How It Works

The winning bidder of an auction will pay a “buyer’s fee” on top of the purchase price. This is standard for all auction websites. 

In addition to the final purchase price paid to the seller, buyers pay a 4.5% buyer’s fee to Sweet Boats.
 
The buyer’s fee has a minimum of $500 and maximum of $4,500  This implies that any offer exceeding $200k won’t incur additional buyers’ fees. The fee for the buyer is billed to the successful bidder’s registered credit card.

Example Fees:
A  $40,000 boat will incur $1,800 buyer’s fee
A $80,000 boat will incur $3,600 buyer’s fee
A $120,000 boat will incur $5,400 buyer’s fee
A $170,000 boat will incur $7,650 buyer’s fee

Enter Boat Price:

Click the register to bid in the menu. There you will enter your information and credit card. 

If you want to bid, just click on the bid now button on the boat auction page. Then enter the amount of your bid. To place a bid you’ll have to register if you haven’t already. We’ll need your credit card information to be added to your account before you can bid. Don’t worry, the sales price of the boat WILL NOT be charged to your credit card.

The buyer’s fee is charged to the credit card of the winning bidder, at the time that the purchase and sale is completed between buyer and seller.

In other words, the buyer’s fee is not charged if you are the winning bidder, but rather when the boat purchase is complete.

Before bidding, take a look at our Bidder’s Checklist to be 100% sure you’re prepared to press the bid button.

This is an easy-to-follow list to make sure you’re ready to buy a boat.

If you’ve checked all of the items off on the Bidder’s Checklist, you’re ready to bid.

So take a minute to glance at the Bidder’s Checklist to make sure you understand the requirements.

In order to place a bid, you first have to register which we’ve explained above. Then, you can find a boat you’re interested in and as soon as you find it click the icon next to the listing that says “Place Bid”. You will be prompted to enter your bid amount

Bid increments work as follows.

Minimum bid of $100 to start the auction
$250 increments from then on. 

No, if you’re outbid you need to manually big again. 

That is encouraged if it’s convenient for both parties. 

Buyers and sellers are not to engage in any negotiations outside of the auction. 

Once you place a bid you are committed.  If you are the winner of the auction and you back out,  you will be charged a fee of $500. 

You can have marine inspections performed during the 7-day auction period. And if you’re the winning bidder, you can also do your inspection of the boat during the 10-day period you have to complete the boat purchase.

Sweet Boats can help provide the name of at least one marine inspector or shop in the area where the boat is located to facilitate an inspection if you are not able to see the boat in person or take it out on the water for a test run.

When a boat sells, you will be automatically charged (see fees) to your credit card. 

The is our fee for for the platform and not a down payment.  

We will then introduce the buyer and sellers 

There is NO refunds on the buyer’s premium. 

You are the winning bidder of a boat at auction. Now what? Here are the 5 steps to finalize the purchase of your boat:

• Connect with Seller: Sweet Boats will connect buyer and seller. Make contact right away 

• Provide Documentation: The seller should provide proof of ownership to buyer, including a copy, or photo, of the title and registration (for BOTH the boat and trailer). You should arrange for insurance for both the boat and trailer with your insurance agent and provide insurance information to seller and/or to the seller’s financial institution if requested. Insurance will always be prepaid to the insurance company issuing the insurance at the time it is issued with either credit card or e-check. If you would like recommendations for a few insurance agents that provide boat insurance, click here.
  
  
  

• Create a Bill of Sale: You need to create 2 bills of sale with the seller. One for the boat AND one for the trailer. The Bill of Sale should be correct and includes all of the terms of the sale. Both buyer and seller should sign both bills of sale and each party should have their own copies of each bill of sale for boat and for trailer. Where do you get a bill of sale? Check on your state’s DMV website to download a blank sample of a bill of sale.
  
  
  

• Arrange for Payment to Seller: Buyers are expected to pay for the boat within 10 days. If the seller has a loan, buyer and seller should discuss how to pay off the loan and transfer the titles. Use secure and trackable methods of payment such as bank wire transfers to send payment. Never rely on wiring instructions sent via email, always verify wiring instructions over the phone directly with the source. Avoid using cash and money orders. Payments will never be sent through Sweet Boats as a payment intermediary.
  
  
  

Take Possession of the Boat: The boat and trailer titles should not be released to you until the seller has confirmed payment is in hand. After you confirm payment has been received and verified by the seller, then you will arrange to take possession of the boat and trailer. If the transaction is not happening in person, the seller or the seller’s financial institution should send the titles to you, or directly your financial institution, using an expedited shipping method with tracking. If you would like to arrange to ship the boat we can provide the names of a few reputable shipping companies.