National Liquidators

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Vooracious

New Member
Jun 6, 2009
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Punta Gorda Isles, FL
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As I search for the right boat I keep bumping into the National Liquidators.
Any feedback on your past experience working a deal with them would be appreciated.
 
Get in touch with Caroline Ajootian with Boat/US. Caroline is the conssumer advocate for members and has been tracking and trying to mediate several complaints about National Liquidators.

Boat/US is a great organization. They are non-profit and have a big enfluence on boating matters in Washyington. You have to be a member to use their services, but you can get general info on their forum (it is a general, non-brand specific forum and they have their share of goof balls/idiots). Membership is well worth the cost.

Be very careful with National Liquidators until you get the scoop of some of the problems buyers have had.
 
As the guys said above, research research research. I know my wife and I have looked at NL and it seemed the lower hour boats had sat for so long they needed as much maintenance as a higher hour used boat on the regular market at roughly the same price. And with no maintenance history at all (scary to me). :wow::smt101

Although, cosmetically many of the NL boats looked better.:huh:

I figured new seats is a heck of a lot cheaper than a new engine or O/D.:thumbsup:

I would ask around for a fantastic surveyor and pay for the full inspex with compression and all before I could pull the trigger on a boat from NL.
 
My opinion is that Repo is not much different that buying from anyone else. You can't just say one is better than another. Every situation is unique. You need to be diligent in determining the true condition of the boat in all cases. We all have heard stories of by-owner sales where the boat looked great, but had a major flaw that was concealed by the seller.

I think dealer sales might offer a bit more comfort because you can go back to the dealer with a problem, however your recourse is going to vary depending on your contract and the state you live in.

Just like everything else, you pay more to reduce your risk. If you are uncomfortable with the risk because you don't have the knowledge, or you don't have a good surveyor, then pay more, go to a dealer, and reduce the risk.

The good news for everyone on this board is that we have access to a great education from some very experienced guys, so we know better than to buy a boat without a survey. I pity the guy that goes out to buy a boat without the knowledge that this board offers.
 
You say: "My opinion is that Repo is not much different that buying from anyone else. ", but if you read the accounts on Boat/US concerning National Liquidators you find some real horror stories.

I guess every buyer is exposed to potential problems with unknown or undisclosed condition and, hopefully by now everyone here understands what a survey is and how important they are, but what about their selling a boat with no clear title, no title period or a lost title an inadequate docuentation with which to get one reissued. When I quit following that story a state attorney general was involved, fraud was alleged, and the liquidation company was offering to swap an older Four Winns that did have a title for the title-less Sea Ray (after the buyer had spend a lot of money on service, detailing, new canvas, etc.)

I don't know any details or how the buyer got himself in a position or relying on a verbal promise that the title would come in the mail later, but that one thread on the Boat/US forum was enough to make me glad I do business with an honest Sea Ray dealer. No doubt, one can have a good experience with National Marine Liquidators, but potential buyers should treat them cautiously and at arms length.
 
fwebster said:
You say: "My opinion is that Repo is not much different that buying from anyone else. ", but if you read the accounts on Boat/US concerning National Liquidators you find some real horror stories.

I guess every buyer is exposed to potential problems with unknown or undisclosed condition and, hopefully by now everyone here understands what a survey is and how important they are, but what about their selling a boat with no clear title, no title period or a lost title an inadequate docuentation with which to get one reissued. When I quit following that story a state attorney general was involved, fraud was alleged, and the liquidation company was offering to swap an older Four Winns that did have a title for the title-less Sea Ray (after the buyer had spend a lot of money on service, detailing, new canvas, etc.)

I don't know any details or how the buyer got himself in a position or relying on a verbal promise that the title would come in the mail later, but that one thread on the Boat/US forum was enough to make me glad I do business with an honest Sea Ray dealer. No doubt, one can have a good experience with National Marine Liquidators, but potential buyers should treat them cautiously and at arms length.
Click to expand...

Frank, I was not aware of any illegal activities by these guys, and that certainly makes a difference if there is a pattern of this activity. A by-owner, or broker deal could also be fraudalent on many levels. I agree, A Sea Ray dealer would be at the top of the "low-risk" ladder because they have a lot of skin in the game. Just trying to point out that you can do well on a repo, but you need to be extra vigilant.
 
I'm not sure if the account I read reported illegal activities, or just sloppy business practices.

But, either way, the typical boat buyer is a trusting soul who most likely thinks the survey process removes his risk. Short of demanding to review all documents supporting clear title to the HIN# the buyer is about to close on (and knowing what you are looking at and for) or perhaps demanding the entire deal to be escrowed until clear title is furnished, I really don't know how the average bargain hunter is to protect himself from a flawed or missing title.
 
fwebster said:
.... make me glad I do business with an honest Sea Ray dealer. No doubt, one can have a good experience with National Marine Liquidators, but potential buyers should treat them cautiously and at arms length.
Click to expand...
DITTO to that! I am also in the lucky position to ahve a first rate Sea Ray dealer who knows cruisers, has been with Sea RAy since 1966 and is a top notch advisor and broker too. Some of the friendliest personnel and service I could hope for. That in itself is worth a lot to me.
 
Last year I bought my 2005 340 Sundancer from them in Fort Lauderdale. I have no complaints at all. Give Jonathan Dickerson a call at their Fort Lauderdale office.
Keep in mind that you should never buy a used or repo boat without first doing a survey and then run it for at least an hour at cruising speed. NL is no different than any other sales outfit.
 
Re: National Liquidators and buying a boat in general

My Dad, oft the father of wisdom itself, once gave me some great advice. He said, "When shopping for a boat [any boat] take with you a bag of ordinary marbles and every time you look at a boat, take one of the marbles out of the bag and throw it in the water next to the boat. When you've 'Lost all your marbles', THAT's when you Buy a Boat!"
:grin:
 
Re: National Liquidators and buying a boat in general

Southern Comfort said:
My Dad, oft the father of wisdom itself, once gave me some great advice. He said, "When shopping for a boat [any boat] take with you a bag of ordinary marbles and every time you look at a boat, take one of the marbles out of the bag and throw it in the water next to the boat. When you've 'Lost all your marbles', THAT's when you Buy a Boat!"
:grin:
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
There's NO DOUBT in my mind that when you're buying repossessed, foreclosures, short sales there is a much higher risk that the buyer must assume. I do this all the time with houses, and a few airplanes.

Sometimes you get some great deals, and sometimes you just get a good buy, but you can protect yourself, but have to know what you're doing and accept the risk. Folks that had their whatever repossessed, really don't care about you, the back or the liquidator.... and the seller really has no interest in the boat and just wants it sold, and they don't care about you either.

With a retail sale or just a good buy from an individual selling "their" boat, it's way different.... you can still get a good deal, and you can still get stung, but a lot easier.
 
I bought my 280DA from the National Liquidators here in California. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. I simply stipulated that I wanted a sea trial and that I would have the boats' engines inspected and surveyed as well as my surveyor on the trial. They were easy to deal with. For those who don't know, National advertises that they use a sealed bid system- which they did- but then the bank makes counter offers so it's not really an ACTUAL auction. However, I was able to get my 280 for almost 20k under what my surveyor said the price might be, and way under the NADA value.:smt038
 
"I was able to get my 280 for almost 20k under what my surveyor said the price might be, and way under the NADA value."

Sorry but that isnt saying much at all.
 
"No doubt, one can have a good experience with National Marine Liquidators, but potential buyers should treat them cautiously and at arms length."

I purchased my boat through National Liquidators Office in Ohio 3 years ago. Did not have problem one. Boat was in Missouri and did spend three weekends going over boat and had both in and out of water surveys. Yes there were a few things wrong/broken on the boat, but it was a repo. Being mechanical and having the time, tools and knowledge to fix these things got me a very good deal on the boat.

I bought my boat around 25K under survey and local broker's pricing.

That said, yes I would go through them again, but also I would caution everyone to follow Frank W's advice about survey, title and due diligence.
 
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