Your options depend upon the integrity on the charity that benefited from the
sale. I have purchased several boats on-line over the years and usually the
price I pay is way below the
salvage value of the
hull. All on-line charities rely on the donor to provide both pictures and a statement of condition. If the donor is seeking to dump the boat to avoid
repairs, slip rent, ins, etc., then you will inherit all the reasons the donor gave up the boat and the boat description will depend solely upon the integrity of the donor. That said, you can call the charity and explain to them that the
price you paid was based upon the donor's inaccurate description of the vessel. They will often give you a partial refund if there was a clear misrepresentation made by the donor. I know this works as I received a partial refund from a charity when the donor made false and misleading statements regarding the condition of the vessel I purchased. In fact the pictures the donor submitted were about 10 years old. And his statement that the vessel was in "good running order" was false. An investment of only $1700 will not justify bringing an attorney into the mix. So try to negotiate with the charity. They've been down the path numerous times.