Question on late season buying.

H

Hydro Therapy

New Member
Jul 21, 2011
26
Lake Michigan
Boat Info
380 Sundancer 1999
Engines
Twin 7.4 Horizon
I'm considering purchasing a boat that has already been stored for the season. I have made a decision on make, model and year. My question is, should I consider buying the boat without a sea trial. Can a C&V survey be done while the boat is winterized. How about a mechanical survey. The asking price reflect the fact that the owner wants out. If I pay to have the boat launched and then stored again this would negate any advantage in price. Minor surprises are expected. I just don't want any major surprises.

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Can you provide some specifics on make, model, year, hours, engine(s), and what your going to pay for this boat? My general sense is to never buy a used boat without a survey and sea trial, under any condition(s). A partial survey can be done, while the boat is winterized; but, that's only useful if you only want to know "part" of what could be wrong with the boat. Is there a possibility that the owner will take a contract and deposit now, pending launch, survey and sea trial in the spring? If the seller balks at that, then you may have your answer.
 
I was interested in a boat that was winterized once. There was an offer on the boat with a deposit and the final purchase was contingent on spring sea trial. If the owner knows that there is nothing wrong with the boat he might go for such an offer. If the boat has problems he will probably not accept the offer.
 
There are too many variables in this for you to get a complete answer.

The biggest is who is the seller? If it is an individual, then you could enter into a contract for sale, pay him a deposit now with closing in the spring after you do your due diligence. Dealers are about cash flow in the off season, so a boat sold by a dealer will probable mean you will have to close now and withhold funds pending and contingencies and repairs the boat many need in the spring. That has some risks because the dealer has your boat and you have to trust him to stay in business until you get it delivered in the spring.

This type of transaction is done all the time in the northern states, its just a little more complicated and you need to be sure you protect yourself. If you do this, get all points of agreement in wirting.........winter tends to make memories fuzzy.....and be sure you have an enforceable contract, even if you have to hire a lawyer to check it for you.

Truthfully, if the boat is smaller or mid-sized, I'd probably pay for re-winterizing so I could get the surveys and sea trial done now, but I am conservative and don't like the risks involved with leaving a boat in storage and a deal open over the winter. The only exception may be if the boat in question is physically blocked in by other winterized boats and the seller cannot get it out without moving other boats to access it.

Good luck with it.........
 
I bought my 320 at this time of year and it was already winterized. I still went ahead with the survey and sea trial. I had to rewinterize but it was a small price to pay to ensure I was buying a boat is good working order. The boat was on brokerage.
 
The boat that I am considering is a 1998 370 Sundancer.It has the 380? Horizon engines, a TNT Lift on the platform, not a big deal tome. The asking price is 84,000. I have not seen the boat yet but plan to in thenext week or so as the boat is very close. Just wanted to get a game plan togetherbefore looking at the boat and negotiating. I really appreciate the replies sofar a lot of good advice. Thanks Everyone.
 
I purchased a boat in Michigan last November from the original owner. I had no survey and I was not able to sea trial. I heard the engines run, had the boat winterized and stored before bringing it up to Canada in May.
I measured the man I was buying the boat from and decided that the risk was acceptable.
The boat proved to be a joy to run and operate, although there were a couple of items that a survey would have detected (non-working windlass, and AC) but I still have no regrets.
Your due diligence should include a thorough study of the seller and, of course, a survey and sea trial are very good.
By the way, I like your tag line. Here is a picture of my 1991 350 Sundancer and the Admiral at Gimli harbour last summer.
I am in my 34th year with Manitoba Hydro, a local electrical utility and this boat is definitely my therapy.

IMG_0315 (Small).JPG
 
You can always negotiate splitting the cost of dropping her in for a survey. I'm sure the owner isn't excited about waiting it out for the winter and will do everything they can to complete the sale before winter sets in.
 
I would nt buy a boat without a sea trial, unless it was a friends boat. Cut a deal, that you would pay for 1/2 the sea trial, put deposit with seal based on a successful sea trial in spring, assuming the boat visually looks good.
 
I bought my boat from a Craigslist ad in another state in February 2009. It was fully winterized and shrinkwrapped. I brought my mechanic who is a close friend and he was in the bilge about one hour. My mechanic is very sharp and could tell if it was a lipsticked pig or not. It appeared to be very well maintained inside and out. Fluids looked good too. My friend was confident that it was not a POS. I also was getting such a good deal that I probably could have replaced something major and still been ahead of the game. I also did a bunch of research on the seller to be sure he wasn't a scammer. He also offered to pilot the vessel back to NY from New Jersey in the spring.
Ultimately it worked out excellent for me. Not only did I get a great deal on a beautiful boat but I also made a very good friend in the process. Only you can decide if the risk is worth the reward.

Disclaimer: Results not typical. Your results may vary!:grin:
 
Last edited:
That 1991 350 is an awesome boat!....Like the name also, Mike.
 
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