New boat delivery and warranty registration checklist for dealers

Before the boat leaves the transporter’s trailer, walk it with the bill of lading in hand. Photograph the hull identification number on the transom, then match it to the manufacturer’s invoice. A mismatch discovered now is a claim. Discovered at delivery, it is a dispute.

Record each engine, drive leg and trailer separately. An outboard has its own serial plate, as does the lower unit on a sterndrive and the trailer’s axle. Warranty runs per component, and so do recalls.

Note any transit damage on the carrier’s paperwork before signing. Scratched gelcoat, a cracked windscreen frame or a bent propeller must be written down on the day.

A new boat is rarely finished when it arrives. Fluids are low, batteries are uncharged and fittings are loose from the road. Work through the builder’s own inspection sheet and sign each line.

Check bilge pumps, navigation lights, horn, steering, throttle and shift cables, fuel lines and the through-hull fittings. Fill the live well, run the livewell pump and look for weeping hose clamps.

Fit what the buyer ordered: electronics, canvas, anchor, fenders, safety kit. Tick it against the sales order, not against memory. Customers remember the sonar they paid for.

Take the boat out with a technician and the buyer if they wish. Run the engine through idle, midrange and wide-open throttle. Record rpm at each point, trim angle and any vibration or warning tone.

Water testing exposes things a yard cannot: a steering pull, an overheating alarm, a bilge that fills slowly. Log it. Fix it. Re-test it. Then write the final readings on the trial sheet and have the technician sign.

Wash down, flush the engine and check for leaks after the trial. A dry bilge on return is the cleanest sign that the boat is ready.

The buyer should leave with a file, not a verbal briefing. Include the bill of sale, the builder’s certificate of origin where one exists, the owner’s manuals, the engine warranty card, the sea trial sheet and a signed delivery receipt.

Walk the owner through the boat at the dock. Show the battery switches, bilge pump test, fire extinguisher dates, flares and life jacket stowage. Hand over the keys last, once the delivery receipt carries their signature and the date.

Note any state or national registration and title steps that apply to the buyer’s waters. Rules differ widely, so confirm with the relevant authority rather than assuming.

Warranty starts from the delivery date in most builder and engine programmes, and registration often has a cut-off. Late registration can shorten or void cover. Send the forms the same week you hand the boat over.

Register the hull, each engine and each major accessory separately where programmes require it. Save the confirmation emails or portal screens as PDFs and attach them to the hull record.

Book the first service reminder while the buyer is still at the dock. Set a tracked task to chase any registration that has not been confirmed within a week.