Selling your boat with Jones Boatyard

Selling a boat with us is a smooth sailing process, from creating the boat advert through to the final sale. We have everything you need to sell in one place.

Dedicated Sales Pontoon

Free Sales Berth for 3 Months

Boat Preparation Service

Why sell with Jones Boatyard?

We make selling simple, stress-free, and secure.

Our experienced team will help you achieve the best possible price with expert marketing and a trusted brokerage service.

  • Competitive commission rate
  • Accompanied viewings and river trials
  • We'll keep you up to date throughout the process
  • Secure handling of funds with our
    dedicated Brokerage Client Account
  • Free sales berth for 3 months
  • We'll represent your best interests
  • We handle all the viewings, negotiations and legal stuff
  • Professional photography to showcase your vessel

What is the process?

Step 1

Get in touch to discuss your boat and start the sales process.

Step 2

We review your boat's paperwork and confirm all documentation is complete.

Step 3

Our team checks vessel systems and prepares your boat to impress buyers.

Step 4

We publish a detailed specification with professional photography for your boat.

Step 5

All enquiries and viewings are managed,, keeping you updated throughout.

Step 6

We help negotiate offers and generate contracts once a sale price is agreed.

Step 7

We arrange and oversee river trials and surveys throughout the sales process.

Step 8

Final payment is received, contracts signed, and the vessel formally handed over.

Step 9

We manage all completion paperwork and release funds once everything is signed.

What does it cost to sell my boat?

Selling your boat with Jones Boatyard is straightforward and transparent on costs.

We charge a commission fee, which is our service charge for selling your boat. This is only applied on successful sale.

There are no upfront costs – you pay nothing until your boat sells. 

Free expert valuation included

We also offer a free 3-month berth at our marina sales area so there’s no mooring cost while your boat is listed.

What paperwork do I need to sell my boat?

This will be your Bill of Sale or any evidence to demonstrate current ownership.

This might include:

  • The original Bill of Sale from when you bought the boat
  • Builder’s certificate (for new boats)
  • VAT invoice if purchased from a dealer

Why does this matter?
Buyers want to know the boat isn’t stolen, financed, or subject to legal dispute. Solid paperwork builds confidence.

Ideally all previous Bills of Sale’s, but showing at least 5 years of ownership.
The main reason for this is to establish a clear chain of ownership and reduce the risk of disputes or fraud.

This means in the last 5 years if there has been 3 owners we would need 3 Bills of Sale or evidence of ownership and transference to a new owner.
If you’re selling a any boat used on inland waterways, a valid Boat Safety Certificate is required.

Think of it like an MOT for boat safety, although it doesn’t assess the boat’s overall condition, seaworthiness, or value. It simply confirms that certain systems meet the required safety standards.

  • Boat Safety Certificates are valid for 4 years
  • You can get one through a certified examiner
  • Costs for a new BSS are usually around £200

You should ideally have proof of VAT paid, such as the original invoice. If you can’t prove it, your boat may not be considered VAT-paid, which could affect resale value.

What boats should have VAT status?

  • For boats bought new after 1st January 1985, and
  • Located with the UK on the 31st December 1984
This document confirms that the boat was built to legally specified standards

It is illegal to sell without the boat conforming to these standards. If you haven’t got a Declaration of Conformity or if the boat was a “sailaway”, that usually means a self fit out, you may then need to have a Post Construction Assessment (PCA) on your boat before legally able to sell.

Depending on your vessel, it may also help to provide a Builder’s Certificate, especially for new or custom boats.

While not legally required, strong supporting documents can help build trust and demonstrate the care taken during ownership.

While this is not essential for a sale, we would highly recommend having supporting documents for maintenance completed on your boat.

Clean records can increase your boat’s value, speed up the sale, and give buyers peace of mind.
The documents to include might be:

  • Engine servicing
  • Antifouling
  • Rewiring or plumbing
  • Upgrades / additions to electronics or boat systems

 

We recommend including dates, costs, and service provider details where possible and encourage any outstanding maintenance to be bought up to date prior to listing your boat.

It is fine to still be paying off your boat, providing the buyer and lender are on the same page.

Here’s what to do before your boat goes on the market:

  • Contact your lender and request a settlement figure
  • Inform us on how you plan to clear the balance
  • Prepare documentation showing the loan will be cleared on completion (or include the lender in the transaction)

 

Prospective buyers will understandably be cautious, so it’s important to be clear and honest.

Setting Your Boat Up for a Successful Sale

At Jones Boatyard, we believe that preparation is one of the most important parts of achieving a smooth and successful sale. That’s why we recommend having your boat professionally surveyed before it goes on the market.

A pre-survey provides an independent assessment of your boat’s condition, identifying any defects or maintenance items before buyers become involved. This allows you to make informed decisions about any recommended work and helps prevent unexpected issues arising later in the sales process.

By addressing survey findings in advance, buyers can view your boat with greater confidence, knowing that its condition has already been professionally assessed. It also reduces the likelihood of lengthy negotiations, price reductions or sales falling through after a buyer commissions their own survey.

For us, a pre-survey also helps ensure we’re marketing your boat accurately. We can advise you on any improvements worth carrying out before listing, allowing us to present your boat in the best possible light from day one.

While a buyer may still choose to arrange their own independent survey, having a recent pre-survey demonstrates transparency and gives everyone a clearer understanding of the boat’s condition from the outset—helping to create a faster, cleaner and more straightforward sale.

Here's what some of our customers say...

"Excellent friendly, knowledgeable and helpful service. Being new to boat ownership, guidance on the right boat to start in and offering practical and impartial advice was truly helpful. Definitely recommend".
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Adrian ElseShetland 4 plus 2
"It is the first time we’ve bought a boat from Jones Boatyard. We found them to be extremely professional and knowledgeable. From start to finish the boat sale went very smoothly and we are very happy".
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Donna DaviesCranchi Giada 30
"I recently purchased a boat through Jones Boatyard, and could not fault their attitude and attention to detail. Keep up the great work guy’s, the service that you offer is amazing".
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Andy HodgeCapriole 850
"Spent a lot of time at Jones's in my younger years. I have down sized from sea going to the river. Of all the yards on the river I really wanted to be based in St Ives. I was very pleased to find the boat I wanted at Jones's. They happily sorted my a berth. I could not fault the helpful and supportive team there".
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Clive GroundsFreeman 22
"The experience of buying a boat from Jones Boatyard couldn't have been easier. Very helpful and pleasant guys from the sales team to the service team arranging a river trial. We hope that the boat we have will last us for quite a while but if I was looking for another river cruiser (and moorings which are now all excellent floating pontoons) I'd go straight to Jones".
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Colin ArnoldFairline Mirage
"The staff at Jones Boatyard have been absolutely fantastic. Very approachable and keen to help. The purchase of my boat has been handled professionally and the whole process has been very smooth. I would not hesitate to buy or sell another boat through Jones. Excellent service".
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David SwannackCapriole 850
'Excellent! The whole team couldn’t have been more helpful. From showing us around the boat, the negotiation and the sale to fixing all the items that came up in the survey. This is the second boat that I’ve bought through Jones and the service has always been the same. Well done".
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Stephen OddySheerline 950
"I have just completed the purchase of my sports cruiser at Jones boat Yard. The buying experience went smoothly as ben Jones and Jack (sales) helped and advised me with any questions I had. They also kept me informed regularly of how the procedure was going. All the team there I have met have been very helpful and instructive. I am very happy to have bought from Jones and look forward to my boating journey with them. First class service".
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Chris WhymanSumatra 755
"Absolutely fantastic team to work with. As a buyer I was kept up to speed at all points of the sale. Communication was exemplary and nothing was to much trouble. Very pleasant experience from start to finish".
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Jon CowenCollingwood 60ft Eurocruiser

Ready to sell your boat?

Speak with our sales team today to learn more about our services and begin the process with confidence.

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