For anyone that might be interested, this boat is still available. Go figure
It's been 6 months since I looked at it (now November - not a great time to sell a boat in the US), and probably 9 months since it was originally listed. It's one of 7 of the same model boat, currently listed on Yachtworld (one is under agreement). From the latest pictures, I see that he has hauled it, but the (deck-stepped) mast is still up. It's now available through a broker at 120% of NADA... (Remember that he offered it to me at 130% of NADA.)
I'm not sharing the particulars, to protect the guilty.
Last edited by eherlihy : 11-20-2009 at 01:53 PM.
Reason: Correction - his last offer was 130%, not 150% of NADA
For anyone that might be interested, this boat is still available. Go figure
It's been 6 months since I looked at it (now November - not a great time to sell a boat in the US), and probably 9 months since it was originally listed. It's one of 7 of the same model boat, currently listed on Yachtworld (one is under agreement). From the latest pictures, I see that he has hauled it, but the (deck-stepped) mast is still up. It's now available through a broker at 120% of NADA... (Remember that he offered it to me at 150% of NADA.)
I'm not sharing the particulars, to protect the guilty.
And this comes as a surprise?!?
120% of NADA, and he'll pay a commission on whatever lower price is agreed to. Plus another 6 months storage and haulout fees. Good grief.
I am only more firmly convinced that he has it listed that high so he can tell his wife (or kids) that he has it on the market without any real risk that he will have to sell it.
eh, you can try to teach algebra to a fencepost all day long, that doesn't mean the fence post is capable of learning it.
The broker may be involved in a deal with yard storage fees, i.e. "Give it to use for brokerage and if it sells, we'll refund your winter storage fee" and when the spring comes and the boat is still unsold, the broker happily will pocket the storage fee and probably collect one for the next season as well, as Mister Irrational won't want to pay to launch, either.
There are boats that turn into yard queens and quietly rot in the bushes until someone puts a lien on them and sells them as "DIY Specials", we've all seen enough of them.
Better to steer totally clear of it, and not find out that He Who Knows Best did other clever things, like lube the engine with Castor Oil because it is less corrosive than motor oil...or some other clever thing that you just KNOW is going to jump around and bite you.
I'm reading this thread and thinking about the guy we bought our first boat from.
I was helping a friend put a new diesel in his boat when we heard a knock on the hull. There was an older guy who was winterizing his boat and couldn't lift the outboard off the bracket. Could we give him a hand? I put the outboard in his truck and looked at his boat, a Catalina 22 in nice shape, exactly what I was looking for. I told him if he ever wanted to sell to give me a call and gave him my number. In the spring he called.
He was such a nice guy. I told him I was new to sailing and that I wanted to get the boat surveyed. No problem. He'd bought every option for the boat. He gave us all kinds of extras. Things like a brand new pair of binoculars that I still use on my current boat.
When we went down to his house to pick up the cushions we met his wife. She was at least 25 years younger and beautiful. We thought she was his daughter! He was just a cool, quirky, nice old guy.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I wouldn't rule out FSBO boats, you might be overlooking a gem.
Jim
__________________
95 C30 Goin' Coastal
Sailing in The People's Republic of New Jersey
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits ~ Albert Einstein
JRP - There is no surprise here, other than a broker is now involved. I'm guessing that should he ever sell it, Mr X is now loosing an additional 10% comission, plus storage, plus RE-launching. The last point is based on my understanding is that it is customary that the costs involved in preparing for sea trial are borne by the current owner. (I'm sure that someone will set me straight if I'm off base here.) I realize that he may avoid the re-launch fee if he lucks out in finding some noob as a buyer. My guess is that the haul out is a tactic to prevent a buyer from starting the engine.
I believe he would have been way ahead, both financially and emotionally, had he been realistic from the get go.
CB - I really don't think that he is just going through the motions of selling. The guy is in his eighties, and has sold off some other water toys (PWC, and a Center Console) prior to putting Slip Queen on the market. The boat is actually documented in his wife's name.
HS - Yeah, I know. As Mark Twain said; "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time, and it annoys the pig."
Frankly, I am no longer interested in buying this guy's boat. I was just surprised when I came across the listing in YW.
Yeah, I have been hoping for an experience like yours, and am not ruling out FSBO. The point of the thread, however, is that there are advantages to dealing with a broker. In this case the broker has apparently injected some reality into Mr. X. (his price has dropped $10K)
Who knows, if I had not seen his original listing, and not gotten so frustrated (OK, I was pissed) with the guy, I might have contacted and dealt through the broker, and have sailed his boat home this past summer.
Would never have made it as far as you guys without directing a few profanities at the guy and walking.
That might put me at their level, but it would feel good.
Well, chas, if you get bored...
Close on the deal and then pay him with a wheelbarrel full of Confederate dollars. Keep a straight face while he argues that they aren't dollars, and insist that of course they are dollars, it says so right here on each one.
To mangle eh's most excellent quote from Twain, sometimes the pig just deserves to be annoyed.
