Boat Alert Review 2023 – Plans, Pros, Cons and Alternatives

What is Included in the Boat History Report?

All of the information that you will find in a boat history report from Boat Alert are listed here:

• Accident Checks USA
• Pollution Incidents USA
• Theft Check USA & International
• Salvage & Total Loss USA
• NMVTIS Check 50 States
• NMVTIS Check 9000+ Insurance Companies
• Boat Recalls
• Year and Month of Manufacture
• Auctioned Vessels
• Abandonment or Misappropriation
• Manufacturer Data Validation
• Model Name Exact or Close
• Insurance Companies Branded Titles
• Fast 1-on-1 Customer Support by email
• HIN Validation
• USA Registration if available
• Some Lien databases
• Claims and State Issued HINs
• NMVTIS Search Salvage Yards & Auctions
• Full HIN Decoder
• Boat Value Calculator
• Previous Boat Names
• USA Documentation Numbers
• Cross Check Official numbers
• Canadian Registration (Federal)
• Canadian Licencing PCL (Provincial)
• Canadian Theft Database
• Printable PDF Report & 60-day Share Link

What is not Included in the Boat History Report?

The information that you will not find in a boat history report from Boat Alert is listed here:

• Technical information about the boats (including measurements and engine information)
• Insurance claims and warranties
• Maintenance and service records
• Boat environment liens
• Certified marine surveyors
• Boat equipment check and motor VIN
• Canadian pleasure craft licenses PCL in each province

Boat Alert History Report Samples

Here are two samples of what you can expect when you order a boat history report from Boat Alert. I’ve included an example of a history report for a salvage boat and a clean one for a boat with no issues, so you can get a clear idea of how to tell them apart.

History Report for a Salvage Boat

History Report for a Clean Boat

How Much Does a Boat Alert Report Cost?

Each search on Boat Alert costs one credit, and you can purchase credits on the website for $19.99 each. You can also buy a bundle of ten credits for just $39.99, which is a much better deal.

If you make more than two searches in your lifetime, the ten-credit bundle is the value-for-money option. Credits also do not expire, so you will not need to worry about using them before a deadline.

Boat Alert also offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a refund if you are unhappy with their services.

Does Boat Alert Offer Free Boat History Reports?

Unfortunately, Boat Alert does not offer free boat history reports. However, at just $39.99 for ten credits, that works out to just $4 per search.

Key Features of Boat Alert

In my experience, some of the features of Boat Alert that stood out to me included:

Detailed Boat History

Each time I conducted a search on Boat Alert, the website scanned dozens of databases to find information about the boat. All this information was conveniently compiled into a single report that I could access via a link or download as a PDF.

HIN Decoding and Validation

Apart from providing detailed information about the boat I wanted to buy, Boat Alert also decoded and validated the HIN I entered.

In addition to providing me with the assurance that I was buying a legitimate boat, this also enabled me to check that the HIN I was given by the seller matched the boat he was selling.

Auction Check

Whenever you conduct a search, Boat Alert will check the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System to see if the boat that you are interested in has been in any auctions in the past. With the auction history of a boat, you can have a clearer idea of whether it might be a fraud or a stolen boat.

Lien Recordings

Boat Alert checks to see if there are any outstanding liens against the boat that you are interested in. By doing so, you can avoid a situation where you purchase a boat that ends up getting repossessed due to an outstanding lien.

Boat Claims Report

In the report you receive, you will also get to see if there are any insurance claims made against the boat in the past. This information can help you determine whether the boat you are interested in might have any hidden damage.

Stolen Boat Report

Boat Alert checks against databases for stolen boats to help you ensure that the boat you are interested in purchasing is not a stolen one.

Boating Accident Report

In the United States, most boating accidents are often recorded for insurance and other regulatory purposes. Boat Alert checks accident databases so you can know whether the boat you looked up has been in any accidents in the past.

State Registration

You can also use Boat Alert’s history report to help you check the state where a boat is registered. This information may be relevant for administrative issues such as insurance registrations.

Factory Recalls

The history report provided by Boat Alert will give you a comprehensive list of factory recalls for the particular boat model. You can use this knowledge to determine if there might be any issues with the boat.

Summary

The summary that Boat Alert provides essentially highlights all the most important information the website gathered from its searches. From this summary, you can quickly see if there are any issues with the boat that you should be aware of.

Accuracy and Security

The information that I got from Boat Alert was also accurate and secure. The website searches a comprehensive list of information sources for data relating to the boat to give you a clear picture of a boat’s history.

When paying for my Boat Alert orders, I was also happy to find that the company offers PayPal as a highly secure payment method. For users without PayPal accounts, Boat Alert also processes payments via credit cards using reputable service providers.

NICB Theft Check

Boat Alert also checks NICB databases to see if the boat has been stolen to help you avoid getting scammed with a stolen boat.

Is Boat Alert Legitimate or a Scam?

Overall, Boat Alert is a legitimate website that will help you search for all the publicly available data on a boat you want to buy.

While the website is not as well known as some of its counterparts and has not been rated on any reputable ratings website, Boat Alert is far from a scam. The report you receive from Boat Alert might even help you avoid getting scammed by a seller trying to pass off a damaged, defective, or stolen boat as brand new.

Pros and Cons of Getting a Boat History Report From Boat Alert

Boat Alert Pros

• An immediate search of 72 different free and paid databases, all compiled into a convenient report
• Search over 9000 insurance salvage companies
• Highly affordable, costing just $39.99 for ten searches
• Get a full refund within 60 days if you are dissatisfied with the service

Boat Alert Cons

• Individual searches can be expensive, costing $19.99 each if you do not purchase the bundle of ten
• Only some lien databases are searched, and you might need to do additional research if you are concerned about a lien

Is Boat Alert History Report Worth It?

If you want to purchase a boat and are unsure whether you are being scammed, it is worthwhile to get a boat history report from Boat Alert. You can buy them at $19.99 each, although chances are that you might be interested in more than one boat but still have not made up your mind.

If that is the case, you can get a bundle of ten search credits for $39.99, which works out to just $4 per search! Moreover, the credits also do not expire, so you can use them again if you ever want to buy another boat in the future.

The reports that Boat Alert offers are very comprehensive and cover 72 different free and paid databases. Thus, purchasing a report can help you save vast amounts of time and effort that you might have spent researching the boat.

The boating industry can be disorganized at times, with the existence of many different databases that each contain different information. Thus, it may be best to get boat history reports from multiple sources to ensure that all your bases are covered and that you do not miss out on any databases.

Alternatives to Boat Alert

Boat Alert vs. Boat History Report

Boat History Report Summary

• Clean simple and easy to use reports
• Offers 70% discount for 6 reports
• Provides online reports fast
• Reliable customer service

Boat History Report is a fantastic alternative to Boat Alert despite the higher cost. A bundle of six searches from Boat History Report would cost you $16.66 each, which is higher than what you would pay on Boat Alert. Nonetheless, if you can afford it, you can consider getting reports from both websites just to be safe.

The reports from Boat History Report are as comprehensive as the ones on Boat Alert, with information from different databases likely being the only difference. Both platforms also offer refunds if you are unsatisfied with their services.

Boat History Report also offers a free 1-year BoatUS membership, so you can consider getting a report from them if you want the membership. Some features you can enjoy with a BoatUS membership include:

• Towing services
• Boat loans
• Savings on boating services
• MMSI registration
• Storm tracking
• And many more

Boat Alert vs. Boatfax

Boatfax Summary

• You can get an instant valuation for free
• Report with no add-ons will cost $20
• You can search international databases
• Full valuation for your boat – $10

Boatfax was another website that I checked out when looking for a place to get a boat history report. However, compared to Boat Alert, Boatfax was much more expensive, costing $20 for a standard search and $25 for a more comprehensive SmartSearch.

Boatfax also did not have a refund policy, and the Boatfax website does not provide much information about what details are included in their report. Thus, you may be better off using Boat Alert if you want to get a legitimate and detailed boat history report.

Boat Alert vs. Hiring a Private Inspector

Hiring a private inspector is also an option that you can consider to find out about the status of a boat. However, most inspectors do not check up on the history of the boat, often only reviewing its physical condition. If you manage to find a reputable inspector, you can expect to pay between $18 to $25 per foot of your boat.

Thus, a private inspector may be suitable if you are buying an expensive boat and want to guarantee that you are not being scammed with a damaged or defective boat. However, if you want to find out about a boat’s history, you will still need to purchase a boat history report. s

Boat Alert FAQ

What’s a HIN, and where can I find it?

A HIN, or hull identification number, is a unique 12-digit code that every boat in the US will have. You can find it on the registration paperwork for a boat you own. If you are buying a boat, you can ask the seller to provide you with the HIN.

Does a boat’s history affect its value?

There are some issues with a boat’s history which may affect its value.

Some common issues that may decrease a boat’s value include:

• Past boating accidents
• Liens on the boat
• Invalid HINs
• Past recalls

Can I find the previous owners of the boat in the report?

Some boat history reports such as the ones the Boat Alert offer will include information about the previous owners of a boat.

How long does it take for the HIN report to run?

HIN reports generally do not take more than an hour to run, especially if you get them from automated search services such as Boat Alert.

Can I print the report?

Boat Alert offers fully-printable boat history reports. If you prefer, you can also save the report as a PDF. The online report only remains available for 60 days.

Thus, if you want to keep a copy of the report, remember to print it or save it as a PDF.

How can I pay for Boat Alert HIN report?

You can pay for a Boat Alert HIN report using a credit or debit card.

Can I get a refund from Boat Alert?

If you are unhappy with the quality of the boat history report that you have gotten from Boat Alert, you can request a refund. The company has a 60-day money-back guarantee and you can get a full refund within 60 days.