Terms of Use

Boatsly is an intermediary: we connect sellers and buyers, review listings before publication, and provide messaging and negotiation tools.

Boatsly neither owns nor sells the boats listed. We are not a party to the sale contract between seller and buyer.

Boatsly never holds the boat's sale price: it is settled directly between buyer and seller. Only our commission and, where the secured deposit service is used, the deposit itself pass through our payment processor.

You must be of legal age and provide accurate information. You are responsible for keeping your credentials confidential and for activity carried out from your account.

An account may be suspended for breach of these terms, suspected fraud, or prohibited content.

Boatsly charges no listing fees and no subscription. Our revenue comes solely from a commission on completed sales.

The rate depends on the agreed sale price, split into six brackets, and on the seller's volume tier. Rates below are listed in bracket order: under $1,000; $1,000 to $2,499.99; $2,500 to $4,999.99; $5,000 to $7,499.99; $7,500 to $9,999.99; CAD $10,000 and up.

Standard rate, applicable to any seller (Bronze tier): 10% / 9% / 8% / 7% / 6% / 5%.

Verified merchant accounts: the tier improves with completed sales on Boatsly. Silver (from 10 sales): 8% / 8% / 7% / 6% / 5% / 4%. Gold (from 25 sales): 6% / 6% / 6% / 5% / 4% / 3%.

A minimum fee may apply to very small transactions. Commission is calculated on the agreed price (the accepted offer) and shown to you before confirmation.

Applicable taxes (GST and QST) apply to our commission, not to the boat price.

Where this service is offered, the buyer pays a deposit that Boatsly holds: 5% of the agreed price, with a minimum of $250 and a maximum of CAD $2,000. The balance of the price is settled directly between buyer and seller, off-platform.

The buyer has seven days from receipt of the deposit to confirm the boat matches. After that period, with no confirmation and no dispute, the deposit is deemed accepted and released to the seller.

If the sale completes, the deposit is released IN FULL to the seller: no management fee is withheld, since our revenue then comes from the commission on the sale price.

If the buyer backs out without one of the grounds listed below, the deposit goes to the seller as compensation, less a management fee of 8% of the deposit, retained by Boatsly.

The deposit is REFUNDED IN FULL to the buyer, with no fee withheld, where any of the following is established: the boat does not match the listing; the published photos do not reflect its real condition; the asking price differs from the one advertised; a significant problem was not disclosed; or the death of the buyer or the seller.

The reason given when opening a dispute is a declaration: Boatsly verifies it before deciding. The decision is made in favour of a refund or of release to the seller, and is recorded.

Once the deposit has been released, it can no longer be recovered automatically. Any subsequent settlement is a matter for the parties.

This service is optional and may not be offered on every sale, in particular where the seller has not enabled payouts.

Describe the boat accurately, including its true condition, engine hours and known defects.

Publish authentic, recent photos of the boat being listed.

Have the right to sell the boat and disclose any outstanding financing or lien.

Provide the hull identification number (HIN) requested at publication.

Honour an accepted offer and pay the commission due.

Make genuine offers: an accepted offer commits you to negotiate in good faith.

Inspect the boat before purchase; we strongly recommend a survey and a sea trial.

Do not solicit the seller to bypass the platform.

Misleading listings, duplicates, photos that are not of the boat being sold.

Sale of stolen boats or boats with an undisclosed lien.

Attempts to close off-platform in order to avoid commission.

Harassment, hate speech, phishing, malware or impersonation.

Requests for payment by wire to a third party or through a purported external escrow service.

Every listing is reviewed before publication. We may approve it, request corrections, or decline it — notably for missing information, an implausible price, or doubt about ownership.

We may remove a published listing where a report or fraud indicator warrants it.

Boatsly provides the platform “as is”. Despite listing review, we do not guarantee the condition, value or legality of the boats listed.

The transaction is concluded between seller and buyer, who bear its risks. Our liability, if any, is limited to the commission collected for the transaction concerned.

Nothing in these terms limits the rights granted to you by consumer protection legislation.

These terms are governed by the laws applicable in Quebec. The competent courts of the judicial district in Quebec have exclusive jurisdiction.

We may amend these terms. Material changes will be communicated to you and take effect on the date indicated.