Question 1

What exactly does Boat Experts do, and how does it help me buy a boat?

Accepted Answer

Boat Experts makes buying a boat simpler, smarter, and stress-free. Instead of spending hours searching listings and dealing with pushy salespeople, we find the best boats, negotiate the best deals, and present you with options that fit your needs and budget. You get expert-level guidance, insider pricing, and access to the best stock — all without lifting a finger (ok, maybe your need to lift a finger to hit the help button)

Question 2

What makes you an Expert?

Accepted Answer

Experience, industry knowledge, and the right connections.

Boats have been my business (and obsession) for over 20 years. In that time, I’ve:
 
 • Bought them.
 • Sold them (around 1,800 worth a collective $80M, give or take).
 • Reviewed them (as Editor of TrailerBoat and Field Editor of Trade-A-Boat).
 • Designed them.
 • Marketed them.
 • Modified them.
 • Consulted on them.
 • And probably conceived a kid or three on them. 😜💦
 
I directed ops for Whittley, ran Cobalt Boats & Bennington Pontoons Vic, and played mad scientist in the R&D labs with Haines Hunter and more recently, Revival Boats. Even played chasey with helicopters back in the day.
 
That’s not a résumé — that’s me ticking off my nautical bucket list while earning my Boat Experts apprenticeship.
 
Bottom line? I didn’t just wake up one day and decide to be a “boat buying expert.” I lived it. And I know a great deal about what a great deal really looks like — not just on paper, but out on the water where it actually matters.

Question 3

How is Boat Experts different from just searching Boatsales.com.au or Facebook Marketplace?

Accepted Answer

Those sites are just digital noticeboards—full of overpriced listings, occasionally-misleading ads, and time-wasting sellers. Boat Experts flips the model by sourcing only serious, competitive offers from premium dealers, ensuring you’re not chasing phantom deals or dealing with hidden surprises.

Question 4

How do you use AI to find my perfect boat?

Accepted Answer

At Boat Experts, we don’t just use AI — we trained it to think like a seasoned buyer with trust issues.

Our AI Co-Pilot, SONAR, is powered by AI² — a hybrid blend of machine learning and decades of hands-on boating know-how (aka Angelo Intelligence™). It was built specifically for the trailerboat market, where buyers are often left to navigate a sea of vague advice and conflicting agendas.

SONAR has been purpose-trained on thousands of real-world prompts, dealer behaviour patterns, and customer pain points. It learns fast, adapts faster, and critically analyses every quote, trade-in, and offer we receive.
The moment a dodgy deal or lowball trade hits our radar, SONAR flags it, quarantines it, and adds it to our Nauti List. If a deal made it onto your Recommendation Report, SONAR’s already vetted it.
If a brand or dealer didn’t? There’s an Expert reason why.

Question 5

Do I have to pay for your services as a buyer?

Accepted Answer

Nope! Buyers don’t pay us a cent. We earn our share from the dealer’s commission — but only if we get you a deal that you approve. That means our only loyalty is to you, the buyer — not any particular brand or dealership.

Question 6

Will dealers take my offer seriously if I go through Boat Experts?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Dealers love Boat Experts because we pre-qualify buyers, meaning we only bring them serious, ready-to-purchase customers. When you go through us, you’re not just another random inquiry—you’re seen as a genuine, informed buyer worth making a competitive offer for.

Question 7

I have a boat to trade—can you help with that?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We work with both premium dealers and motivated private sellers to maximize your trade-in value. Unlike dealerships that often lowball trade-ins, we use our market expertise to find the best offer for your current boat.

Question 8

What if I don’t know what type of boat is best for me? Can you guide me?

Accepted Answer

Of course! Whether you’re a first-time buyer or upgrading, we help you figure out the best boat for your lifestyle, budget, and experience level. You can also take our Boat Buyer’s Quiz to refine your options before we start the search.

Question 9

Can you help me find a boat that isn’t listed online?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Many of the best deals never make it to public listings. We tap into our industry connections to access off-market stock and special dealer offers that aren’t advertised, giving you exclusive buying opportunities.

Question 10

Do you only work with new boats, or can you help with used boats too?

Accepted Answer

We work with both new and premium used boats. If you’re looking for a late-model, low-hour pre-owned boat, we source the best dealer stock and motivated private sellers to find you a boat that’s been properly maintained and priced fairly.

Question 11

What happens if I don’t like any of the offers you present?

Accepted Answer

No problem—you’re not locked into anything. We only present options that match your criteria, and if nothing feels right, we keep searching until we find the perfect fit. You’re always in control of the final decision.

Question 12

Do I still need to negotiate with the dealer, or do you handle that for me?

Accepted Answer

We do all the heavy lifting. Our job is to negotiate the best possible deal on your behalf, leveraging our insider knowledge of dealer margins, incentives, and real-world pricing. When you receive an offer from us, it’s already been optimized to save you money.

Question 13

Can you help me get boat finance or insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We have a network of trusted finance and insurance providers who specialize in marine lending. Whether you need a boat loan, extended warranty, or insurance package, we can connect you with the right people to get the best rates.

Question 14

How do I know I’m really getting the best deal?

Accepted Answer

Because we don’t just compare one dealer’s price—we create competition by getting multiple dealers to submit their best offers. This ensures you’re not overpaying or falling for dealer tricks. Every offer is backed by our expert market knowledge, so you can buy with total confidence.

Question 15

What’s the difference between a paid membership and the free Boat Experts buying service?

Accepted Answer

Great question — and one we get a lot.

The core Boat Experts service is completely free to buyers, and always will be. We act as your independent buying wingman — shortlisting packages, sourcing anonymous quotes from dealers, filtering the BS, and handing you real choices with zero pressure. Our fee? It’s paid by the successful dealer when (and only when) you buy.

But not everyone’s ready to pull the trigger. Some folks want more insight, more control, or just more time to think — and that’s where our membership tiers come in.

• Our Console Tier is for buyers who like to DIY but want smarter tools, insider tips, and help avoiding the common traps.
 • Our Hardtop Tier gives serious buyers direct access to us — for advice, spec checks, shortlist help, deal decoding, or strategic second opinions.

If you go on to buy a boat through Boat Experts while you’re a member, we’ll make sure there’s no double-up:

• You can pause your membership
 • Or use your current payment as a credit toward the process
 • Or stay subscribed for the ongoing support, resale advice, or upgrades down the line

You’re never paying twice. Just paying once — smarter.