The Wire
Stories from across the boating world.
Walkthroughs, boat show coverage, and the guides that make owning a boat easier, reported by the Nautical Network team.
Buying & SellingSeptember 24, 2026
Freshwater vs Saltwater Boats: What a Lake Really Does (and Doesn't Do) to a Hull
Why 'freshwater only' carries a premium in used listings, what salt actually does to a boat, what lake life doesn't spare, and how to verify the claim before you pay for it.
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Buying & SellingSeptember 24, 2026
Buying a Boat Up North in the Fall: The End-of-Season Buyer's Window
Why the weeks when the covers go on are a buyer's window in the North, what dealer data says about end-of-season discounting, and the sea trial catch to handle before winterization.
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Buying & SellingSeptember 22, 2026
Holiday Gifts Boaters Actually Want (From Someone Who Knows One)
A boater's honest gift guide by category: the safety gear they won't buy themselves, the comfort upgrades, the dock-day kit, and the experience gifts that beat anything in wrapping paper.
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Buying & SellingSeptember 15, 2026
The Used Boat Buying Checklist: From First Look to Closing
A step-by-step checklist for buying a used boat: what to inspect at the dock, which records to demand, when to bring in a surveyor, and the paperwork that protects you at closing.
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Buying & SellingSeptember 14, 2026
The Sea Trial: What to Test Before You Buy a Boat
A sea trial is your one chance to catch problems a dockside inspection never will. Here is what to test under way, who belongs aboard, and the red flags that should end the deal.
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Buying & SellingSeptember 13, 2026
How Boat Depreciation Works, and What Actually Holds Value
New boats lose value fastest in the first years, then the curve flattens. What drives the curve, what holds value, and how to buy and own so depreciation works for you.
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Buying & SellingSeptember 12, 2026
When to Buy a Boat: How the Market Moves Through the Year
Boat prices and selection move with the calendar. How boat show season, fall trade-ins, and the spring rush each change the deal you can make, especially in Florida.
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Buying & SellingSeptember 11, 2026
Florida Boat Title, Registration, and Sales Tax: The Basics
What Florida actually requires after you buy a boat: the 30-day title and registration window, where to file, and how the 6 percent sales tax and the $18,000 cap work.
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Buying & SellingSeptember 10, 2026
Choosing Your First Boat: Match the Boat to the Life, Not the Brochure
Sandbar days, fishing, cruising, or watersports: your real habits should pick your first boat. How to match type to use, weigh trailerability, and why buying your second boat first pays.
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Buying & SellingSeptember 9, 2026
Selling Your Boat: The Prep That Actually Pays
Boats sell on condition, documentation, and trust. The prep that returns real money: detailing, a records binder, honest pricing, survey-ready condition, and safe sea trials with strangers.
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Buying & SellingSeptember 8, 2026
Repower or Replace: When a New Outboard Beats a New Boat
If the hull is sound and the engine is done, repowering can deliver a like-new boat for a fraction of replacing it. When repower wins, what the job involves, and what to ask the rigger.
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