Buying frustrations!

Cincy Aquaholic

Cincy Aquaholic

Active Member
Mar 15, 2009
1,329
Cincinnati
Boat Info
290 SS - 2016 Ford F250 Powerstroke
Engines
Twin 5.7 with Bravo 1's
What is with sales people and boats?!?!? I'm actively looking for a 2007-2009 310 or possibly a 330 and am ready to pull the trigger if the right deal came along but my god, the frustration dealing with brokers and the mis-information. I called one and asked about the hours - they didn't know and since it was shrink wrapped probably wouldn't be able to tell me until it was uncovered in a few weeks or I could come look at it and they would let me on it. REALLY?? Asked for more pictures on another since they used mostly stock photos. They said sure. Never sent. One broker wanted a 5% deposit just to make an offer!!! What!?!? Looking at ads half of them wrongly state engine specs and its hard to figure out what is going on. Did they even offer 5.0/260hp in these boats?? I would think not and they would either have the 5.7, 6.2 or possibly 8.1 in the 330.

Anyone got a lead that's not boattrader or yachtworld for a fresh water black hulled boat with generator and v-drives? Would consider bravo 3's.
 
I don't think they offered 5.0 w/V-Drives (that would be way under-powered!) and probably not 8.1's (would not fit!). Mine has 350 Mags, and my friends 2010 330 also has 350 Mags.
 
Last edited:
Cincy,

I've shared your frustration. Why don't you get a list of people that own the boat you want and mail a letter to all of them. I've done that with excellent results.

Yes, brokers can be a pain (see the thread on Who to buy a Boat From). Good ones are rare, and at times you'd think they just didn't want to sell a boat.

I'm still waiting for some maintenance specs on a boat that a large brokerage showed me last December that was promised. I've since purchased from an individual, a boat just as nice and have been operating it for a few months. The other one is still for sale. The last boat I sold, I made the mistake of trying a popular brokerage here in town and took them 10 months to sell it, and it was priced very competitively, below average and had better equipment. I did that because I had no place to store it, but would have been better of paying for storage and selling it myself.

Sounds like a nice boat you are looking for. Good luck.
 
I'm sharing the same buying process pains as well. The number of phone calls that have gone unanswered are simply incredible. Lack of knowledge is one thing. You can't know everything about every boat you sell, but the unwillingness to assist once someone interested seems like business suicide to me. I must be wrong though.

I've decided to sit back and let things unfold as they come. Try as I might to motivate people to take my money, they just don't seem to care...
 
Been there done that.....I feel for you. Right now I'm in contract, compression test is done and survey is getting done next week. I didn't have a problem so much with my broker, he has been better than expected. The problem is with the owners! Hide info about the boat, for example IT SUNK..Duh...List the boat, string me along then say they want to keep at after a verbal price agreement. Say the boat ia mint and take the long ride and it's a POS..Keep looking and don't give up..Good luck.
 
When I bought my boat the broker was basically absent and lethargic. I did all the work with the deal.

Oh did I mention, they switched the buyers and sellers name on the contract and cost me Memorial weekend on the boat because of their lack of attention to details.

Ray Bock is a broker on this forum and was a great help to me. (Carver370 is his CSR name)
 
Thanks all for letting me vent and know that I am not alone! Like mag said, i'm just going to slow my roll a bit and see what unfolds. I didn't want to miss a large part of the summer but even if it happens next spring that's fine. I don't want to settle for something I plan to keep for 8-10 years. I'm sure the right one will come along.
 
I hate hearing all these bad experiences. I am a broker and see the same issues when dealing with other brokers on sales. I have actually had boats under contract, and cant get the other broker to call me back. A lot of brokers should not be in the business.
 
I feel your pain. When we decided on the type of boat we wanted to buy, we found a local broker that had 2 of them for sale. I left several messages and sent emails requesting to see the boats. Never once got a response from them. Unfortunately they are also the locals SeaRay dealer around here. Guess they only want to sell new boats so I won't even use them for parts or service going forward.
 
Cincy Aquaholic said:
Anyone got a lead that's not boattrader or yachtworld for a fresh water black hulled boat with generator and v-drives? Would consider bravo 3's.
Click to expand...

Hmmm...

Would you consider white hulled? :wink:
 
From talking to some brokers and surveyors I've met, the buyer needs to be educated on what your looking for...and what your looking at.
A broker can't be an expert on all boat brands and types but, will attempt to sell anything!
 
I think it's fair to say I probably know more about the boats I'm looking at than 99.9% of the brokers.
 
Cincy Aquaholic said:
I think it's fair to say I probably know more about the boats I'm looking at than 99.9% of the brokers.
Click to expand...


Good point, and I'd say most of us do. When we shop, we end up nailing down a particular boat, model and years, with a little flexibility. Just like you have. Unless you just happen across a good dealer that has spent a lot of time on one, your will probably know more.

As for the white boat... love them and prefer them. The just don't fade over the years and always look great. Sure the blue or black on the bottom looks good when new, but fades over time and show kicks and scrapes worse and harder to patch.

You'll find your boat.
 
Cincy Aquaholic said:
I think it's fair to say I probably know more about the boats I'm looking at than 99.9% of the brokers.
Click to expand...


I wasn't suggesting your not up to speed on what you want...was more of a crooked look at brokers and surveyors...I've been surprised by so called experts in the past.
A great example of why CSR is a wonderful resource.

Best if luck in your search,
 
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