Used Boats for Sale in NSW

Used boats for sale in NSW, listed by a BIA-accredited Sydney brokerage. Prices are in Australian dollars, every listing has the broker’s own notes and photos, and inspections are by appointment at Fergusons Marina in Mosman or wherever the boat is lying.

Davis Marine Brokerage sells pre-owned boats from Sydney Harbour, and most of what we list is lying within a short run of The Spit: sports cruisers, flybridges, motor yachts, Duchy launches, RIBs and centre-console fishing boats. If you are searching for second-hand boat sales in NSW, this page shows what we have right now and covers the checks worth doing before you commit to any used boat in New South Wales.

Used boats for sale in NSW right now

These are our current listings lying in NSW. Click through for the full specification, photo gallery and the broker’s notes on each boat.

Looking for something that is not here? Tell us what you are after on the contact page. We often know of boats before they are advertised, and we can arrange boat finance and a Club Marine insurance quote on any boat we sell.

What to check before buying a used boat in NSW

A well-kept second-hand boat can be the best value on the water, but the checks below are the ones that separate a good buy from an expensive lesson. We run through each of them with buyers on the boats we list.

Registration, hull number and money owing

Confirm the NSW vessel registration is current and that the hull identification number on the transom matches the papers. Then run a PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) check on the hull identification number and any engine serial numbers. It costs a few dollars and tells you whether a lender still has an interest in the boat. If finance is owing, it must be paid out at settlement, not after.

Survey and sea trial

Have the boat lifted and surveyed by an accredited marine surveyor. An out-of-water inspection is the only way to see the running gear, the hull below the waterline and any signs of osmosis or old repairs. Follow it with a sea trial: check the engines reach rated revs, watch the temperatures and oil pressures, and listen for anything that changes when the boat is under load. Insurers and lenders often ask for a survey on older or higher-value boats, so it is rarely wasted money.

Engine hours and service history

Hours matter less than how the boat was serviced. Ask for invoices, not just a logbook, and match the service dates to the hours on the gauges. Sterndrives and outboards need their bellows, impellers and anodes done on schedule; shaft-drive boats need cutless bearings and seals checked. A boat that has sat unused for a year can need more attention than one that has been run every weekend.

Safety gear and licences

NSW sets out the safety equipment a boat must carry, and the list is longer for open waters than for enclosed waters such as Sydney Harbour, Pittwater and the Hawkesbury. Check the flares are in date, the EPIRB is registered with AMSA, and there are enough lifejackets of the right type for the number of people you will carry. To drive a powered vessel at 10 knots or more in NSW you need a NSW boat driving licence, so factor that in if you are new to boating.

Where the boat will live

Sort out a berth or mooring before you settle, because availability on Sydney Harbour and Pittwater varies a lot by size. Our guides to buying a Sydney marina berth and how to berth a boat cover the options and the costs, and our vessel management service can look after the boat if you are time-poor.

How buying through Davis Marine Brokerage works

We are a Boating Industry Association accredited brokerage and Club Marine agent based at Fergusons Marina, The Spit, Mosman, and our brokers go aboard the Sydney boats we list before they go online. Inspections are by appointment. When you find the right boat we handle the offer, the deposit, the survey and sea trial, the PPSR check and the paperwork through to settlement, and we arrange a proper handover so you know the boat before you take it out alone. Finance and insurance can be organised alongside the sale. Our guide to buying a boat goes into the process in more detail, and our boat services page covers detailing, antifouling and maintenance after the sale.

Selling a used boat in NSW?

If you are on the other side of the deal, start with a free, no-obligation valuation on our what is my boat worth page, then read about how we market and sell boats on sell my boat. Our recent boat sales show the boats we have sold on Sydney Harbour and around NSW.

Quick answers

Do I need a licence to drive a used boat in NSW?
Yes, if you will drive a powered vessel at 10 knots or more. That requires a NSW boat driving licence from Transport for NSW. Below 10 knots no licence is needed, but the safety and registration rules still apply.

Is a pre-purchase survey worth it on a second-hand boat?
Yes. An out-of-water survey by an accredited marine surveyor is the only reliable way to check the hull, running gear and structure, and insurers and lenders often require one on older or higher-value boats.

Can I get finance on a used boat?
Yes. Davis Marine Brokerage can arrange boat finance on any pre-owned boat we sell, and a Club Marine insurance quote at the same time.

Where are the boats and how do I inspect one?
Most of our listings are lying on Sydney Harbour, at Mosman, Northbridge, Double Bay and nearby marinas, with some interstate and overseas. Call Sam Davis on 0408 864 111 or use the contact page to book an inspection.