Henry Boyd
Well-Known Member
- Apr 24, 2007
- 6,014
- Boat Info
- ‘09 Sabre 38 Hardtop Express “Serenity”
- Engines
- Volvo D6 w/IPS450 Pods
If boat shopping is on your mind, you had better be standing in a line that passes out more than $ 800.
I thought boat sales were slow?
- Thread starter charlg
- Start date
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,153
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
For you verbal offer proponents, you are also the ones who seem to have an issue with the salesman's lack of attention or response. I'm not inferring that you did anything wrong, I'm just telling you how to go about making an offer and buying a boat so that you:
a) light a fire under the salesman so you get an immediate response
b) prevent the salesman from levereging your offer
c) protecting your interests with a binding contract and
d) controlling the boat while you do your due diligence.
However, if you are comfortable doing business with perfect strangers 800 miles away on a verbal basis, then by all means, have at it.
a) light a fire under the salesman so you get an immediate response
b) prevent the salesman from levereging your offer
c) protecting your interests with a binding contract and
d) controlling the boat while you do your due diligence.
However, if you are comfortable doing business with perfect strangers 800 miles away on a verbal basis, then by all means, have at it.
techmitch
Well-Known Member
- May 1, 2008
- 8,328
- Boat Info
- 1999 270 DA
- Engines
- Twin 4.3s W/Alpa I Gen II's
wow, not shopping right now but i learned alot from this thread... i like this guy FRANK!!!
Nehalennia
Well-Known Member
- Aug 22, 2007
- 10,006
- Boat Info
- 2001 310DA twin 350 MAGs, Westerbeke 4.5KW
- Engines
- Twin 350 MAG V-drives
So you like pulling people's pants down too...:huh:
I thought it was wierd at first, but once you do it...
uh, nevermind.........
keokie
Well-Known Member
- Dec 27, 2006
- 1,485
- Boat Info
- 2002 310 Sundancer, Westerbeke 4.5 Genset
- Engines
- 496's, Bravo III's, 2.2:1 Gears
Frank,
Again, I respectfully disagree. First, I have not found distance to have a bearing on someone's integrity. Second, I will always be willing to let a boat slip through my fingers. Other than someone else buying the boat out from under me (which I knew was extremely unlikely), there is no other protection an offer contract would provide me. A broker can easily call prior contacts for a boat and let them know he has an offer in hand, before it is returned to the party that submitted it.
As for lighting a fire under the salesman... I sell for a living. If the salesman needs to be motivated to sell, I don't want to deal with him. So if he ignores my offer, I move on. I have never found boats to be difficult to buy if you have some patience. I do. I love boats with a passsion, but do not need them. So, I buy on my terms.
Again, I respectfully disagree. First, I have not found distance to have a bearing on someone's integrity. Second, I will always be willing to let a boat slip through my fingers. Other than someone else buying the boat out from under me (which I knew was extremely unlikely), there is no other protection an offer contract would provide me. A broker can easily call prior contacts for a boat and let them know he has an offer in hand, before it is returned to the party that submitted it.
As for lighting a fire under the salesman... I sell for a living. If the salesman needs to be motivated to sell, I don't want to deal with him. So if he ignores my offer, I move on. I have never found boats to be difficult to buy if you have some patience. I do. I love boats with a passsion, but do not need them. So, I buy on my terms.
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,153
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
I am afraid we are not talking about the same thing..........the contract I'm referring to is not an offer contract, but a contract to buy.
I'm not talking about integrety, but rather how to protect yourself in the boat buying process.
You write the contract for specific performance of both parties subject to certain buyer's contingencies for surveys, sea trial, financing, and insurability. The contract wording specifies either "time is of the essene or that the offer expires 24 (or whatever length of time you want) hours after submission. You also give the salesman or broker a deposit check as your consideration in the contract. Doing it this way limits the time the broker can shop you or sit on the offer. It is a binding legal contract subject to your contingencies which gives you an out if you word them correctly. Most of all, it protects you from spending the money to travel 800 miles (your number), conducting a hull survey (about $25/ft), conducting a mechanical survet ($750-$5000, depending upon engines) and from being forced to buy a boat you cannot insure or finance or perhaps don't even like after you run it.
I see you have a 310DA.....so your next step up is likely going to be to something larger. Sea Ray is getting $350K for new 34' boats now so it is likely your next move will be to a $250K or more boat. I would not trust any dealer or broker on this much deal without a binding contract.....If you want to, then I wish you luck since you may find out about the unsavory side of boat buying/selling.
One other point........it seems that there are lots of 34' and under boats out there to pick over. Once you get to the 36' or 38' size boats the numbers of very nice and clean used boats as opposed to neglected, abused dogs changes significantly. (I wish I knew why reasonably intelligent people will spend a ton of money on a new boat then never wash or wax it). I find that since the pickin's are slimmer, the travel distances get greater as do the chances of losing a boat to another buyer. Once you find the right boat a contract prevents that from happening.
I'm not talking about integrety, but rather how to protect yourself in the boat buying process.
You write the contract for specific performance of both parties subject to certain buyer's contingencies for surveys, sea trial, financing, and insurability. The contract wording specifies either "time is of the essene or that the offer expires 24 (or whatever length of time you want) hours after submission. You also give the salesman or broker a deposit check as your consideration in the contract. Doing it this way limits the time the broker can shop you or sit on the offer. It is a binding legal contract subject to your contingencies which gives you an out if you word them correctly. Most of all, it protects you from spending the money to travel 800 miles (your number), conducting a hull survey (about $25/ft), conducting a mechanical survet ($750-$5000, depending upon engines) and from being forced to buy a boat you cannot insure or finance or perhaps don't even like after you run it.
I see you have a 310DA.....so your next step up is likely going to be to something larger. Sea Ray is getting $350K for new 34' boats now so it is likely your next move will be to a $250K or more boat. I would not trust any dealer or broker on this much deal without a binding contract.....If you want to, then I wish you luck since you may find out about the unsavory side of boat buying/selling.
One other point........it seems that there are lots of 34' and under boats out there to pick over. Once you get to the 36' or 38' size boats the numbers of very nice and clean used boats as opposed to neglected, abused dogs changes significantly. (I wish I knew why reasonably intelligent people will spend a ton of money on a new boat then never wash or wax it). I find that since the pickin's are slimmer, the travel distances get greater as do the chances of losing a boat to another buyer. Once you find the right boat a contract prevents that from happening.
keokie
Well-Known Member
- Dec 27, 2006
- 1,485
- Boat Info
- 2002 310 Sundancer, Westerbeke 4.5 Genset
- Engines
- 496's, Bravo III's, 2.2:1 Gears
Frank,
I always respect your well thought out opinions. After re-reading the thread, I agree that we are not talking about the same thing. I have always performed my own surveys and sea trials. So, when I bought my 310, I needed to see it. The weekend and money to get there was worth the risk for what I believed the boat to be. Also, I have only bought boats that I am very familiar with. That is, with a very strong working knowledge of it from a construction and mechanical standpoint.
A buying contract really would not offer me any further protection. The broker agreed verbally to hold the boat for 48 hours while I drove up. I was willing to take him at his word for that. I also, let him know I would need a signed full-disclosure on any repairs or modifications performed on the boat. I received this.
As far as moving to a larger vessel. That probably won't fit the boating life offered in my area of the country as well as a sub 34' sterndrive. If I were to move or that were to change, I would become intimately familiar with the next boat type before purchasing. I like to be very self-reliant in the boat I own. If I discovered a need to change my purchasing tactics, I would. However, for buying a sub 34' cruiser in my market, I have found my strategy to be successful. I have led many of my boating friends into better boats at better prices than they were able to get on their own.
As far as the case being discussed here, I think the 280 SS is a pretty basic boat. And I still think the broker is remiss in not wanting to investigate the offer. That laziness would discourage me from dealing with him in any manner.
I always respect your well thought out opinions. After re-reading the thread, I agree that we are not talking about the same thing. I have always performed my own surveys and sea trials. So, when I bought my 310, I needed to see it. The weekend and money to get there was worth the risk for what I believed the boat to be. Also, I have only bought boats that I am very familiar with. That is, with a very strong working knowledge of it from a construction and mechanical standpoint.
A buying contract really would not offer me any further protection. The broker agreed verbally to hold the boat for 48 hours while I drove up. I was willing to take him at his word for that. I also, let him know I would need a signed full-disclosure on any repairs or modifications performed on the boat. I received this.
As far as moving to a larger vessel. That probably won't fit the boating life offered in my area of the country as well as a sub 34' sterndrive. If I were to move or that were to change, I would become intimately familiar with the next boat type before purchasing. I like to be very self-reliant in the boat I own. If I discovered a need to change my purchasing tactics, I would. However, for buying a sub 34' cruiser in my market, I have found my strategy to be successful. I have led many of my boating friends into better boats at better prices than they were able to get on their own.
As far as the case being discussed here, I think the 280 SS is a pretty basic boat. And I still think the broker is remiss in not wanting to investigate the offer. That laziness would discourage me from dealing with him in any manner.
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