Purchase, surveys, and seatrials...

merttan · #1 (**permalink**) 11-19-2007

I found this particular boat, where I can a make an bargain offer and most likely get it as a bargain. That, of course, if I decide to skip survey and seatrial and write the check now...
I've checked the boat myself and found soft spots on deck but I'm willing to deal with them.(They are known to the owner and broker) The boat was on water until a couple of weeks ago and broker states that the engine was working perfect. And I'm willing to deal with the engine as well...
And it'd be a bargain for the boat, if I can buy it at the price I'm offering.
The boat has been taken care of and updated by the previous owner who had to relocate... As far as I can tell, he wasn't thinking about selling the boat by the upgrades he added to the boat. Most are structural upgrades, those been done by professionals...
What do you think?
Should I take my chances or play it safe?
The boat would be used for coastal crusing in LIS for up to 5-10 years...

k1vsk · #2 (**permalink**) 11-19-2007

Buy a boat with core rot but without a survey or sea trial and the broker said the engine works "perfect" - sounds like a bargain to me....not wait, let's contemplate this for a minute... now that I think about it, sounds more like a sucker bet to me.
Just for fun, ask the broker to personally guarantee the cost of any repairs and see if he signs.

StuMyers · #3 (**permalink**) 11-19-2007

Depends, I think. Can you afford the worst case scenario?

Ladyhawke2 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-19-2007

The cost of a survey may well prove to be the most inexpensive thing you will have to do with the boat. Not sure I understand the reason...especially as you will probably pay..bargains have a short shelf life if you run into problems

Faster · #5 (**permalink**) 11-19-2007

Since a broker is involved, the question that comes to mind is, "what's the rush?" The week a survey will take should not change the parameters of the deal.

Skip the sea trial if you must but given the unbacked promises and assertions I think a survey is even more advised than it normally would be (which is always anyhow).

StuMyers · #6 (**permalink**) 11-19-2007

I agree it sounds kind of suspect. The owner might simply be after a quick sale, or looking to save paying winter storage.

Bottom line, if you're looking at grabbing say, a 30 footer for four or five grand, and you're only looking to use the thing for a few years then toss it, it might be worth the risk.

However, a survey isn't just there to save you some cash, it's also a safety issue. Taking your family out on the sound in a rotting boat is not such a good idea, IMO.

camaraderie · #7 (**permalink**) 11-20-2007

Merttan...if you don't survey...you are making a bigger mistake than on global warming! (g)

Raggbagger · #8 (**permalink**) 11-20-2007

Whenever this question comes up , survey or not survey ,how on earth could any of us answer with anything other than survey and feel like we gave good advice . If your getting a rediculously low price on the boat there is an equally rediculous problem with it .

Best of luck with it

xort · #9 (**permalink**) 11-20-2007

What possible good reason would a broker give to try to deny you a survey?

Did the broker actually say that you could only get the boat at a certain price if you skipped a survey?
Was their a different price if you insisted on a survey?
This stinks to high heaven.

merttan · #10 (**permalink**) 11-20-2007

I'm going to get a survey on the boat, I was wondering if sale procedure is different for purchase without a survey...
Seatrial would be almost impossible since the boat is dry docked, engine is winterized and winter storage is paid for...
There is a survey report from 2006, that's why I was thinking if I should skip the survey...
Sorry, I think I forgot to mention all those...