sailboats for sale on facebook marketplace

How to Sell a Boat On Facebook Marketplace?

A boat is a wonderful investment, but there comes a point when you have to consider selling it. Whether moving away from the sea, looking for liquidity, or planning to buy a better boat, choosing the right platform to sell your current boat is extremely important.

In this article, we talk about how to sell your boat on Facebook Marketplace , an online platform where people can discover, sell and buy items. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert seller at Facebook Marketplace, we guide you from start to finish and mention scams to avoid when selling a boat.

Table of Contents

Why Sell your Boat on Facebook Marketplace?

We’ve all heard of Facebook , but not many of us know of Facebook Marketplace. It is a space and a service that allows social media users to publish their products or services for sale. Kind of like a classifieds website. When published, an ad is categorized and subsequently shown to users based on selective keywords.

You can enter a title, price, quantity, description, and other details related to the vessel. The messages you will receive from potential buyers are through Facebook Messenger, but you can list other contact information in the description, such as your WhatsApp number or Instagram username. Below are some benefits of selling your boat through Facebook Marketplace .

• Easy communication with buyers and message management.
• Ease of interaction – The ad for your boat will be displayed on the main page, and prospective buyers will be able to not only see it but also access all its related information (price, description, location, contact details, etc.) by clicking on it.
• Easy to combine with other social media. By adding links or details of your other social media accounts in the listing description, potential buyers can easily reach out to you in multiple ways.
• Zero listing fee. While you have to pay a selling fee, Facebook does not require you to pay a listing fee for selling your items.
• User-friendly and has access to a large audience in your area.

How to Sell your Boat on Facebook Marketplace?

If you have an active Facebook account, you are ready to start selling your boat on Facebook Marketplace. If you don’t, you will need to set one up.

Create a Listing

Log into your account and search for the Facebook Marketplace icon resembling a storefront. On the desktop, you can find it on the left side of the home page, below your user name. On mobile, it sits at the top of the screen.

Next, click “+Create new listing” or “Sell” for desktop and mobile. Then select the right categories: “Choose your listing type: Vehicle for sale.” Fill out the details of your boat listing using the following tips:

• Include up to 10 photos of the vessel from all angles, ensuring they are high-quality, clear, and taken in good lighting.
• Title the boat ad correctly. Describe its name, model, year, manufacturer, and condition.
• Write a detailed description of the boat. Include details such as measurements, type of boat , materials used, age, current condition, and reason for selling. If there’s any damage, make a note. Hiding your boat’s imperfections will create trouble for you down the line.
• To make matters easier for the buyer, you can also mention whether the boat is registered and titled or only registered in your state .
• Consider promoting your boat’s listing with Facebook Ads . Keep in mind you will be required to pay standard advertising costs.

Preview and Confirm your Facebook advertisement / Listing

Confirm your location, and set up a shipping or delivery method if needed. Double-check the listing’s preview to see if all the details are correct and whether it looks visually appealing.

You will also need to decide whether to promote your boat publicly on Facebook Marketplace or in specific groups. If you choose the latter option, make sure to search for popular boating Facebook groups in advance with an active audience, so your listing gets maximum visibility.

Once satisfied with the final result, hit “ publish ,” and you’re good to go.

Checklist: A good tip is to see your listing from another computer or phone to ensure it looks eye-catching and informative.

How do I accept payment on Facebook?

Facebook Marketplace doesn’t have a system for receiving local payments unlike auction sites like ebay motors . This means you will have to coordinate directly with the boat buyer and make the necessary arrangements to complete the selling procedure. Add the payment method in the boat’s description, so the buyer knows your method of preference. It is recommended that you accept the amount through a bank transfer, but you can also opt for cash payment.

How much does it cost? Is it free to sell a boat on the Facebook marketplace?

Selling a boat on Facebook Marketplace is not free. Although there is no listing fee on this platform, Facebook charges a selling fee of 5% per shipment. A $20 chargeback fee gets deducted from your account when a customer files a chargeback through their card issuer. The charge may not apply if the issue gets resolved to completion.

While there are no ways to avoid a selling fee on your boat’s sale, you can avoid a chargeback fee through the following ways.

• Avoid long-distance buyers, especially international buyers. The issue here is that the buyer may cancel the payment once the item boat has been shipped or requests a chargeback for a non-existent issue.
• Check out the buyer’s profile and do a background check to ensure their legitimacy.

Best Marketing Tips to Sell your Boat Fast on Facebook

• Set a competitive price for the vessel’s worth . If you are not sure how much profit to keep on your boat, get it appraised through an online calculator or with the help of a boating professional. This will prevent you from charging too much or too little.
• Include search tags. If you want to sell a jetski on Facebook , use tags like “JetSki,” “PWC,” “Yamaha,” “YamahaJetSki,” “Watersports,” “Adventure,” etc. or even pontoon boat for sale facebook marketplace.
• Include a boat-alert.com history report with your listing to show the HIN is valid and the vessel has no negative events in its history / background. 

Tip	Description	Example
Provide detailed information	Include all the important details about your boat, such as its make and model, year, condition, size, and any additional features or upgrades.	2005 Bayliner Capri, excellent condition, 18 ft, includes trailer and bimini top
Take high-quality photos	Take clear, well-lit photos that show off your boat from multiple angles. Include shots of the interior, exterior, engine, and any special features.	Photos of the boat on the water, close-ups of the engine, and shots of the cabin or seating area
Price competitively	Research the market to see what similar boats are selling for and price your boat accordingly. Be willing to negotiate, but don’t undervalue your boat.	List your boat for $12,000, which is slightly lower than other boats of similar size and condition

How do you write a receipt when selling a boat?

When selling a boat, a simple receipt simply won’t cut it. What you need instead is a bill of sale .

A bill of sale is a receipt for larger purchases like boats, cars, appliances, and machinery. It is a legal document showing an asset’s transfer from one party to another. When creating a bill of sale for a used boat Facebook marketplace , make sure to include the following details:

• The names of the seller and buyer
• Mailing addresses of the buyer and seller
• The total sale price of the boat
• Description of the boat (make and model, HIN)
• A mention of whether the boat is being sold as-is or not
• The date when the sale will finalize
• Inspection period of the boat
• Security deposit amount, if applicable
• The signatures of the buyer and seller
• The signatures of any witnesses
• Date of signature

Can I get scammed for selling a vessel on Facebook Marketplace?

Scams are common on online platforms , and Facebook Marketplace is no exception. Follow Facebook’s guidelines and follow the tips below to safely sell a boat online.

• Steer clear of buyers who seem too eager to proceed with the sale. Look out for signs such as their lack of interest in negotiating a price, verifying paperwork, or doing a thorough inspection of the boat .
• Do not fall for an offer where the buyer requests to send a cashier’s check for more than the purchase price and asks you to return the difference to pay for shipping. This tactic fosters the seller’s confidence in the scam offer.
• Do not communicate with buyers who rarely use other forms of communication besides email, especially those IDs with foreign domains (for example, .ru). Nowadays, scammers use burner phones to send texts and make phone calls, so be vigilant.
• When it comes to payment, ask the seller to meet at a bank where they can withdraw the money, and you can sign the paperwork. Go with for bank-to-bank or a wire transfer rather than cash payment since it carries a higher risk. Do your research and due diligence.

Taxes may apply even when it is a private sale

 Check your state’s law to determine if taxes apply if you sell a boat on FB . If you make a profit on your private sale, the surplus amount may be subjected to ‘capital gains tax. How the capital gain is taxed will depend on the taxable income, filing status, and how long the asset was owned before selling.

Alternatives to Facebook Marketplace to advertise your boat

Listed below are some alternatives to Facebook Marketplace you can consider reading more about in our blog:

• Other Boat classifieds
• Sell on consignment via a boat broker or boat dealer
• Boat forums

There you have it, we discussed how boat sellers can sell their boat on the Facebook marketplace. We also talked about how you can sell your boat fast and offer tips on avoiding online scams and protecting your asset. Adding a boat history report by Boat-Alert.com can boost your listing by winning the buyer’s confidence and giving them peace of mind. Show them you have nothing to hide!

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