BoatBid: What It Is, Why It Exists, and How It Works

Most people don’t wake up thinking, “I’d like to sell my boat at auction.” But that’s probably because they’ve never heard of BoatBid.

BoatBid is an online auction run by Boatshed. It’s tightly controlled, entirely broker-managed, and uses the same sales process we apply to every listing on the platform: proper paperwork, sea trials, surveys, deposits, and qualified buyers.

In other words, it's not a shortcut or a compromise— it's an additional marketing channel. You keep the same level of control, just with more eyes on your boat.

Why Was BoatBid Created?

Because auctions, when run properly, attract a certain type of buyer: decisive, time-aware, and ready to commit. But most boat auctions don't follow through with the paperwork — no inspections, no trials, no protections.

BoatBid fixes that.

It merges auction urgency with brokerage rigour.

No gimmicks. No rush-jobs. Just another tool to help boats change hands more efficiently.

How does BoatBid work?

  • Boats already listed on Boatshed can be entered.
  • The auction starts on a Monday at 0900 GMT and ends Sunday at 1900 GMT.
  • Buyers place bids online (after registering with Boatshed).
  • Sellers continue to work with their broker as normal.
  • The catalogue is released one week before the auction starts, it's an online catalogue and all the boats that are entered into BoatBid will be displayed.

For Sellers: Why Use BoatBid?

Because it’s free. And it might get your boat seen by a buyer who wasn’t actively searching before.

Some buyers are more likely to act when there’s a ticking clock. BoatBid taps into that, without forcing you to lower your price or change your process.

You still get;

  • Full broker support
  • Proper buyer due diligence
  • The right to reject offers
  • The ability to run viewings during the auction
  • The same commission you already agreed when listing

For Buyers: How Is It Different?

It’s not really. You still work with a Boatshed broker. You still get to view the boat, request a survey, and take it for a sea trial.

The only difference is the way you express interest: by bidding, not offering.

The process looks like this;

  • Register with Boatshed(its free to register)
  • Browse the BoatBid catalogue (released one week before each auction).
  • Place a bid — each one must beat the last by a minimum increment.
  • If you’re outbid, you’ll be notified.
  • If you win, the standard Boatshed sales process begins: deposit, paperwork, inspections.
  • And if someone sneaks a bid in at the last minute, the auction will auto-extend by 10 minutes, so its fair

Final Note

If you're a seller: talk to your broker about whether your boat is a good fit for the next BoatBid. If you're a buyer: browse the latest BoatBid catalogue— there’s likely something in there that wasn’t on your radar.

Either way, you lose nothing by looking.