replacing the canvas will probably not add that much more money to the price of the boat; however, the boat will look attractive and, when the buyer is making his or her buying decision and your boat has fresh or clean canvas, it will be a definite talking point. Having all good/new canvas on a boat will help you sell it. Walk forward and open the anchor locker. Are there “things” growing in there? Is the line smelly and all you want to do is close the locker? If it is, take the time to take all of the line out of the anchor locker and get it cleaned. You probably don’t have to replace it, just give it a good cleaning. You probably have a windlass - make sure the windlass works, drop the ground tackle and retrieve it. How is the bow rail? Does it need a bit of attention? If you are selling a cruiser style boat, look at the windshield -- do you need to replace the wipers on the windshield, do they work? If you are selling a sailboat, check the overall condition of the sails, the mast, the spreaders and the rigging. Look for obvious damage, check grommets, rings and all reef points. Do the sail tracks need lubricating? Does the roller furling need to be cleaned and lubricated? Are all the pulleys in good working order? Are the running lights working? Does the anchor light work? These are safety issues and should be in working condition (whether you are selling your boat or not). If some of the lights are not working, you may find that you have a loose connection or you just need to change the bulb. Oh, and check to see if the horn works. The Cockpit After you have walked around the boat you are selling, check out the cockpit. How is the upholstery on the seat? Are there any tears in the vinyl? If there are, consider contacting a vinyl repair specialist. It does not cost much money to repair a nick in the vinyl but, once again, we are going for good first impressions. Getting Your Boat Ready for Sale
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