How far to go fixing up a boat?

[questionsquestions]

How far makes sense when one is wanting to sell a boat? We are in the middle of a total refit, but have changed our plans and want to sell. Boat is 40', good boat, well-known name. This boat needs refrigeration, lifelines need to be replaced, bilge needs re-paint, the water tanks we would not think of drinking out of, the electronics are outdated... Interior is pretty nice. The boat is ready for the hull paint, which at this point could be any color anybody wanted. Same for boot stripe, bottom paint. The dodger needs to be replaced as well -- do we do that, or let the next owners pick their design and canvas color? (There is a new Mack Pack, and some other canvas already done, in a neutral color, and hull paint purchased, not white though! Kind of a light sand--). I guess the question is, when you're burned out on a boat, do you just sell it as is or do you fix it up? Or stop at what point in between? I'm well aware that all the time and money we put into completing this boat we won't see in equal dollars, unless we make it really, really spiffy and somebody who has exactly our taste as well as lots of money comes along.... which seems unlikely. But then again, not everybody wants a "project boat." Should we put it up for sale and add $200 to the sale price every day, as we continue to work? That's not an actual for-real question, but it's kind of the way I see it....

[Mimsy]

I would at least list it as it is and see what kind of a response you get. If you don't get any interest, take it off the market and do the cosmetic stuff. No way would I mess with refrigeration, hull paint, canvas or electronics. That is too much money going out for something the next owner probably won't love anyway.

[Tempest]

I would clean up the boat to the point that it presents well...sort of like staging a house for sale.

Get rid of any clutter, Clean and paint the bilge, Sand and paint the bottom, clean the water tanks. In other words, do the reasonably inexpensive stuff that will make her show better the only real cost is your time and a few bucks

As far as the dodger, electronics, Hull paint etc. I would leave this to the next owner. They will have their own preferences.

While it's on the market waiting to be sold, do whatever cosmetics you can do.
Wash and wax, cetol the brightwork ( or whatever was there). Perhaps replace any running rigging that is in bad shape.

Do the normal maintenance.. Grease seacocks, lubricate winches, change the engine oil...etc etc...Clean the engine...

[TQA]

If you have the paint I would paint it. Assuming you are doing it yourself.

Then as everybody else will say clean it till it shows well. Not many people will see past a boat littered with dirty rusty junk.

[sailor50]

I have to agree with the other posters about the paint - if you already have it, applying it where needed will increase the value. You're not selling a hull with an interior, you're selling a vessel that someone wants to envision being somewhat sailable.

[Mimsy]

Sorry, I thought common sense would say to clean up the boat, do routine maintenence etc before putting it on the market. Then I remembered what some of the boats looked like when we were shopping... Yes, clean her up!

[tommays]

IMHP if the boat is not finished and in usable condition your going to really limit the people who will even look as well as take a BIG price hit


To me as a person doing a 1.5 year refit it sounds like a BIG list with 40' prices to complete

[RTB]

I drove 250 miles to look at an Islander 36 that could have been purchased for a song (after speaking with the seller). I had a few photos of the boat from the outside, taken by a friend. It did not look bad in those pics, and really went with the intention of buying it. But after looking at the boat for an hour, inside and out - decided I would not want it for free.

The wife and I walked over to the fuel dock where there was a clean 36' Hunter for sale. We owned it the next weekend. It is no Islander, but ready to sail and super clean. The price was 1/2 what the Islander would have cost to fix up, if I did the work myself and had the time which I didn't at the time.

Best wishes with your decision. I say fix it up, or put it on EBAY and take what you can get if you have lost your enthusiam.

Ralph

[questionsquestions]

Originally Posted by tommays

To me as a person doing a 1.5 year refit it sounds like a BIG list with 40' prices to complete

Tom-- Can you tell me what you mean by this? Not sure I understand.

[questionsquestions]

One thing is, we wouldn't be selling the boat pretending that this work doesn't need to be done, as in a few misleading come-on type photos. And yes, we would get tools and stuff off. We would sell her as what she is-- a half-finished project boat. Just typing that, it sounds so bad... And only we will know that what's been done has been done really well...