4 F's moves on.

[miket]

Now has a new owner and is I believe moving up river, above Oxford, where she really belongs.
I confess to being very happy that she has gone!! She served a very specific purpose and did it very well. We now move on.
Interesting to those also trying to sell older boats (1981 for the 4 F's). Not easy. 4 F's is immaculate both inside and out and has had all consumables replaced as required without losing the classic "original" feel. It has taken approx' 6 months and eventually sold at a price that I consider to be very low. However, if that is the market price, it is I that is out of date and clearly was far too generous to the lady from whom I purchased 4 years ago. Out of 10+ boats over 25 years, in terms of cash lost (difference between buying and selling price, excluding any other costs) she has cost the most and was one of the chepest to purchase. So cash lost as % of original purchase price is way in excess of any of my £100k+ boats.
Just in case any of you guys thought you would waft out and sell your 30 year old boats in the blink of an eye for a dreamers price!!
Be warned.
Having said that, I wish the new owners a happy ownership.

 

[Chris_d]

I thought it looked like a great buy, surprised it didn't go quicker, but I guess not many new boaters would appreciate its advantages.

 

[byron]

Glad she's gone Mike. Now you can invest all that money at today's marvellous interest rates.

 

[pheran]

Good news Mike. Like chris_d I can't understand why it didn't fly out of the door. I'd like to blame it on changed attitudes after 13 years of........No! perhaps better not go there..

 

[Phill]

"Just in case any of you guys thought you would waft out and sell your 30 year old boats in the blink of an eye for a dreamers price!!
Be warned".

Mike.
Congratulations on the sale. I think the time taken had more to do with the boat than the price. Your boat was quite unique and potential buyers had very few similar boats to compare it with. As far as I was aware there was only one other for sale on the Thames and that has one less engine and wouldn’t fit under Osney, so no real comparison.

For all you others out there about to off load your 30 year olds, I can report that I have sold my last three boats very quickly. All were popular craft (Freeman 22, Princess 32, Princess 33) with plenty of others for sale at the same time, which gives prospective purchasers plenty of choice.
I’ve always used a broker because I believe no matter how much money people spend on a boat it’s always as much, if not more, than they can afford, and will always feel better protected by using one. I’ve used Dominic at Thames Boat Sales as well as Mark at Harleyford, both of whom I would highly recommend and seem to have lists of people waiting to view boats new to the market.

My advice would be, look at other similar boats and make sure yours is better in every way. Do all those little jobs you never got around to, remove all your possessions and clean everything. Add an air freshener or two. Visit your boat often and wash it weekly if possible. Priced competitively, it will sell.
My Princess 33 went under offer last year with Harleyford after being for sale less than 3 weeks, despite the economic climate. A few hundred quid spent laying Tek-Dek in the cockpit secured that sale.

Sorry to rattle on a bit, but thats my age. I guess I should have said Preparation, price, and marketing are what matter but having other similar boats to compare yours with make it a whole lot easier, as I’m sure Mike will discover if and when he come to sell his new boat.

All in my own opinion of course…………….so feel free to disagree.

 

[No Regrets]

Has no problem selling No Regrets (Birchwood) and I'm sure Thames Boat sales will sell the current Broom when it's time for her to go!

Phill is spot on. A broker will attract many more buyers and give them confidence, while depersonalising and presentation is of paramount importance. If the boat is spotless and priced correctly, it simply has to sell before others of a similar ilk.