How to buy a boat from afar?

matthewmiller01

matthewmiller01

New Member
May 14, 2008
1,007
Knoxville, TN
Boat Info
2008 290 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 5.0 MPIs (DTS) w/ Bravo III Drives
Kohler 5 ECD
All... I am in the following situation:

I have a 210SEL... see sig. Assume it will be traded. I really don't want to have to wait for it's sale until I buy.

The Admiral and I want to move up to a 2002ish-2008ish 260DA. Unfortunately, there are few close by that fit the bill. (The details are unimportant for the point of this thread.) Assume I can find a boat to fit the bill, but it is far (say 5 hours or more) away.

Does anyone have any advice on if it is possible to make a sale (including a trade) with a dealer from a distance? By that, I mean could it be done (maintaining reasonable values on both boats) so that I would make one trip there towing my boat and bringing back the new boat? I'm sure someone has done this, if it can be done. Please help and thanks to all in advance.
 
This may help
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Long Distance Boat Purchase – Sharing My Experience

Good luck,
Alex.
 
I can see no way for a dealer to provide you with a FAIR trade value without actually seeing your boat.

A lowball, cover-his-a** offer sure, if you're willing to give it away.

Would you make an offer on a used boat, sight unseen (lowballs aside)?
 
As others have said "slow down". This is a buyers market. You need to sale your boat out right. You will make up for it on the purchase of a good, clean used boat. Dont be in a rush, take a deep breath and come up with a plan to sell your boat. After that the whole South Eastern US market is open to you. If you insist on trading at your local SR you will get hit twice for no good reason. Please review other buying boat threads it will help you. Good Luck, JC
 
Trust me, SELL YOUR OWN BOAT !!! I was in the same situation as you in March of 09'. I put my 2007 Chaparral 190 ssi up for sale and it took about 2 months to sell but I only lost about 1500 bucks. These days it's hard to find a dealer that will take a trade in and turn around and sell you a used boat. Also you will have more leverage in negotiating your price of the new boat. It's definitely a buyers market. Good luck to you:thumbsup:
 
Your experience may be much more than mine but I would NEVER even consider this. I say find the boat you want, find a hotel nearby. A 3 day weekend road trip that alows plenty of time with the prospective boat & its salesman would be my approach. I'd then do it again if & when it comes time for the survey.
 
matthewmiller01 said:
Looking for a surveyer near Wrightsville Beach, NC for used 260DA.
Click to expand...


Look up Jim Busman surveyor.

I'll get his contact information to you when I get a chance. Jim just did a survey on a 540 Sundancer for me.

Are you buying from an individual or MM?
 
Last edited:
OK, here's Jim Busman's ph # 910-458-7400

Let me know if he can't help you out and we'll see who else I can get a recommendation for. Dwayne DeHart at Belhart Marine 910-452-7878 can probably recommend a good one for you too.Dwayne was one of MM top techs for years until he went out on his own, he's a solid Sea Ray guy that you can trust to do the job right.

I used to keep our 370 Dancer in Wilmington / Carolina Beach area.
 
We are from Calgary Alberta when we decided to get a bigger boat we found one in Mississipi and traved to see it, $3,000 4 day vacation. Boat was not what we wanted. A few months later we went to Tampa to see an other boat an other $3000 4 day vacation. Then we found one in Seattle. This we bought. Long distant boat shopping in my opinion is only done if you can not find a boat near your home. We sold our 28 foot privatly and did OK compared to others. It is a buyers market take your time buy what you want. 26 foot is small if you plan on sleeping on it.
 
All's Well said:
JT Tulip will shoot you straight on financing there. I don't know any of the sales folks that are left there.

Good luck with the purchase
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Thanks!

northern said:
We are from Calgary Alberta when we decided to get a bigger boat we found one in Mississipi and traved to see it, $3,000 4 day vacation. Boat was not what we wanted. A few months later we went to Tampa to see an other boat an other $3000 4 day vacation. Then we found one in Seattle. This we bought. Long distant boat shopping in my opinion is only done if you can not find a boat near your home. We sold our 28 foot privatly and did OK compared to others. It is a buyers market take your time buy what you want. 26 foot is small if you plan on sleeping on it.
Click to expand...


Well, it is definitely true that the boat we want is no closer than 4 hours from here with more at about 8 hours away.
 
Turns out it is not going to happen. The numbers just don't work. It looks like we will keep ours for another year or so and maybe try again. Oh well... Is it spring yet?
 
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