I've always wanted a boat and now I'm at a point in my life where I can buy one. I was at the San Diego boat show (I live in San Diego) the last two days and looked objectively at the Bayliners, Maxums and Sea Rays. I really fell in love with the Sun Dancer 310 and 350 models (in the 2009 line).
Realistically, I plan on getting a 2003 or newer 320 or 340. Of course every person I ran into at the show wanted to sell me a boat and broker the deal, but I'm a little nervous at someone helping me negotiate when they're making a commission.
So I've started looking at boats on yachtworld and boattrader, and the prices are just all over the place. Right now on boatworld, there are three different 2006 340s that are virtually identical (as far as I can tell from the ads). They are priced at 197k, 145k and 120k.
I'm not sure what to do with that information - what a massive range of asking prices!
So I have some questions:
1) How can I find a broker I can trust? Someone who isn't going to get a softie surveyor to help the deal along. Someone who really wants to get me into the right boat at the best price. Someone who will help me buy the boat in the same way that they would help their mother buy a boat. I'd be happy to use this person again for my next boat, and the one after that. I look forward to long working relationships with people I trust.
2) What is a realistic first offer on a 2003-2006 340 SunDancer? I'm not in a hurry to buy today, so I'm fine making some low offers and waiting for someone to soften up and call me back next month to accept (assuming it saves me thousands and thousands of dollars). I've got to think that banks are doing short sales, taking what they can get, etc.
3) What's your favorite part about boating/owning a boat? =)
Thanks all, for any advice you have to share. I've read through a couple of hundred posts from the forum (in the newbie, ask a broker, and general forums), and I already feel like I know some of you =)
-Ryan
Realistically, I plan on getting a 2003 or newer 320 or 340. Of course every person I ran into at the show wanted to sell me a boat and broker the deal, but I'm a little nervous at someone helping me negotiate when they're making a commission.
So I've started looking at boats on yachtworld and boattrader, and the prices are just all over the place. Right now on boatworld, there are three different 2006 340s that are virtually identical (as far as I can tell from the ads). They are priced at 197k, 145k and 120k.
I'm not sure what to do with that information - what a massive range of asking prices!
So I have some questions:
1) How can I find a broker I can trust? Someone who isn't going to get a softie surveyor to help the deal along. Someone who really wants to get me into the right boat at the best price. Someone who will help me buy the boat in the same way that they would help their mother buy a boat. I'd be happy to use this person again for my next boat, and the one after that. I look forward to long working relationships with people I trust.
2) What is a realistic first offer on a 2003-2006 340 SunDancer? I'm not in a hurry to buy today, so I'm fine making some low offers and waiting for someone to soften up and call me back next month to accept (assuming it saves me thousands and thousands of dollars). I've got to think that banks are doing short sales, taking what they can get, etc.
3) What's your favorite part about boating/owning a boat? =)
Thanks all, for any advice you have to share. I've read through a couple of hundred posts from the forum (in the newbie, ask a broker, and general forums), and I already feel like I know some of you =)
-Ryan
Last edited: