Best season to buy a boat

[Iraklis]

Hi everyone,

This first post of mine is part question, part statement:

I bought a 1973 Ranger 29 for $7,000 in Sep. 2005 (western Long Island sound). I feel I got a very good deal. I'd think that fall would be the best season to buy a (non-trailerable) sailboat, even if one includes winter storage costs. Most sellers would probably want to get rid of their boat by that point, and most buyers presumably wouldn't be thinking about buying boats. (Incidentally, I also got a good deal on a convertible car which I bought on a snowy day in January!)

Real estate markets tend to have more transactions around July/August because there are more buyers AND more sellers. But that in itself does not increase prices - only the number of sales. So far as I know, there's no seasonality that can be exploited with market timing in real estate.

Is the boat market different in that it actually does pay to buy at the end of a sailing season? (more sellers compared to buyers). Or did I just get lucky?

Thanks & regards,
Iraklis

[sailingdog]

I would think that fall is a better time to buy a used boat, but if you're in teh market for a new boat, often the winter is a better time to buy. I do believe, at least from what my realtor friends tell me, that there is some seasonality in the residential real estate market.

[camaraderie]

I think fall/winter is the best time to by a small, inexpensive boat where storage costs are a larger % of the cost of the boat...but really, for larger boats, the seasonality is less of a factor. There are so many boats on the market and the internet gives the buyer so much mor power that I think it is always a buyers market and you should be able to get an excellent deal any time of the year.