I’m sorry for your situation. 6 years sitting….without taking a fine tooth comb to it as a buyer and starting it up it would be a very hard sell. Anything that sits that long is probably going to have issues, especially a boat, my guess is it’s gonna need a couple weekends of work just to get it running. There are mice, bugs, ethanol fuel becoming acidic and rotting fuel lines. The trailer is probably going to need new tires as soon as it leaves your lot, and then you have to consider the bunk boards may also need replaced. All of those things take time and money to get it working and it’s probably stuff only a DIY guy would be able to do because to pay a mechanic to fix all of it might be more than the boat is worth. Best guess, list it for $7-8k and see what happens.

Yup, you could spend some time chasing electrical issues too. Batteries will be shot I'm sure.

That’s where the mice typically come in, and yes it will need all new batteries.

I had a boat sit for 20 years...only issue with the boat was to get the engine to turn over (granted it was an inboard)...pulled the plugs, put some diesel in it and let it sit for a few days. Drained the oil, replaced it, put in fresh gas and it cranked right up. Replaced the tires and bearing grease and off it went.

I think this is a fair offer. This boat could easily need a couple grand worth of parts.

I bought a “garage queen” that was 15 years old at the time with 42 hours on it. Since then, I have bought all new electronics, new carpet, new seats, new motor, new trailer. Everything BUT the fiberglass has been replaced.

Just being honest, I’d place the value at $3500-4000 not running, maybe $10,000 if it runs and is ready to go to the lake.

Not using a boat is the worst thing for it. What isn’t worn or broken will have rapidly accelerated wear.

Yeah I think 5k as it sits is probably a good number.

I want to say, I believe I habe a solid offer on the boat already. Thank you to the community and specifically to those who posted comments. They were all helpful without being hurtfull, and I needed that.

Good luck with the sale, and prayers for you and the Mrs. May our Creator bless you both.

+1 Well said deucer02.

Anthony, this mostly has nothing to do with your request about the boat, but a couple bits of free advice:

I'm assuming that one or both of you is over 65 from the facts you gave. If you haven't filed your over-65 property tax exemption, then do so immediately (you can retroactively apply back two years if needed). This will freeze school taxes from increasing any more in the future.

More importantly, you both can elect to defer your property taxes, meaning that you don't have to pay them right now. The tax bill WILL accrue with interest, but neither of you will have to pay the bill during your lifetimes. The downside of this is that your heirs probably won't get to inherit the property, as the accumulated taxes might end up being more than the home is worth. But for some folks, it's worth not having to pay the tax bill during one's lifetime.

If necessary, you can transfer title of the boat to your wife NOW, while you're alive, and she can appoint a trusted friend as power of attorney to handle the sale later on.

Please feel free to get in touch if there's anything that I can help you with, my contact info is in my sig line.

Uncle Zeke, I appreciate your reply. I turn 56 in January, Wife just turned 62.
Everything, other than the boat, is fully in her name.