Hi Julie, I own an '85 Sabre 34, and while I think my boat is worth every bit of $60,000.
;-) I'd never get it. Nor would I expect to get $50,000. If I could. I'd probably sell it today and help you sail it home. ;-) Then I'd buy that Kelly Peterson that's been offered here.
Or look for a Sabre 362. In the meantime, as the song goes, "I'll love the one I'm with"
and I do.

I believe Boat US has probably given you good information as have others here. I thought Chef was also right on the mark with his $ estimates of the market.

I may not be the fastest boat out there, but I am very pleased with her sailing performance.
I put new sails on her shortly after taking possession and new sails make a huge difference in performance. No need for a 150.

Maintenence is everything and a poorly maintained Sabre like any other boat could reveal expensive repairs.
Things I'd look for would be: any evidence of leaks around chainplates that have gone unattended, Check the mast step for any corrosion. ( I got to mine in time) I'd check the cockpit sole around the emergency tiller location for soft spots, to mention a few. If you get that far a good surveyor will pick up those items. The engine looks like it is pretty clean and maintained. I'd check the heat exchanger for corrosion. That's a $400 part. ( I know) Hopefully he's changed the zincs regularly.
He's got 4 batteries on that boat? I'm not sure what he's running since it doesn't seem like there's a lot of electronics, but that Electrical Panel didn't have alot of room for all the modern conveniences. I wonder. See if he's running stuff directly from the batts.

The woodwork is pretty decent, but I wouldn't call it a Mercedes. Having dug into it a little, there are a few things that Sabre could have done better. There was alot of bare wood under the vinyl liners that wasn't treated in any way. The handrails are not bolted through but screwed into the core. Check for any leaks. The opening ports could have been a better quality and I may decide one day to replace mine.

It's a pretty Traditional Layout. Not really spacious by today's standards but quite comfortable for a couple. You might find that the most comfortable berth is the salon pullout.

I'd prefer a head that was aft rather than forward as mine is. With the table unfolded and open the head is not easily accessed. That said, I spend more time in the cockpit. So it's rarely an issue.
I do like an aft head..to get out of wet gear and so that you don't go through the salon if people are sleeping off watch. ..but that too hasn't been a major issue lately.

The Seacocks are as good as you can get imo. Don't let anyone replace them..just keep em cleaned and lubricated.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the heck out of my Sabre. I've owned it for 8 years and sailed her 18, buying from a friend. She's been up and down the east coast of the US from Maine to Jacksonville and to Bermuda. I'm trying to be realistic. Given your sailing plans, there are any number of vessels that would fit the bill. You probably don't need to spend that much money on a 30 year old vessel. I'd negotiate a better price or keep looking.

 

I paid asking because I wanted the boat and needed time to come up with the cash. After he accepted the offer the P.O. threw in about 10k of additional stuff that he could have sold separately.
I don't consider re-sale of a boat when I buy it (i.e. will I get my money out). I buy a boat because I like it and it's sound and meets my need.

Julie, if this is YOUR boat, offer what you think will be accepted. If it's rejected ask for a counter, then counter that etc, but always stipulate final is on completion and possible rectification of survey/issues.

 

Bubblehead, you take a tongue-in-cheek comment and rant on that? But if you're so sure I won't buy a boat, put your money where your mouth is. I'm game. Are you?

 

It wasn't a single, tounge-in-cheek comment, it's the entire thought process that drew me to this conclusion.

No, I won't put my money where my mouth is. I'm not at all invested in how your boat purchase or non-purchase turns out. It's not a competition. I was merely opining on your endless hand-wringing and vacillating during the boat purchase process.

It's just my opinion, probably not worth the cost of the electrons to display it on this forum. Carry on.

 

It's just my opinion, probably not worth the cost of the electrons to display it on this forum.

At least we agree on something. Next time, save the electrons. Just my opinion.

 

Offer what (you) think the boat is worth. Look at the total market to judge this, not just a certain model. We have offered 30 to over 50% off asking, most said yes. Our current under contract is also a over 50% off boat. Bad location is the major reason. Should have it final next week if survey goes well.
Oh if the boat you are looking at is listed by "captain Ed" good luck. I worked on a boat he has for a couple years. Finally got reasonable and down to the price range we first offered but we are now in a higher range of boat. That boat is still for sale last I looked. Still a buyers market lots of boats. Don't fall in love until after you own it. But do buy a boat you can love otherwise what's the point. In the end only YOU need to be happy with the deal.

 

" I once bought a new Nissan Titan 4x4 four door pickup for $27,000.00 less than what the dealer was asking."
Considering that even today the Titan LISTS for $30-40,000 and the dealers don't get anything near a 200% markup...maybe you'd like to rephrase that statement? You didn't buy a truck for 75% off the sticker price, unless you were holding a gun to someone's head, or some equally unusual circumstance.

 

2005 Nissan Titan four door 4x4 listed with all options at Family Nissan in Laredo, TX stickered new at the time at $53,000.00 it was loaded with a lot of options, including a custom bedliner, installed roll bars in the bed, a sliding bed extender, leather interior, navigation, and a lot more. If you think I would bother inflating the price, or lying about it that is just silly. I spent the time to negotiate with them, and I got it for just a little over what it cost them. I was in the business of buying and selling semi-trucks and heavy equipment and transporting them and had bought some other vehicles from them as well. You are quoting the lowest possible price on a two door, two wheel drive, with a short bed and no options. Price one out at your local Nissan dealer loaded like that, you will find it to be more expensive than your $40,000.00 price tag.

Anyways, you really need to look at the margins on new vehicles, they are usually stickered at something about 200 to 225% of what the vehicle costs the dealer when you throw in the manufacturer to dealer volume discounts, some dealers sticker low, some do not. The sticker is not the price anyone pays if they have 25% of a brain.

 

The first question is, do I really want to own a boat, or do I just like the idea of owning a boat? I don't see where you've actually answered that question yet. Especially to yourself. And a cost/benefit analysis won't really give you the answer. Because that choice is actually more an emotional one, than a pragmatic one (if the boat is to be anything more than a toy).

Is owning a boat a passion that must be sated, or a desire that would be nice to fill? Is owning a boat a need for happiness, or just an item on a bucket list of things that are suppose to make you happy?

Once you decide, if you do, that you really want to own a boat, you'll find a way to buy one ... not reasons not to.

 

Once you decide, if you do, that you really want to own a boat, you'll find a way to buy one ... not reasons not to.

This.

 

To be clear, nothing I've said here was intended to convey I'm looking for reasons not to buy a boat. As questions arise from members, I answer them. There was never any intention of looking to find reasons not to buy.

This is the first time I am actually beginning the process of finding a boat to buy because it's the first time I've been financially able to do it. Thus my initial question about making an offer. I would never have asked that question if I wasn't serious about buying a boat AND have the ability to do so.

Nothing in the world gives me the feeling I get when sailing. If you don't know the feeling, I can't explain it. I can only say it makes me feel alive and always has, since my first sail 42 years ago. Maybe it's in the blood.

Before I began this thread I was clueless how much asking price vs. selling price vs. lender valuation can vary. It's all over the place. And unless you're a broker, having the knowledge and skills to determine the actual value of a boat just by looking at is rare. But I now have some tools and knowledge to walk into this with.

I thank you all who have helped me get to where I am now, for this part of the boat buying process. I feel I at least have enough information to help me bring a reasonable offer to the table. I'm hoping we can agree on a boat to buy this season.

If it was just me, it would be easy. But when there's two in the decision making process...

 

Wow guys, go easy on the poor woman.

It's easy to forget that when you're new to this there's a lot to get your head around.

It throws a lot of new sailors that there's really no such thing as "book value" for boats. Take your car to any three car dealers and the actual appraised value will usually be within $500 (extracting that number from the dealer is another conversation). But with boats NADA is different from BoatUS and both may be different from what the surveyor and the broker say a boat is worth.

There simply aren't enough boats bought and sold to get that kind of granularity. Condition varies widely, equipment is all over the place and prices vary from region to region. Really popular boats are sold in the thousands, cars are sold in the millions.

Is $35K a good price for a particular Sabre 34?

I'd say "good" could easily swing $2,500 in either direction depending how much you or I value the installed equipment.

 

Wow guys, go easy on the poor woman.

It's easy to forget that when you're new to this there's a lot to get your head around.

It throws a lot of new sailors that there's really is no such thing as "book value" for boats. Take your car to any three car dealers and the actual appraised value will usually be within $500 (extracting that number from the dealer is another conversation). But with boats NADA is different from BoatUS and both may be different from what the surveyor and the broker say a boat is worth.

There simply aren't enough boats bought and sold to get that kind of granularity. Condition varies widely, equipment is all over the place and prices vary from region to region. Really popular boats are sold in the thousands, cars are sold in the millions.

Is $35K a good price for a particular Sabre 34?

I'd say "good" could easily swing $2,500 in either direction depending how much you or I value the installed equipment.

Actually the price is a little high, compared to several others listed on various sites, but not way out of line. I have not looked at any of them in person, so I cannot say why there are such large differences, but I would have to guess it is that the owner wants to get as much as he can, even in the current market. I know that there are many, and I mean a ton, of 35-45 foot boats out there in the $20,000.00 to $50,000.00 range, a huge difference in the price, and a lot has to do with where you are in the country.

I would say that ragging on her about not buying the first boat she looks at, or taking time to decide on which ones she wants to buy is just mean. I know a lot of people who take time to come around to a decision and then move on the buy. I myself do a lot of research, spend a lot of time looking at what I want to buy, and then I get out my wallet or whatever the case may need to be, and I buy. I may look at a lot of examples of the thing I want to buy, but once I have made up my mind I want something, I always get it.

Now maybe some of you can plunk down $50k without blinking, and if you can that is great, I applaud you for your ability to earn and save, but I cannot right now, not without taking careful consideration of my purchase. If I plunk down the $50k am I going to have to re-plunk with another $50k in repairs and upgrades to get it where I want to be? I think I would rather not do it that way. I would prefer to do it a better way, looking carefully and making a very considered choice, and not spend double my money.

 

Well, we both like sailing, but have different experiences. My SO Sunfished a lot when younger and loved it. I started on a 45'er and made eight Mac trips, one deep into the North Channel, one trip to the Bahamas and one to the Keys, and a lot of sailing in between. All on the same boat. I also helmed club races on my boss's 35'er. Two different worlds, one love of sailing, each based on our individual experiences.

But a power boater and a sailor? At least we're not that far apart. But it is possible to get the power boater to agree on buying a sailboat. My dad was a die hard power boater, back when we called them cabin cruisers. He talked about buying one for years. Then one day he called me up and said he was going to do it.

"Dad! You're going to buy a stink pot!?!?" It just came out. It was 1975 and anyone who remembers back then remembers the oil crisis. Then I underhandedly threw the gas costs at him. A month later he called and said "I bought a sailboat." It was more a motorsailer than sailboat and I think that's where the power boater can make the move to into the light.

 

But a power boater and a sailor? At least we're not that far apart.

Yeah that would be like a Protestant and a Catholic in Northern Ireland, heck wars have been fought for less LOL.