The Hawaii Boat Owner's Guide

Everything you need to buy, own, and sell a boat on Oahu — in one place, from the brokerage that actually answers the phone.

Boating in Hawaii has its own rules: scarce slips, salt that punishes neglect, a registration process that trips people up, and prices that run higher than the mainland. We wrote the guides below to answer the questions Oahu boaters actually ask. Start wherever you are.

Buying a boat

• How to Buy a Boat in Hawaii — The complete Oahu buyer's guide — pricing, registration, surveys, and local pitfalls.
• Buying a Used Boat in Hawaii — What to check first — hull, engine hours, saltwater wear, and red flags.
• Boat Survey & Sea-Trial Checklist — Exactly what to inspect and test before you buy a used boat on Oahu.
• Best Fishing Boats for Hawaii Waters — The hulls built for Hawaii's deep channels off Oahu.
• Power Catamaran vs Monohull — Stability, fuel, space and resale — which hull fits how you'll use it.
• Boat Financing in Hawaii — Rates, terms, down payments and used-boat age limits on Oahu.
• Shipping a Boat to Hawaii — Found one on the mainland? Matson and Pasha options, costs and prep.

Owning & keeping a boat

• Cost of Owning a Boat on Oahu — What it really costs per year — slips, insurance, registration, haul-outs.
• Where to Keep Your Boat on Oahu — Ala Wai vs Ke'ehi vs Kewalo vs Ko Olina — slips, waitlists, and fees.
• Trailer Boat vs Slip Boat — Where your boat lives drives your cost — ramps vs the slip waitlist.
• Boat Registration & Titling — DOBOR fees, forms, and titling rules when you buy or sell on Oahu.
• Boat Insurance in Hawaii — DOBOR's grounding rule, the 26-foot rule, and what policies cost.
• Living Aboard a Boat on Oahu — DOBOR permits, where it's allowed, fees, and the transient limit.
• Hurricane Prep for Your Boat — Harbor closure rules, dock lines, haul-out options, and a storm checklist.

Selling a boat

• How to Sell Your Boat in Hawaii — Get top dollar — pricing, prep, and a clean closing.
• How to Price Your Boat to Sell — Find true market value and set a smart asking price for Oahu.
• Prep Your Boat to Sell Fast — Detailing, decluttering, paperwork and photos that sell faster.
• Sell Your Boat: Broker vs. FSBO — Which path nets you more, and when a broker pays for itself.