Post survey and seatrial.. negotation?

[paul77]

So completed the survey and seatrial on the Hylas 46.

Doing the whole survey/seatrial was definitely a learning experience. A worthwhile experience even if we don't proceed with this boat, as I now have some perspective.

The surveyor was the competent variety, so that was good. Engine surveyor was present for the seatrial, which was great.

I definitely wished we actually did more sailing on the sea trial, but it is very hard to do when you have four other ppl on the boat that don't want to be sailing around. Downwind, upwind, and jibed and tacked the boat so the controls work.

Since this is a public forum, I obviously won't be too detailed. However, the boat was originally built solidly and is still a super solid boat. It has some issues, most of which are from sitting around unused. (dried out seals, siezed ball valves, etc) Really only a couple BIG items.

In addition to the items found by the surveyor, after being really over it the boat is in slightly rougher condition than we based the original offer on. It needs a bunch of TLC.

Waiting on estimates for the repair items and we will almost certainly negotiate.

My expectation is that buyers would rather give money off rather than fix something, should we try and have some items fixed anyways? This isn't a nickel and dime thing, but something that anyone would need to get repaired.

My broker seems to be of the perspecitve of knocking the repair price off the offering price, but the boat has a different value to me taking it with all warts to make it sail away ready. I would expect other buyers to also hold this perspective?

What do you think?

[RickLaPaz]

I would negotiate a lower price, and fix everything yourself.

Especially if you are going to keep the boat for more than 17 hours..........

[paul77]

Although I am usually a big DIY person, the big expensive issues are going to require skilled labor. I'll happily watch and learn if I can, but it is something that I shouldn't mess with (and the admiral probably won't let me).

I know I need to start thinking like a boat owner.. be cheap and do it yourself

[RickLaPaz]

Originally Posted by paul77

I know I need to start thinking like a boat owner.. be cheap and do it yourself

Cheap, financially prudent, fiscally conservative, frugal and spind-thrifty have their place. But knowing as much about your systems as possible is mandatory, IMO.

Unless you're in a tax bracket that allows you to write a lot of checks every year while you do mojitos in the Carib.........

[cardiacpaul]

might help to know what the "the big expensive issues are going to require skilled labor." are

[paul77]

cardiacpaul -- Sorry to be intentionally vague, it's tough to know the etiquette here as this is a public forum and the boat is on YW (not hard to figure which one) and of course we might not buy it. i doubt the seller/broker read sailnet, but who knows maybe they do

I know you can give your best advice with all information at hand, so I'm sorry. If/when we close on it, I'll be poking your brains in the "mainting your boat" section to see the consensus on trying to fix the larger items myself.

Also regarding your advice on taking the oil sample. The seller had the oil changed, and in the surveyors opinion "not run the engine since" before we did the survey. She started up cold fine though, nothing strange from the exhaust.

It will be on the hard for a bit since we need to recommission, so will have time to deal with a bunch of issues before she goes back in.

[KeelHaulin]

I don't know if there is any sort of requirement that you not disclose survey findings; the boat is on the public market "for sail" and the survey findings are going to be disclosed to the buyer if you choose to negotiate the purchase price. The seller's broker would then be obligated to disclose any major findings to the next potential buyer if you back out (so I have been told).

If you don't want to talk about the survey results online you could send me a private message; I'd be happy to discuss the details offline.

[teshannon]

Negotiate a lower price based on the required repairs and then have a professional do the work. That way you have control over how the work is done and can be sure it is done properly. If necessary, get estimates for the work to determine what the price reduction should be. Good luck.

[pegasus1457]

The first thing you have to do is go through the list of repairs and decide which of them you are capable of doing. Then get estimates for the others,
assuming you are willing to put in some effort.

I did exactly that this summer and the boat was ready to sail after 2 weeks of hard work on my part plus some yard repairs that were paid for by the PO (by the reduction in sale price). The boat still needs a lot of work to put her in good shape but she is safe and manageable. I will be spending a lot of this winter working through the list. Maybe next winter too ...

This is the only way you will get a basically solid, well-equipped boat for an affordable price. You have to figure there will be a lot of neglected or botched repairs. If not you should be looking at new boats.

[teshannon]

If you do the work yourself you need to adjust the purchase price to compensate for your time, otherwise the seller will be getting a free ride for that.