Broken Boat Brokers

[REO33311]

So I'm shopping for a specific brand of boat on the East Coast and find a ad for a pretty cheap one in Key Largo with one poor photo and a few lines information. So I write and ask, "Can you please send me a list of equipment included with the sale of this boat and a few more photos to seduce me into coming to Key Largo to look at the boat..." (that's a very long way for me and he knows it)

I get a e-mail back from Broker Bill saying,
"As with any 25 year old sailboat, there is equipment on board from
throughout it's life. The electronics at the nav station and around
the helm are rather recent. The engine and generator are original to
the boat, as is most of the equipment in the galley.
If you have any specific items you'd like to know about, please let me know."

NO LIST, NO PHOTOS NO REASON TO COME AND TAKE A LOOK. I HOPE HE'S NOT YOUR BOAT BROKER TRYING TO SELL YOUR BOAT.

So, should I write him back and ask "Can you please send me a list of equipment included with the sale of this boat," or just tell him where to put his anchor when or if he calls?

There are more than several of these boats around and indeed the equipment varies from the latest to the absolute cheapest and as a lot of you know who are shopping for a boat, non-functioning. Was there a crisis, what crisis? How can Brokers like this stay in business?

[jordanship]

The answer is probably the boat is not in good condition. Another way to verify this is to call up another brokerage in town. Show that you are serious to them, and ask that they go by and take photos. Or they may be able to tell you straight off the inside scoop. I do this for yachts in Lauderdale. Most brokerage co-broker, so one house is as good as any other.

And isn't there a SailNet list of people willing to altruistically scope out boats for each other? That is a cool thing. Love the internet.