Clear, complete photographs help a buyer understand what is being offered before arranging an inspection. A phone is enough if the images are level, well lit, current, and honest. This checklist is a starting point; it does not replace a marine survey, mechanical inspection, or accurate seller disclosures.
Before you start
- Get permission and protect privacy. Remove registration papers, keys, addresses, faces, and personal items that should not be public.
- Clean and declutter without hiding defects. Open the cabin and remove loose gear, but photograph stains, cracks, corrosion, damage, and incomplete repairs separately.
- Use daylight. Morning, late afternoon, or bright overcast conditions usually reduce glare and hard shadows.
- Hold the phone horizontally and level. Wipe the lens and tap the screen to focus before each shot.
- Use current images. Do not mix old photographs with the present condition unless each archival image is clearly dated and labelled.
The 18-photo checklist
Exterior (6)
- Full side profile with the entire boat in frame.
- Three-quarter view from the bow.
- Three-quarter view from the stern.
- Straight-on stern, including engines or drives.
- Straight-on bow, including anchor and foredeck.
- The boat in its normal slip, storage position, or on its trailer.
Helm and deck (4)
- Helm station, wheel, controls, gauges, and electronics.
- Electronics powered on, where safe and permitted.
- Cockpit, deck, and seating areas.
- Legible engine-hour display, with context showing which engine it belongs to.
Interior (4)
- Main cabin or salon from a corner.
- Galley and appliances.
- Head compartment.
- Berths and storage areas.
Mechanical and condition (4)
- Each engine or the full engine bay.
- Bilge and accessible through-hulls.
- Electrical panel, batteries, and shore-power area.
- Every known flaw, unfinished repair, damaged surface, and warning light.
One short walkaround video
Walk slowly around the exterior, board the boat, show the helm and interior, and narrate what the camera is seeing. If the owner can safely and lawfully demonstrate an engine start, record the controls and exhaust while following the manufacturer's procedures and the marina's rules. A video records what happened at that moment; it is not proof of mechanical condition or seaworthiness.
Quality check
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Show the whole boat and identifying context | Cropping out damaged areas |
| Keep images level, sharp, and naturally lit | Filters, heavy edits, or misleading angles |
| Photograph labels and hours legibly | Unsupported claims in captions |
| Include every known flaw | Reusing undated older photos |
| Keep the original files and capture dates | Publishing private documents or personal data |
Submit the boat first
Apply through the seller form with the boat's basic facts. If the boat is selected for the founding program, Yachts & Bids will provide a boat-specific media and document checklist and may request original files or additional angles. Selection does not guarantee publication, an auction date, a valuation, or a sale. No binding auction is active today.