Looking for some advice

By way of an addendum to my earlier post, in the sales businesses what the broker wants to do is what's called a Puppy Dog close. He knows if you have the boat in your possession, even if you have not completed the survey and sea trial, you're going to show it to your friends and relatives and create some level of "ownership" of the boat even though legal ownership still resides with the broker.

All of that lovey, dovey crap makes it more difficult for you to walk away later on if the boat turns out to be a lemon.
 
I bot my boat in the winter. Put down a deposit (held by reputable broker) and waited until spring. Scheduled the survey and sea trial for when the ice melted. Only issue we had was the April showers -- it rained on survey day, so had to reschedule. Other than that it was a piece of cake. Looking to do it again this winter. Good luck.
 
If it were me, I would not buy anything this time of year. Boats are mostly crammed into storage buildings, a little dirty, poor lighting, no way to really see what they look like or how they run. It's a good time to line up potential purchases, and decide what interests you. Buy one now? No. Have a look when the weather improves. There will be no shortage of good prospects in the spring time. Even the perfect boats will still be sitting there.
 
If it were me, I would not buy anything this time of year. Boats are mostly crammed into storage buildings, a little dirty, poor lighting, no way to really see what they look like or how they run. It's a good time to line up potential purchases, and decide what interests you. Buy one now? No. Have a look when the weather improves. There will be no shortage of good prospects in the spring time. Even the perfect boats will still be sitting there.

Not so sure I agree as the inventory levels this summer were very low for good boats. Nothing wrong with getting a boat you like under contract.

MM
 
Not so sure I agree as the inventory levels this summer were very low for good boats. Nothing wrong with getting a boat you like under contract.

MM
That's why I said, "If it were me,......" There are still lots of boats for sale in this marketplace. I prefer to look in earnest when you can do a good job of seeing what they look like.
 
Not so sure I agree as the inventory levels this summer were very low for good boats. Nothing wrong with getting a boat you like under contract.MM
I agree... I also think prices would increase in spring or owner would not be as negotiable. It is so hard to find a good used boat. I say if you like it ..deposit it... You don't have as much competition right now...owner wants to know its sold... and you can rest all winter.
 
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Not so sure I agree as the inventory levels this summer were very low for good boats. Nothing wrong with getting a boat you like under contract.

MM
That's what I saw this year. When in past years there would be 10+ boats in the model/year a wanted, this year -- nada, nothing. It was extremely frustrating. When you find a good one, you need to be ready to move.
 
That's what I saw this year. When in past years there would be 10+ boats in the model/year a wanted, this year -- nada, nothing. It was extremely frustrating. When you find a good one, you need to be ready to move.

And to someone just looking at the websites it appears there are more than there really are, but when you finally drill down to the model you want, if you find one with the equipment you better jump on it. The boats that are plentiful are the boats that financing is not readily available for.

MM
 
That's what I saw this year. When in past years there would be 10+ boats in the model/year a wanted, this year -- nada, nothing. It was extremely frustrating. When you find a good one, you need to be ready to move.
How do you know that you have a "good one" when looking at it in a dark building? Sure, you can lock it up with a contract until spring. Do you lock up a number of "good ones" and then sort them in the spring? Jumping on a deal is too emotional for my tastes. I prefer to take a good look at big ticket purchases before pulling the trigger. Boat buyers are known for making emotional decisions and being upside down in a boat that should have been evaluated more carefully.
 
How do you know that you have a "good one" when looking at it in a dark building? Sure, you can lock it up with a contract until spring. Do you lock up a number of "good ones" and then sort them in the spring? Jumping on a deal is too emotional for my tastes. I prefer to take a good look at big ticket purchases before pulling the trigger. Boat buyers are known for making emotional decisions and being upside down in a boat that should have been evaluated more carefully.

All very true, however, the real and current market conditions will affect what buyers must do to secure a boat for next year. A buyer can take the lighting they need to se the boat.

MM
 
How do you know that you have a "good one" when looking at it in a dark building? Sure, you can lock it up with a contract until spring. Do you lock up a number of "good ones" and then sort them in the spring? Jumping on a deal is too emotional for my tastes. I prefer to take a good look at big ticket purchases before pulling the trigger. Boat buyers are known for making emotional decisions and being upside down in a boat that should have been evaluated more carefully.

You start by narrowing down the year(s), make and model. Get familiar with it. See some to see if the general size and layout works for you. Once you do that, it just about finding one at the price you like with the warts you can handle. With a flashlight you can check just about everything -- water stains, dirty bilge, cracks, scrapes, etc. They only disadvantage you have is starting the engines. You're still protected by the survey and sea trial to find anything major.
 
You start by narrowing down the year(s), make and model. Get familiar with it. See some to see if the general size and layout works for you. Once you do that, it just about finding one at the price you like with the warts you can handle. With a flashlight you can check just about everything -- water stains, dirty bilge, cracks, scrapes, etc. They only disadvantage you have is starting the engines. You're still protected by the survey and sea trial to find anything major.
You probably have more experience with this than I do. I don't buy used boats, but looking at where my boat is now, I'm not sure how you would know if it's a good one. It is literally 1/2" from touching the wall of the storage building on it port side, and is overhanging the boat stored on the other side. I've not even tried to board it as there is too much stuff in the way. Maybe someone would want to buy it as is but I'm not sure how they make that decision. Hope all of you are right as some day it will be on the market. Not sure when, but someday........
 
You probably have more experience with this than I do. I don't buy used boats, but looking at where my boat is now, I'm not sure how you would know if it's a good one. It is literally 1/2" from touching the wall of the storage building on it port side, and is overhanging the boat stored on the other side. I've not even tried to board it as there is too much stuff in the way. Maybe someone would want to buy it as is but I'm not sure how they make that decision. Hope all of you are right as some day it will be on the market. Not sure when, but someday........
Hopefully if it's on the market, it gets accessible storage placement.
 
Don’t hesitate to buy this time of year if the right boat comes along.
If you educate yourself and do your due diligence it can really pay off.
I bought my boat this time of year in 2016. Survey/seatrial the week after Thanksgiving, and closed on 12/9/16.
It was being traded in by someone going bigger when I looked at it. I scheduled the survey as soon as the salesman told me they closed the other deal and the dealer owned the boat.
The time of year can work in your favor.
It was pretty clear that they wanted to have the boat sold and if I didn’t buy it they would have to advertise it and hope to sell it in the Spring.
It costs dealers money to own boats, so I was able to negotiate a very fair deal. Much better than I would have gotten if I waited until Spring.
Between my general experience with boats, FrankW’s input and expertise, and my thorough personal inspection I knew the boat was worth investing in a survey.
I froze my a$$ in the cold torrential rain we had all day the day we did the survey and sea trial, and after negotiating winterization, storage, shrinkwrap, and a bunch of other goodies it was very frustrating waiting for April to come so I could take delivery, but it was worth it.
 
Don’t hesitate to buy this time of year if the right boat comes along.
If you educate yourself and do your due diligence it can really pay off.
I bought my boat this time of year in 2016. Survey/seatrial the week after Thanksgiving, and closed on 12/9/16.
It was being traded in by someone going bigger when I looked at it. I scheduled the survey as soon as the salesman told me they closed the other deal and the dealer owned the boat.
The time of year can work in your favor.
It was pretty clear that they wanted to have the boat sold and if I didn’t buy it they would have to advertise it and hope to sell it in the Spring.
It costs dealers money to own boats, so I was able to negotiate a very fair deal. Much better than I would have gotten if I waited until Spring.
Between my general experience with boats, FrankW’s input and expertise, and my thorough personal inspection I knew the boat was worth investing in a survey.
I froze my a$$ in the cold torrential rain we had all day the day we did the survey and sea trial, and after negotiating winterization, storage, shrinkwrap, and a bunch of other goodies it was very frustrating waiting for April to come so I could take delivery, but it was worth it.

That is an awesome story!

MM
 
Don’t hesitate to buy this time of year if the right boat comes along.
If you educate yourself and do your due diligence it can really pay off.
I bought my boat this time of year in 2016. Survey/seatrial the week after Thanksgiving, and closed on 12/9/16.
It was being traded in by someone going bigger when I looked at it. I scheduled the survey as soon as the salesman told me they closed the other deal and the dealer owned the boat.
The time of year can work in your favor.
It was pretty clear that they wanted to have the boat sold and if I didn’t buy it they would have to advertise it and hope to sell it in the Spring.
It costs dealers money to own boats, so I was able to negotiate a very fair deal. Much better than I would have gotten if I waited until Spring.
Between my general experience with boats, FrankW’s input and expertise, and my thorough personal inspection I knew the boat was worth investing in a survey.
I froze my a$$ in the cold torrential rain we had all day the day we did the survey and sea trial, and after negotiating winterization, storage, shrinkwrap, and a bunch of other goodies it was very frustrating waiting for April to come so I could take delivery, but it was worth it.

That story is awesome!

MM
 
Hey Mike, are you trying to run up your post count? This is the second thread I seen double posts, having troubles? Has winter withdrawal got to you already.
 
Hey Mike, are you trying to run up your post count? This is the second thread I seen double posts, having troubles? Has winter withdrawal got to you already.

The iPad was not displaying the post and still showing the text in the post box, then both post after I clicked to post. Not sure why.

Yes, winter withdrawal sucks...

MM
 
I have purchased both boats I have owned during the winter months in Michigan. Did the general survey, then the engines and kept money in escrow in case anything came up that was not noted during either survey. The amount in escrow as negotiated due to me wanting a large amount held back. After sea trails in the spring, escrow money was released. We store inside / heated and the building is pretty well light up so you can see pretty good. I always bring additional lighting so I can reduce the number of shadows when inspecting the boat. But I am not the expert, that is what the survey teams are for. Check around with people on who is a good / reputable surveyor. The guys I used let me walk around with them while they were checking out the boat so I could increase my knowledge and get a good understanding if there were anything that came up and I wanted to negotiate on.
Also, when we bought our current boat, I was only considering 480DB. There were a limited number of them that were fresh water, so when the right one came along, I jumped. I have no regrets!!!
 

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