2008 44 Sedan Bridge Purchase

Our guy knows where the holes are..............but, I am struck with the "How do you fix this" part of the equation. You aren't going to jack up a loaded 50 ton Travel Lift and scoot it over with a bottle jack.

fwebster said:

Our guy knows where the holes are..............but, I am struck with the "How do you fix this" part of the equation. You aren't going to jack up a loaded 50 ton Travel Lift and scoot it over with a bottle jack.

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Looks like a job for a well seasoned towing professional...

fwebster said:

Our guy knows where the holes are..............but, I am struck with the "How do you fix this" part of the equation. You aren't going to jack up a loaded 50 ton Travel Lift and scoot it over with a bottle jack.

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They'd have to get the Big 'un

Beautiful boat John! I'm just in awe - the interior is amazing! You mentioned in your original post that this deal was very "painful", and you mentioned what sounded like several on-off, aborted pre-deals. Would you care to elaborate a little more on that part of the story? Sounds like it could be interesting!

Every boat we bid on was a 2007 or 08 44DB with a hard top.

The first boat we bid on was a black hull 2007. We offered average selling price of 2007 44's to start. We were told we "weren't even in the ball park." Apparently after a discussion with his broker, he took the boat off the market.

The next one was a court directed sale. Ad said "Bring offers." We offered average selling price for 2008 44DB's (about 10% below asking). Our brokers got into a heated discussion. No counter. Ad changed from "Bring Offers" to "Low Hours" the next day - We were told to bid 6% below asking to get a counter.

The next one was a nice 2007 that would take our 340 in trade for personal use. The colors of this boat were really odd. We offered average selling price for 2007 44DB minus average selling price for a 2005 340, plus, tax savings back to 44DB seller. His broker said "Really nice offer." He countered about 35K above. We traveled to go see this boat at some point in the deal (can't remember). I came up 8K. He came down some, moderate amount. I came up 7K. We made one last offer before we would have to go make another offer on the 2008 that wouldn't budge. We were about 20'K off. We went to make another bid on the 2008, but were told it was "Under Contract." (I think this was a lie (brokers not getting along.)) Too bad for them - that boat got repo'd 2 weeks ago.

Went back to 2007 with odd colors - we were within 10'K, but, he was done. We had already started with a good bid, came up a reasonable amount, and gave his boat a lot of credit due to taking our trade - we were paying him for the hassle factor being so low with the trade. We weren't going any higher. We walked away.

We flew to Miami to see a LOADED 2007 at a reasonable price. Fresh water maker, bridge A/C, upgraded sound, double electronics... The boat had been used as an apartment for the family/college student in Miami. Had a lot of hours on the carpeting. Great boat. Great family. Didn't make a bid. Back to the drawing board. It didn't look like anything was going to work out. We thought the original, very nice boat (that got repo'd) might end up working out because it was still listed as for sale several weeks after "being under contract."

Found our boat in Chicago after missing it several times. Engines were listed as "Other," not diesel. Note to Brokers/Dealers. If you have a diesel engine boat, don't list the engines as "Other" or it might not sell for two years - like this one. My wife did the search without choosing Diesel and found the boat. I told my local SR dealer. The boat was at another SR dealer. Don't know why he didn't find it. We came to terms on the price with trade in. Had to close in Feb for "New" SR purchase deals.

Tried to finance through our dealer to make things easy, and to give them another chunk of business. This was VERY frustrating. I'm not used to doing business the way this went. Flew to MIA boat show and got financing lined up in one day. It took a week to get my dealer to send the necessary info to the financing agent. We closed on the afternoon of the last possible day after following up many, many times on each step of every aspect of the financing.

I am amazed, like another boat buyer on this forum, that those who are selling boats aren't making things any easier.

I consider almost everyone at my dealer a friend. It is just amazing how many times I have to follow up on every step of the process - even the upgrades. This has been a full time job. I am ready for it to be done. I appreciate everyone's excitement. My reaction is simply that of exhaustion.

Quint4 said:

Okay I'll make a third post.....woo hoo, looking good!

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Thank you.

John that's about same thing we went through in Dec/Jan on the 300DA. It took a lot of work on our part,almost a full time job it seamed like. The first day on the water in the new boat is indescribably good after all the work. Very nice work John, she's beautifull!

John,

This has been a great thread. Thank you very much!

Your post on ad descriptions isn't limited to boat sales. I'm amazed every time I go into Craigslist, ebay, cars.com, or any real estate site that anybody can sell anything with the crappy descriptions that they list. It's not rocket science, yet a lot of people can't seem to accurately describe what they're selling. It seems like they're gearing their ads to the people who know nothing about what they're buying, because if you know even a little about what you're trying to buy, you find holes and incorrect data. If I'm selling something, I want to make it as easy as possible for the buyer, not make them look for information.

Once again, congrats on the new boat, and hopefully Wendy and I can see this one in person as well.

Mike

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

:thumbsup:

Very nice... hopefully you get that present in the water before Christmas!

Hampton said:

I am amazed, like another boat buyer on this forum, that those who are selling boats aren't making things any easier.

I consider almost everyone at my dealer a friend. It is just amazing how many times I have to follow up on every step of the process - even the upgrades. This has been a full time job. I am ready for it to be done. I appreciate everyone's excitement. My reaction is simply that of exhaustion.

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In my purchase that was the most exhausting aspect. Between following up with the selling broker to get my questions answered, following up with the yard that was doing the haulout, the load broker, the trucker, the shrink wrap company, my financing bank, my insurance agent, the title company, and what seemed like a boat load of others, I was exhausted for several months.

BTW, has anyone mentioned a need to get the boat inspected for invasive species before it goes in the water? I had to get that done and wanted to do it in MI before the boat left. The seller would not have any part of it....he couldn't be bothered. I ended up getting it inspected twice--once on arrival in Portland, OR, then again right before they splashed it the first time.

By the time I was all done and we were cruising away on the boat I felt as if I'd spent the prior months herding cats. As soon as the CAT engines started that all seemed to magically fade away into a distant memory! The same will happen for you two.

John's hull, hardware and exhausts were as clean as a baby's butt..........the boat just needed new bottom paint.

John:

She's lookin' Great!!!!

Gofirstclass said:

......BTW, has anyone mentioned a need to get the boat inspected for invasive species before it goes in the water? ......

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Are you referencing non-indigenous critters along the lines of zebra mussels and the like that might be hiding inside the hull or exhaust? I never thought about that. Is there any 'legal' requirement for the inspection?

John, GREAT LOOKING BOAT, I mean YACHT! I know you will be happy with your decision and exhaustive leg & phone work to get this from start to finish. This is what you've worked for all these years...When is the CSR splash party?

Looking better and better!

Doug

osd9 said:

John:

She's lookin' Great!!!!

Are you referencing non-indigenous critters along the lines of zebra mussels and the like that might be hiding inside the hull or exhaust? I never thought about that. Is there any 'legal' requirement for the inspection?

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I honestly thought he meant rats, mice and insects!

Are you referencing non-indigenous critters along the lines of zebra mussels and the like that might be hiding inside the hull or exhaust? I never thought about that. Is there any 'legal' requirement for the inspection?

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John, and OSD9, In many states boats that are brought in from other states are required to be inspected before they can be launched. The laws about invasive species (and yes, I was referring to zebra mussels and others) vary from state to state. Some require an inspection even before a boat trailered in for a vacation can be launched.

I could be wrong but I think they apply more to fresh water areas than salt water, but you might want to give your fish & game dept a quick call and ask them about it. The fines out in this part of the world can be pretty stiff.

To me, it's a new boat bought locally - completely clean. Not too concerned. Maybe my marina should get on this - yeah, right.

John, congratulations on the new to you boat purchase! She is a beauty! Addionally, I must say I really enjoyed your Month Long Cruise PCB - Key West - 340 thread! Amazing journey!