslist to obtain a copy of the title at a local tag agency.
Can I negotiate the price with the seller directly on Craigslist?
-
Yes, of course. One advantage of looking for a boat for sale on Craigslist is that you can negotiate with a private seller. We recommend asking questions, negotiating the price, and openly discussing any details about the boat.
How do I search for boats for sale on Craigslist in Florida?
-
Craigslist.org is not very visually appealing, but it is easy to navigate and find boats for sale. Navigate to the Florida section, pick your city or county, and look for the "boats" category in the middle of the page. Type in the boat type or boat brand you are looking for and you can see the boats for sale in your area.
Are there any safety precautions when buying a boat through Craigslist?
-
Craigslist.org is primarily a marketplace of private sellers or boats for say by owner. Approach all communication and in-person appointments with caution. We recommend meeting private sellers in public locations, bringing a friend along if possible, and inform someone about your meeting. We recommend never giving any down payment or deposit to reserve a boat. We also recommend not taking a large amount of cash with you to meet a private seller and see a boat in-person.

Copyright © 2025 Boatzon™. All Rights Reserved