Article: The more you know about the specific make and model of boat that you're planning to buy, the better you'll be able to haggle over the price. In fact, you may find that the seller has over-priced the boat, in which case you can certainly talk them down. Before you meet the seller, find out the selling price of used boats like the one you plan to buy. You can find the value of any boat model through the NADA Boat guide. Check the guide online at: http://www.nadaguides.com/Boats. Since you're purchasing a used item, the price will be somewhat flexible. Try to talk the owner down from the listed price. If the seller refuses to lower their price, you can explain that you believe the boat is overpriced and that you can find a better deal somewhere else. This will often prompt the seller to lower the price. For example, if the boat is listed as selling for $25,000, ask if the owner will take $20,000. They'll likely decline, but may revise their offer to a more reasonable $22,500. Be aware that boat owners may accept your lower rate for the boat itself, but then over-charge you for ancillary items like radios, safety items, or an engine. If you have the time and patience, negotiate over each individual item you're buying. Once you've agreed on the purchase price, ask the boat's current owner to give you the boat's title and other legal documents. Just like when buying a car, this will conclude the purchasing process. Making sure that the current boat owner transfers all ownership papers to you will also confirm that the boat was not stolen. Although laws vary by state, boats over 12 feet (3.7m) typically have titles, while smaller boats do not. If you live in the U.S., you will also need to register your boat with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles or Department of Natural Resources. Even if the previous owner registered the boat, you will need to re-register the boat with yourself as the given owner. For your state's guidelines, look online at: https://www.dmv.org/boat-registration.php.

What is a summary?
Research the boat you're buying and competitive models. Negotiate the price with the boat owner. Transfer the legal ownership of the boat.