BoatSearch—SailNet’s new, free, online listing and marketing service for boat buyers and sellers—was officially launched August 8, and in less than 80 days over 2,700 boats have been listed for sale. This is an impressive and varied armada ranging from a 173-foot custom yacht to a 10-foot daysailer with an average size of 35 feet and an average asking price of $145,000. Listings from private owners make up 48 percent of the total while 50 percent are offered by brokers, and the remaining two percent are new models presented by boat builders.
One of the most surprising things about the way in which BoatSearch has developed is the large number of international listings that have been posted. Within a few weeks after BoatSearch opened for business, boats from such far-flung locations as Europe, the Caribbean, and Australia were added to the site. At this time, vessels from 35 countries and nearly every state in the US have been shown on BoatSearch.
Here’s a quick rundown by boat style of the sailboats currently listed for sale:
459 ~ Cruiser
2 ~ Commercial
71 ~ Center-Cockpit
82 ~ Classic
176 ~ Racer/Cruiser
64 ~ Daysailer
70 ~ Multihull – cruise
9 ~ Multihull – race
29 ~ Motorsailer
10 ~ Pilothouse
23 ~ Racer
6 ~ Sailing Dinghy
22 ~ One Design Racer
43 ~ Sailing Yacht
We have heard from a few larger brokerage companies, some offering their listings on as many as 12 listing services. Several of these brokers report that BoatSearch is by far the easiest system to use and the listings they create are of the highest quality.
BoatSearch had its inaugural public appearance at the Annapolis Boat Show in early October. Hundreds of interested boat buyers and sellers stopped by to see what the big attraction was. A few boat buyers searched for and found prospective boats while visiting the BoatSearch booth, and one recently called for advice on insurance and financing before flying down to Florida to inspect his new boat. Our next show is the upcoming St. Pete Sail Expo, November 2 to 5, 2000, at the south end of Tent B—we hope to see you there.
We continually have owners, brokers, and builders inquiring about the cost of all the BoatSearch services and they are often amazed to learn we are offering such a high quality service for free. Some visitors at the Annapolis Show were dubious that SailNet would give such a valuable product away at no cost and had to be convinced by the BoatSearch staff that the listings, the advice, and the help with transport, financing, insurance, and documentation services are indeed—really and absolutely—free.
How and why do we offer this service for free? Like the many other resources at SailNet, we feel that BoatSearch is a very important and needed service for all boaters. We are able to generate sufficient income from the generous support our readers and members give to the SailNet Store, AirForce Sails, the SailNet Spar, Rigging, Interiors, and Canvas Departments, and through the financing, insurance, shipping, and USCG documentation services our members want and need.
We feel we have developed a unique means of helping our members find the best rates and service when they are buying or selling a boat. While many larger service providers offer their products from one source or one underwriter, we work with a network of specialized providers who each utilize a variety of underwriters. While we are not able to place 100 percent of the people who request services, we feel we are able to provide better rates and a higher quality of service for almost everyone who inquires with BoatSearch. Does this take more effort on our behalf? You bet—and you’re worth every bit of it!
Whether you are seriously prowling the docks for a new vessel or just beginning to think about your next dream boat, you can find every size and type of vessel, sail and power, at www.BoatSearch.com. Browse through 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. BoatSearch is living up to its motto: "Boat buying just got a whole lot easier— for everybody."
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