Savvy Shopping For Used Boats (NAPSA)—If a boat could talk, what wouldit tell you? For nearly 20 years, the BoatU.S. Consumer Protection Bureau has maintained the only nationwide database of consumer complaints and safety information reported by boat owners, the U.S. Coast Guard, manufacturers, marine surveyors and marine technicians. Now,for the first time, this one-of-a-kind database is accessible online—as an exclusive reference tool available to BoatU.S. members. The database contains thousands of specific reports about boats, marine engines, boating products, dealers, marinas and related boating services, as well as information about how, or whether, the companies involved responded to each complaint. Also included are manufacturer’s defect recall notices and safety alerts published by the U.S. Coast Guard and a selection of service bulletins issued by boat builders. Helpful Guides BoatU.S. Consumer Affairs offers a pair of helpful guides to answer many of the questions that current and would-be boat owners have. Both are available online at BoatUS.com/consumer or by calling 703-461-2856. Buying and Selling a Boat helps the novice navigate unfamiliar waters and reminds the seasoned boat owner of landmarks to steer by and trouble spots to avoid when trading uporselling. Guide to Marine Service has additional information geared for the current boat owner. This includes services provided by onthe-water towers, storage facili- Recreational boaters now have access to a variety of helpful resources for buying or selling a boat. ties such as marinas, overland transport, extended warranties or how to handle billing disputes. Online Resources At BoatUS.com/buyer, consumerscan find a variety of helpful resources, including: Value Check Service, which allows boat shoppers to tap into an insurance database for actual, up-to-date, real-world sale price information; Free insurance quotes for boat owners; An application for a boat loan; Free weekly online classifieds of boats for sale; A boat surveyors directory; and Aboat namedirectory. BoatU.S.—Boat OwnersAssociation of The United States—is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters. For membership information, visit the Web site at www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.
