Advice please, DECK!!!

[pandos]

I Have a HR352 which I am anxious to sell. I valued it based on a similar boat that sold last year locally for €95k. That boat had not so good electronics, sails or engine, but it did look prettier and it did have a teak deck.

Mine looks a bit tired , and has an artifical teak deck. It has been suggested that I strip off this deck and paint the substrate as a way of freshening up the boat and that this may help a sale.

I think that the functionality of the false teak is better to a sailor than a painted deck but at the point of sale the appearance is more important.

Should I pander to the shallow or wait for a mature "sailor " to come along.

(I hope I have not upset anybody here, what I intended to convey was the concept of a buyer that was happy with a very functional but not too pretty deck, at a lower price over a beautiful teak deck at a premium price, or a clean painted non slip, deck at the cheaper price.)

I am flexible on price but I am not willing to give the boat away.

Thanks in advance.

Tony.

 

[FAITIRA]

I don,t consider myself an immature sailor, and would prefer paint to grubby plastic fake, or even, wood fake (on grp boat), mho of course!

 

[LadyJessie]

I would agree that fake teak is the worst, really an off-setter. Better a good non-slip paint job than peeling teak veneer, any time.

 

[Koeketiene]

Had a look at your ad - your boat looks fine.

I would sell 'as is'.

 

[LadyJessie]

Come on, Guapa. Can't you see that those are very good selling pictures: there is no close up of the decks. That is what I would do as well if I would sell my boat and I was not sure about the condition of my boat.

Contrary: if I was a buyer, I would question why there are no close up pictures. Opens questions about hidden problems. Not a good selling proposition. Summary: get a solution for your decks. Most buyers do not want to buy a problem; fix it for them, even if it is cosmetic.

 

[Koeketiene]

http://apolloduck.net/67681/ximage/7000

http://apolloduck.net/67681/ximage/7001

Do you honestly think that needs removing.
A teak deck - even fake - makes the look of an HR.

 

[Slowtack]

You could spend a lot changing that deck and still not achieve a quick sale or recover the cost. Hang tough.

 

[LadyJessie]

Fake is fake, it is as simple as that. Sailors looking for an HR can surely tell the difference.

The seller said 'it looks tired'. Not a selling proposition.

Nothing can replace real teak. Why would you think it could possibly be replaced? It has not yet happened, IMHO.

I would still recommend that you strip out this fake teak and put on a non-slip paint. It would look much more professional for your sale.

 

[FAITIRA]

If it looked good in the pics, then, as a buyer, I arrived and found a tatty looking boat, I would immediately, not be a happy bunny. No Sale. Tidy it up.

 

[Tranona]

HR352 is a minority interest boat in the whole scheme of things. Therefore not a lot of serious buyers around. Maybe a tad overpriced if you are looking for a buyer in sterling given the fall of sterling against the Euro. However, would not think spending a couple of thousand euro taking the deck off is any more likely to find a buyer. You have what you have, and remember that many HRs of the age of yours have knackered decks which cost upwards of 10k (euros or pounds) to replace. Key to a sale is overall value against what else is available at the time - as seen by the buyer, not you. Ask yourself how many 352s on the market at any one time - answer probably less than one handful.

 

[Koeketiene]

[ QUOTE ]
many HRs of the age of yours have knackered decks which cost upwards of 10k (euros or pounds) to replace.

[/ QUOTE ]

Guapa's a similar age - teak deck needs seeing to in the very near future.
Replacing teak with teak these days is no longer an economical proposition. Had quotes ranging from £22K to £30K.
So, next winter the teak's being replaced by a cork based alternative. £8.5K (fitted)

As I don't see us selling the boat in the next 15-20 years I'm not worried about resale value. Just want some trouble/leak-free sailing.

 

[LadyJessie]

[ QUOTE ]
Replacing teak with teak these days is no longer an economical proposition. Had quotes ranging from £22K to £30K.

[/ QUOTE ]Those are northern European prices. All circumnavigating sailors will tell you that the best teak works can be found in either Thailand or Turkey for a fraction of that cost. Probably delivered with even better quality as well. The deck work I have had done in Turkey has been performed to 'boat show' standards.

Having your teak deck replaced in Turkey is not an 'uneconomical proposition'. On the contrary, it is a great decision to prolong the life and value of your yacht.

 

[Tranona]

Lady Jessie - not if you live in Ireland and you want to sell your boat. Better take a drop in price if there is a buyer and let him/her worry about the deck. HR owners know that the big problem with teak decks of that vintage is that they leak like seives when they wear and the bungs pop out and seams split. Gets into furnishings electrics etc down below and generally creates havoc. Therefore a sound waterproof deck is a big selling feature - even if it is (good looking) fake!

Just an aside pandos does not want to "give the boat away" - how does one define that? Either a sale is needed in which case the price is what a buyer is prepared to pay or the seller has a perceived value which is higher than a buyer is prepared to pay - in which case he (the seller) gets to keep the boat!

 

[Sy-Revolution]

Can't the 'fake' teak be re-sanded?

 

[purplerobbie]

I have teak decks on my boat and when i asked for advice almost everyone said get rid of them.
Quite a few people said they wouldnt have a boat with teak decks as they are to much work.

Now your boat has the fake teak that i was recommended to fit and people are telling you to get rid of that??

I would spend some money bringing them into a resonable condition (they dont look to bad to me) and then market the boat with all of the looks of teak and none of the hassle.

Save the big money to drop the price of the boat.

Rob

 

[roly_voya]

Dopn't understand the hostility towards 'fake' teak deck. You have a plastic boat so surly a similar plastic deck covering should be ideal? no leaks and materials behave in a similar maner so are stable. If it was a wooden deck then it would ned a wooden cover for the same reason. I suggest it would be well worth your while to get the boat out and thoughally prepare it for sale, give the hull a polish clean up the topsides and clean, polish and service all the gear. Who wants to pay close to 100k for something that looks tatty and makes any buyer think the boat hasn't been looked after therefore what condition are engine etc in? Even getting this done commercially shouldnt cost to much.

 

[Sy-Revolution]

[ QUOTE ]
Dopn't understand the hostility towards 'fake' teak deck. You have a plastic boat so surly a similar plastic deck covering should be ideal? no leaks and materials behave in a similar maner so are stable.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can't agree more, that's why I opted for 'fake' teak. My deck looks great, much better than it would have done if I'd painted it over (YUK!) or covered it in Treadmaster (YUK! YUK!). And vastly cheaper than 'real' teak.

Surely a cleaned up 'fake' teak has got to be better than paint?! What make of 'fake' is it btw?

 

[pcatterall]

Just alter your add!! add a line after the spiel about the false teak saying it is looking a bit tatty now but still doing its job..
This way anyone coming to look will not have a nasty shock.
IMHO false teak still looks good and is functional.
Good luck

 

[david36]

FWIW my advice is to sell it as is but mention the less than visually perfect deck condition in the advert and make sure that the price is realistic. You might consider an advert aimed at Holland - they seem to sell HRs by the dozen over there. Good luck.

 

[AndrewB]

Is this false deck glued or screwed? If the former, I see no problem mentioning it is functional but in need of some TLC. But nothing will turn off a buyer like a tired screwed-on deck. There has just been too much bad publicity about the costs and trouble associated with leaks. You may have to bite the bullet and get it done properly.