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I wanted to share my latest boatshopping experience with the forum. Comments, as always are welcome!
I saw a boat of the year make and model that I wanted advertised at a rediculous price (200% of NADA average, 150% of BUC) For Sale By Owner. I contacted the owner and told him that my budget was in the 90-100% of NADA range. I asked him in an email "is it worth our talking further?" He replied that he would consider discussions at 150% of NADA.
A month goes by and the boat is still advertised, so I contact the owner to see if it would be possible to take a look. He connects me with a friend of his that will show the boat because he is out of town, and we arrange for me to look at the boat. I drive 500+ miles to look at the boat, and stay overnight at a hotel so that I can see the boat at the appointed hour. The guy that showed me the boat is a nice guy, but he warns me that the owner is 80 years old and "stubborn." I ask him if he has showed the boat much - he's evasive. I ask him if he's showed the boat at all - again he's evasive.
I go through the boat and conclude that it has not been used, other than as a floating condo. There are several issues with the boat, not the least of which is that the keel bolts are badly corroded, the electrical system is mickey-moused (wire nuts and electrical tape connecting the bilge pump, Romex connecting the battery charger to a 110V outlet installed in the rear quarterberth), and when we finally got it started, the engine looked like it was going to jump out of it's motor mounts.
After looking at the boat I decide that this guy is not going to get serious about selling, and so I decided not to follow up. He then contacts me via email. He heard that I liked the boat, and that I took lots of notes. He wants to know if I am "a tire kicker or writing a book."
So, I tell him that I did not want to offend him but shared my observations with him, and that my soft offer at NADA value stands, pending the outcome of a survey.
The guy then gets huffy with me saying that any sale is as is, where is, and that he will now sell the boat to me for 400% of NADA value.
Just a warning to those of you who are boatshopping - there are some real fruitcakes out there! There are real advantages of working through a broker!!
I saw a boat of the year make and model that I wanted advertised at a rediculous price (200% of NADA average, 150% of BUC) For Sale By Owner. I contacted the owner and told him that my budget was in the 90-100% of NADA range. I asked him in an email "is it worth our talking further?" He replied that he would consider discussions at 150% of NADA.
A month goes by and the boat is still advertised, so I contact the owner to see if it would be possible to take a look. He connects me with a friend of his that will show the boat because he is out of town, and we arrange for me to look at the boat. I drive 500+ miles to look at the boat, and stay overnight at a hotel so that I can see the boat at the appointed hour. The guy that showed me the boat is a nice guy, but he warns me that the owner is 80 years old and "stubborn." I ask him if he has showed the boat much - he's evasive. I ask him if he's showed the boat at all - again he's evasive.
I go through the boat and conclude that it has not been used, other than as a floating condo. There are several issues with the boat, not the least of which is that the keel bolts are badly corroded, the electrical system is mickey-moused (wire nuts and electrical tape connecting the bilge pump, Romex connecting the battery charger to a 110V outlet installed in the rear quarterberth), and when we finally got it started, the engine looked like it was going to jump out of it's motor mounts.
After looking at the boat I decide that this guy is not going to get serious about selling, and so I decided not to follow up. He then contacts me via email. He heard that I liked the boat, and that I took lots of notes. He wants to know if I am "a tire kicker or writing a book."
The guy then gets huffy with me saying that any sale is as is, where is, and that he will now sell the boat to me for 400% of NADA value.
Just a warning to those of you who are boatshopping - there are some real fruitcakes out there! There are real advantages of working through a broker!!