Sea Trials: How to Test-Drive a Boat Before You Buy

Printable checklist: Sea trial

A sea trial is a boat's test drive, and it's the single best way to find out whether a boat suits you. Some things don't show up in a spec sheet or a showroom: how the boat handles a wake, whether the windshield throws glare in your eyes, whether the engine labors with your family on board. This guide covers how to prepare, what to test and what to write down, whether the boat is new or used.

Before the sea trial

Book enough time. A rushed ten-minute loop around the harbor won't tell you much. Ask for enough time to warm the engine fully and run through the checks below.

Bring a second opinion. Discover Boating suggests bringing a boating-savvy friend. For larger boats in particular, consider having a marine surveyor along. On a used boat the surveyor often runs the sea trial as part of the survey (see Marine Surveys).

Recreate a real day. Discover Boating points out that many sea trials are done with little fuel, few people and no gear, which can flatter a boat's performance. Real-world use often adds hundreds of pounds or more. If you can, bring the people you usually boat with, or at least keep the difference in mind.

Check the weather and water. Calm water is pleasant, but some chop or a few boat wakes tell you far more about the hull.

Bring:

  • your notes on how you'll use the boat;
  • a phone for photos, video and timing;
  • sunglasses, so you can judge glare as you normally would;
  • a life jacket that fits you, if you prefer your own.

At the dock: before you leave

  • Look at the capacity label. On monohull boats under 20 feet (except sailboats, canoes, kayaks and inflatables), federal rules require a label showing the maximum persons, weight and horsepower. Your planned crew and gear should fit comfortably within it.
  • Check that the required safety equipment is on board, such as wearable life jackets for everyone and the fire extinguishers the boat needs. It's a good sign about how the boat is run. See Required Safety Equipment by Boat Length.
  • On a used boat, start the engine from cold if you can. Note how easily it starts and whether there's unusual smoke or noise.
  • Run the blower on a gasoline inboard or sterndrive boat. Federal rules require an operable ventilation system on gasoline-engine boats built after July 31, 1980.

Underway as the driver

Work through these checks, adapted from Discover Boating's sea-trial checklist:

  1. Acceleration and getting on plane. Note how long it takes and whether the bow rises enough to block your view. Trim and trim tabs help, but they shouldn't be covering for an underpowered boat.
  2. Performance targets. If the boat barely meets what you need, ask about larger engine options. Towing skiers needs strong low-end power, and a full load of guests can strain a small engine. Discover Boating warns that buyers drawn in by a low "base" engine price sometimes trade up later for more power.
  3. Hard turns. Check behind you for traffic. Then, at a moderate speed (Discover Boating suggests about 30 mph where that's safe and legal), make a firm turn each way. The boat should carve cleanly without the engine bogging down or the propeller losing grip.
  4. Rough water. Cross wakes at different speeds, or make S-turns to create your own. A well-designed hull should limit pounding and jarring.
  5. Rattles and vibration. Listen and feel. Some are easy fixes, some aren't.
  6. Slow-speed tracking. At no-wake speed, center the wheel and see whether the boat holds its line. Single outboard and sterndrive boats can wander a bit; trimming up slightly often helps.
  7. Glare. Drive both into and away from the sun, and check for reflections on the windshield and the dash.
  8. Electrical items. Switch everything on: navigation lights, bilge pump, electronics, stereo, livewell pumps and so on.
  9. Docking. If the seller or dealer allows it, try docking and close-quarters maneuvering. That's where many owners feel the most stress.

Underway as a passenger

Hand the wheel to someone else and move around the boat:

  • Bow seating: is it deep and secure enough for adults and kids?
  • Main cockpit: does the layout encourage people to sit together and talk, or does it spread everyone out?
  • Comfort: do you keep reaching for handholds?
  • Noise: can you talk without shouting?
  • Storage: is there enough, and is it easy to reach?
  • Seats and cushions: are they comfortable for a full day?

Extra checks on a used boat

  • Temperatures and gauges: watch the engine temperature and the other gauges for steady readings once the engine is warm.
  • Trim and tilt: run them through their full range.
  • Steering: it should feel smooth with no binding or excessive play.
  • Bilge: after the run, look for water, oil or fuel in the bilge.
  • Pumps: Discover Boating's used-boat checklist specifically mentions checking that livewell and baitwell pumps work.
  • Trailer: for trailer boats, meet at the ramp so you can watch the boat load and unload and check the trailer.

After the sea trial

Write your impressions down straight away, while they're fresh. If you're comparing two or three boats, use the same checklist and similar conditions for each. A boat that felt "fine" in isolation can feel quite different side by side.

If you're buying used, make your offer subject to a satisfactory survey and sea trial. Then run the full ownership numbers, including fuel, storage, insurance and maintenance, in our True Cost tool. If you're financing, our Shop by Payment tool shows which boats fit your target payment.

Sea trial checklist (printable)

Before

  • [ ] Booked enough time; brought a second opinion or surveyor
  • [ ] Typical passengers and gear on board (or noted the difference)
  • [ ] Capacity label checked
  • [ ] Required safety gear on board

Driver

  • [ ] Acceleration / time to plane / visibility
  • [ ] Engine options discussed
  • [ ] Hard turns both ways
  • [ ] Rough water or wakes
  • [ ] Rattles and vibration
  • [ ] Slow-speed tracking
  • [ ] Glare into and away from the sun
  • [ ] All electrical accessories
  • [ ] Docking

Passenger

  • [ ] Bow and cockpit comfort
  • [ ] Noise, storage, handholds

Used boats

  • [ ] Cold start
  • [ ] Gauges steady
  • [ ] Trim, tilt and steering
  • [ ] Bilge after run
  • [ ] Pumps and livewells
  • [ ] Trailer

Sources