Pre-Purchase Boat Inspection
Have a marine mechanic check the engines before you buy. We test compression, read engine hours and fault history, and find the problems a quick sea trial hides.
Ethan, the owner and mechanic, answers the phone · Open 7 days a week
- Same / next day availability
- On-site & marina service
Why a Pre-Purchase Boat Inspection Matters
A used boat can run perfectly at the dock and still need thousands of dollars of engine work. Pre-purchase inspections are one of the most common jobs we do, and we regularly find a long list of issues on boats that the seller described as perfect.
We check the engines and running systems the way a mechanic would, not just the way a buyer would, so you know what you are paying for before you sign.
Trusted by boat owners across South Florida
Read our Google reviewsNo call center. No front desk.
When You Call, the Owner Picks Up
Every call goes straight to Ethan, the owner of EG Marine Services and the mechanic who does the work. There’s no receptionist taking a message and no waiting on a callback from someone who’s never seen your boat.
Tell him what’s going on: the alarm on the display, the noise at idle, the engine that won’t turn over. Ethan knows Yamaha, Suzuki, Mercury, and the rest of what runs in South Florida inside and out, so you’ll usually get a straight answer on the first call, whether that’s something you can check yourself or a visit to your dock.
- Straight answers, not a script
- Diagnostic questions answered on the phone
- Honest advice, even when the fix is simple
- The person you talk to is the one who shows up
Ethan
Marine mechanic
Describe what the boat is doing and get a real answer from the mechanic, not a message taker.
Call Ethan: 786-351-5363Open 7 days a week
Buying a boat? Call Ethan and book an inspection before you sign.
Call 786-351-5363What We Have Found on Pre-Purchase Inspections
These are real findings from inspections Ethan has posted over the years.
Low compression on both motors
A boat that started and idled fine had low compression on both engines, a bad alternator, rusted pulleys, and water leaks.
Hours that did not match
One seller said the engine had about 200 hours. The engine computer showed 1,977. Another buyer thought he had 100 hours and actually had 1,400.
Water in a cylinder
A cracked cooler let water into the engine and dropped compression. That is a repair that can cost as much as the boat.
Corroded trim and steering parts
Rusted trim rams, seized steering, and corroded seacocks that only show up when you look behind the transom and in the bilge.
Our Pre-Purchase Boat Inspection Process
- 01
Visual and Bilge Check
We look over the engines, rigging, bilge, and transom for leaks, corrosion, and signs of past repairs.
- 02
Compression and Computer Test
Compression on every cylinder, plus a computer readout of engine hours, RPM history, and stored fault codes.
- 03
Systems and Sea Trial
Fuel, cooling, charging, steering, and trim are checked, and we run the boat when the seller allows.
- 04
Findings and Estimates
You get a clear list of what we found, what is urgent, and a rough idea of what repairs would cost.
Pre-Purchase Boat Inspection Checklist: What We Check
Engines
Compression, engine hours, fault codes, oil condition, belts, and visible leaks.
Fuel System
Fuel/water separators, filters, and signs of water in the fuel.
Cooling and Exhaust
Water pumps, thermostats, tell-tales, and exhaust manifolds and risers on inboards.
Lower Units and Drives
Gear oil condition, seals, and on sterndrives the bellows and gimbal bearing.
Electrical
Batteries, charging output, switches, bilge pumps, and gauges.
Steering and Trim
Hydraulic steering cylinders, trim and tilt units, and controls.
From the Job Log
Compression test on a Mercury Verado outboard 
Corroded trim ram found on a pre-purchase inspection 
Water in a boat fuel separator bowl
Book a Pre-Purchase Inspection
Call before you sign. One inspection can save you thousands on a boat that looks perfect at the dock.
Call Ethan directly786-351-5363Open 7 days a week · No call center or front desk, you talk to the person doing the work
- Compression and leak checks
- True engine hours and fault history
- Fuel, cooling, and electrical checks
- Clear written findings
Prefer a free quote?
Leave your number and we’ll call you back.
Pre-Purchase Boat Inspection FAQs
Is a mechanic's inspection the same as a marine survey?
No. A marine surveyor looks at the hull, structure, and safety gear, often for insurance or financing. Our inspection focuses on the engines and running systems: compression, hours, fault codes, fuel, cooling, steering, and electrical. Many buyers get both.
Can you tell me the real engine hours?
On most modern outboards and inboards, yes. We plug into the engine computer and read the stored hours and how they were spent at each RPM range. We have found boats sold as 100 or 200 hours that actually had well over 1,000.
Do you need to sea trial the boat?
A sea trial is recommended when the seller allows it. Some problems, like overheating under load or loss of RPM, only show up on the water.
Can you inspect a boat for an out-of-town buyer?
Yes. We regularly inspect boats for buyers who are not in South Florida and walk them through the findings by phone.
Areas We Serve
Our mobile marine mechanics travel to marinas, private docks, and waterfront homes from Boca Raton to Islamorada. Nearby but not listed? Reach out to confirm availability in your area.