Boat Trader
Core decide-stage surface for US recreational buyers. QBD win only if purchase fit is honest — use Boat Day shortlist tools.
Best for: Typical US boat shoppers.
Skip if: Not in market.
Software · Fair stack-up · cast-off scores
Compare — then go
Pick 2–4 apps and see our editorial scores. Same plain question as the directory: does it help you cast off — or pile on another login?
Fair Boat Day stack-up (we score ourselves the same way). Not affiliate rankings, not invented partner density. Owners free forever. Safety never joked about.
| What we score | Boat Trader Boats Group | YachtWorld Boats Group | boats.com Boats Group | Facebook Marketplace (boats) Meta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| More boat daysGets you on the water | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Worth-it daysDay quality once underway | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Clears adminLess phone-tag & surprise | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Adds clutter ↓Lower is better | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Safety supportNever joked about | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Overall fitTypical recreational owner | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Confidence | high | high | med | med |
| Pricing | freemium | freemium | freemium | free |
Our take · then cast off
Short editorial verdicts — best for / skip if — not star ratings. When you're done stacking up, Go Today or open My boats.
YachtWorld
Decide-stage tool: helps find candidates, not own them well. Pair with Boat Day Find your boat + TCO + survey intel so the purchase raises QBD.
Best for: Buyers shopping brokerage boats.
Skip if: You're not buying/selling.
boats.com
Fine research/listing hop — avoid opening five marketplaces daily (fragmentation). Pick one primary search home.
Best for: Buyers browsing multiple inventory sources.
Skip if: Already standardized on Boat Trader or YachtWorld.
Facebook Marketplace (boats)
Can unlock affordable boat days — or cancel a season with a lemon. Safety and survey discipline required; Boat Day pre-purchase checklists matter more here.
Best for: Experienced buyers hunting local projects with survey budget.
Skip if: First-time buyer unwilling to survey/sea trial.
Sense
Stack-up done — cast off
Evals stay here; the point is more days on the water. Find them online · their sites · ≠ founding. Owners free forever.