Questions
What is Freebooter?
A listing sniper for used boats. You describe the boat you want in plain English; Freebooter reads every new listing in your area each day, judges it against your description, and shows you the ones that fit.
Which sites does it search?
Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, YachtWorld and Boat Trader, across the US and Canada. You pick one or more places and a radius ("within 150 miles of Seattle or Vancouver").
Which locales do you support?
At the moment mostly the US and Canada. The EU has some privacy laws I have to figure out so I don't get put on a no-fly list. Hopefully more locales soon.
How is this different from a saved search or a Craigslist alert?
Saved searches match keywords and numbers, so you still read every result. Freebooter reads the listing for you: is it actually the type of boat you want, is it a project boat, is a low price explained by damage, does it look like a scam, does it meet each of your criteria. A boat is only ruled out when the listing clearly fails; when it doesn't say, it stays in, marked with a ?.
What can I put in a brief?
Anything you'd tell a broker: "Bluewater-capable sailboat, 30–36 ft, diesel inboard, under $60k, no project boats, prefer a full keel." Each criterion becomes a must, a prefer or an avoid, and you can edit them before saving.
Does it work for powerboats?
Yes. Briefs can be for sail, power or either, and specs and owner reputation cover popular models of both.
How do I know if a boat is a good deal?
Each match shows the asking price against a market estimate built from comparable listings for the same make, model and era, adjusted for condition. Boats priced well under market are flagged.
How often does it check, and how do I hear about matches?
Once a day. Matches appear in your feed, and you can get a daily or weekly email digest. "Collect now" runs an extra check whenever you want one.
What does it cost?
New accounts get 20 free credits. After that, credits are 10¢ each, bought from $5, and an active brief uses 4 credits a day (about 40¢). No subscription; nothing renews; credits never expire.
Can Freebooter tell me whether a boat is sound?
No. It judges what the listing says, not the boat. Always inspect and survey a boat before you buy.
I'm a seller. Can I have my listing removed?
Yes. Freebooter never republishes listings; it shows a few facts and links to the original. Request a removal.