Buying Boats and Marine Equipment at Auction

Thousands of boats and marine gear get sold through an auction every year in Australia and for those hunting for a discount on retail, or a restoration project, it should be on your radar.
Where to find Boat and Marine Auctions
Firstly it’s worth understanding why these items are at auction which includes repossessions, seizures, manufacturer and boatyard clearances, insurance salvage, business closures, and ex-gov to name the major sources of stock at auction.
Many, but not all, boat auctions are unreserved, especially salvage auctions (more on that below) and ex-gov sales held at Pickles and Manheim. While I rarely see unreserved sales at other auctioneers they do offer a greater level of inspectability and testing with many boats still being on the water.
The next question is to know where.
The major boat auctioneers in Australia are Pickles and Manheim which handle ex-lease, repo, salvage, and ex-gov, then, Grays which has been ramping up its marine auctions which mostly seem to be manufacturer/yard clearance and finance company stock, another major player is Marine Auctions based out of Brisbane.
See our listing of auctioneers by state and if you know which model boat you are chasing, give our auction search engine a try.
You can also find random boats for auctions as part of larger sales and for these, you’ll need to keep your eye on local auctions in your area. When we come across relevant sales we add them to our Boats and Marine category
Current and upcoming auction notices







Insurance and Salvage Boat Auctions
Pickles holds regular “recreational salvage” sales which include a large number of boats and jetskis among the caravans and bikes all being cleared without reserve for insurance companies. Manheim also has marine sales although not quite as regularly as Pickles.
I probably don’t need to tell you what a risky and expensive experience buying a boat from the auction can be, but, for the well-trained (or overly adventurous and fortunate) it can be hugely rewarding.
Boat Auction Buyers Guide
Most auctions have preview days, visiting the auction site to inspect the boats gives you a chance to see which boats are of interest so you can check on their realistic value for condition/age.
Talking to boat dealers/technicians is also valuable because they may know of problems with a certain model/s.
Check the classified ads to see what similar models sell for on the open market to use as a guide. Remember to assume the worst as repairs can be expensive – seized engines, rusted electronics, etc. Boat auctions can be a bargain way into that dream boat with research and diligence to see that come true.
Defining the boat for your needs and lifestyle
- What size of boat, do you want a small boat or a larger boat?
- Do you want to water ski? Fish? Cruise?
- Do you want a boat you can pull on a trailer? For use on inland waterways? Coastal waterways?
- Do you want a larger boat for sailing, entertaining, extensive cruising, ocean fishing, or diving?
- Do you plan to berth your boat in a marina? Larger boats are not usually trailered.
- How often do you plan to use your boat, will you use it seasonally or year-round?
- Can you park your boat at home or will you rent storage space?
- What are your boating skills, are you an experienced mariner or just starting out?
- Do your boating skills match the boat you want to buy or do you need instruction/training?
- How much do you want to pay, what is your price range?
- What will your marine insurance cost?
- Have you accounted for licensing, registration, permits, safety equipment etc.?
- How much will you need to spend for annual boat maintenance and or repairs?
Many boats are purchased each year without adequate research into the cost of ownership and suitability, get this right and you’re sure to have a less costly recreation machine.