Before you launch into buying a second-hand boat and getting out on our beautiful waters, there are good things to check and know. Boat shops don’t need to be registered in the same way as car dealers, but if you’re buying from a boat retailer, you have the same consumer rights as buying any other goods – it must be fit for purpose, free from defects, and last a reasonable length of time. Not so for buying privately – the same consumer laws don’t apply and it’s buyer beware. Other tips – check the condition of both the body and motor, and also the trailer. And as always, watch out for boat scams if you’re buying online and sight unseen (even better, make sure you get to test the boat out on the water). For more information about all these issues, listen to our podcast with Tom Chapman from Consumer Protection WA.