Finding The Right Boat

We will first ask questions about what you think you want and WHY. Like a good coach, we ask questions that will make you think and delineate logic from emotion. Buying a boat can be a very emotional process, and (initially) logic should choose the path.

We explain differences among various boats. Why are some manufactured boats expensive and some not? What is the difference? Am I safer in a better pedigreed boat, what am I spending the extra money on? Is it better to buy a newer boat? What are the benefits of older boats? We'll talk about how displacement determines how a boat “feels” and how speed and sailing comfort can oppose each other.

We talk about how a boat ages. What can you expect to go wrong at what age? When do sails wear out? When is a deck suspect? Which model engines are better and why? When should I be worrying about the rigging? We will have quite the talk about how a boat ages, and what goes bad at what point -- and you may find a boat that has been beautifully and responsibly updated!

Then there is depreciation. The facts here will really surprise you! Although the value of a new boat drops about 20% immediately, it is surprisingly stable after that, so there are benefits to checking out older boats whose value has already dropped and is now more stable.  

The seasonality talk is usually surprising to buyers. Some think fall is the best time to buy, some think spring. We think there are good deals all the time, but it helps to know how long a boat has been on the market (we can tell you),  what is the value vs the asking price, and how motivated the seller may be. That said, the most used inventory is found in the fall. The most motivated sellers have had their boat on the market over a year!

What about the sales process? How do you determine your opening offer, relative to asking price? An offer reflects TWO things: how much and what conditions? What conditions are normal and which ones will turn off a buyer? What time frame is normal? We can help you with all of this and make it straightforward.

What about a survey? Every boat should have one, and everyone should have a good surveyor. How much does it cost and what expenses are there besides the surveyor? It is the surveyor’s job to find what's wrong with the boat, or to confirm if a boat is in terrific shape. As brokers, help you interpret survey results and decide if there are 'walk away' issues.