OK, I was not going to add my 2 cents, but this subject of
boat brokers can be personal.
I have bought and
sold 7 decent sized (27-42 ft) sailboats in the last 17 years (different
boat for different needs - 2 trips cruising with a
family of 5).
I actually wrote an article for Soundings back in 2009 called " The
Broker Did What!!", or something like that where we had a " reputable"
broker from
Annapolis actually intentionally hide a failed
transmission (changed the
oil and everything), on a Whitby 42, because he knew we could never find out until the paper was signed (issue at marina with hoist). When all was said and done the owner of the brokerage told me that he would never sell a boat for someone out of the country because it left a paper trail that allowed me to make them pay for the
transmission.
I also had a broker on another boat swear that there was no balsa in the
hull (everything was carpeted), until I found a spot under the V birth without carpet and showed him the balsa.
Bottom line, there is no LAW that requires that brokers tell the truth or divulge known issues. Therefore, they are not being held to anything other than their own morals. If you find an honest one, use them for your boat purchases. Otherwise go into the process with your shields up.
The same is true with surveyors. I published an article about a
surveyor damaging my boat with a ball peen hammer (YES A METAL HAMMER) that dimpled the entire
hull. He was so bad that he did not even know how to turn on a
battery switch (buyers surveyor).
This boat
buying, selling, and surveying is the final wild west of business and should be handled accordingly. If you do not have experience, then ask around and get input from as many respected boat owners (and their mistakes) as possible before proceeding.