YachtPact is an introduction and listing platform. We introduce buyers and sellers — we do not inspect boats, we do not verify ownership, and we never hold deposits or purchase funds. Every step below happens directly between you and the seller, and this guide explains how to protect yourself through the process.
This guide is general information only. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules, forms, and fees change — confirm current requirements with Transport Canada, your provincial authorities, and qualified professionals before you buy.
Browse listings, compare asking prices for similar boats, and send the seller an enquiry through YachtPact. Ask about maintenance history, winter storage, engine hours, known issues, and what is included in the sale (trailer, dinghy, safety gear, marina slip transfer). A seller’s answers are the seller’s own — YachtPact does not verify listing details, so treat the survey and the paperwork checks below as essential, not optional.
When you’re ready, put your offer in writing. A typical private-sale offer states the price, an expiry date for the offer, and conditions (“subject to”) such as:
If a deposit is part of your agreement, it is paid by you directly to the seller, or to a third party you and the seller agree on in writing (for example, a lawyer). Never send a deposit to YachtPact — we are not part of the transaction and hold no funds for buyers or sellers.
Before you commit, hire an independent, qualified marine surveyor to inspect the boat (see our guide Marine Surveys & Inspections — what to expect). The surveyor works for you, not the seller and not YachtPact. Based on the survey you can proceed, renegotiate, ask for repairs, or walk away if your offer conditions allow.
A sea trial lets you see the boat running: starting, handling, steering, engine temperature and gauges, electronics, and sails and rigging under load on a sailboat. Ideally the sea trial happens around the survey, so any concerns can be checked while both are fresh.
Paperwork is where buyers most often get surprised. In general:
Names on the paperwork must match the seller you are dealing with. If they don’t, stop and get advice before proceeding.
Closing is normally simple in a private sale: a signed bill of sale (date, price, vessel details including hull identification number, and both parties’ names and signatures), payment made directly between you and the seller, and transfer of the registration or licence documentation. Taxes can apply to a private boat purchase and vary by province and by circumstances — confirm what applies to your purchase before closing, not after.
Update the registration or pleasure craft licence into your name promptly, arrange insurance, and sort out moorage or storage. Then do the deferred maintenance your surveyor flagged — starting with anything marked safety-related.
The short version: written conditional offer → independent survey → sea trial → paperwork and lien checks → bill of sale and direct payment. YachtPact’s role ends at the introduction; the steps above are how you make the purchase itself a safe one.
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