Wow, I consider myself lucky or things just went well for us the first time.
We were the dewy eyed first time buyers. Well first time for a brokered boat that is. I've had a lot of used outboards in my time but this was the first "big boat"
We looked at a half dozen or so and we learned about the whole offer, survey and sea trial, deposits, wires, title transfer and documentation process. I found that it's just like buying a house -
Anyway, the boat deal went through little drama. No deposit was requested. The broker explained the process and showed us the surveys less than 2 years old. He had sold the boat before. I got a grand off the price because both toilets were non functional as compared to only one before. Paid for a general (out the water) survey and just accepted the mechanical survey two years old.
Wired the funds to close the deal and we are good to go.