With boatbuilders forecasting production backlogs lasting well into 2022, many buyers are turning to the preowned market. However, that market has been flooded with damaged, and in some cases stolen, boats, according to Grant Brooks, the founder and CEO of Boat History Report.
Brooks said in a statement that there has been a 123 percent spike in fraud since the Covid buying spree began. Boat History Report helps buyers avoid some of the potential pitfalls of buying a preowned boat, including hidden damage.
“Some possible explanations for the fraud include significant decline in available boats, leading to a greater sense of urgency in acquiring any boat that may be available,” Brooks said in the statement. “Additionally, as we continue with hurricane season, more and more hurricane-damaged boats are being picked up, cleaned up and put on the market quickly before a higher level of damage presents itself.”
Boat History Report has amassed 120 million unique records and more than 1.4 million “negative events” to inform buyers about potential boat purchases.
“Our service gives potential buyers an extra level of protection and peace of mind because we’re able to pull verified information from our database comprised of hundreds of public and private nationwide data sources,” Brooks said.
