Alternatives to Sigma 38

[jonic]

If you are thinking now what you might buy in a year or two year's time, then I will tell you what few others will, and that is simply that older boats are very difficult to sell and final transaction prices are often way below advertised prices.
You need to decide now what models you would be interested and start tracking those that are for sale ( almost irrespective of price), then in 18 months time you will know they have been for sale for a LONG time. Of course this is easier said than done; when a lot of boats were advertised in magazines it was possible to keep back copies and trace how long boats have been for sale, in the case of private sales by noting the phone numbers. Of course now that everything is on websites it's a bit more time consuming and requires you to trawl websites noting the details or simply copy webpages every three months.
Then in 18 months or two years you will know which ones have been for sale for at least that long. Start by offerring 40-50% of the asking price. You wont need to make many offers before you have what you want!
Best of Luck

ahem...not always the case (all this year)

SOLD in 24 hours - full asking http://www.jryachts.com/boat-details?boatid=1329604

SOLD in 1 month - just under asking http://www.jryachts.com/boat-details?boatid=1344397

SOLD less than a month - full asking http://www.jryachts.com/boat-details?boatid=1216403

 

[Daydream believer]

Hanse 37 from circa 2004-2006 for the best models. Within your budget & not in need of much maintenance at the age. More room than a sigma 38. Much faster. Will cross Atlantic with ease - (several have done so) can be sailed single handed very easily. Good heavy weather boat.

 

[Vanilla]

If you change your mind i know someone about to put their coded Sigma 38 on the market. She has only occasionally been raced. Solent based.

 

[Quandary]

Which is worst, raced or chartered?

 

[RobbieH]

I don't know what they go for nowadays, but the She 36 would be top of my list for ability in the places you're thinking of going; personally I'd go for that over a modern interior.

I'm thinking that's a bit small. Great if I was single-handing but I can't see myself, 5 climbers and all the kit and stores for a trip to Greenland in a She 36.

 

[RobbieH]

If you change your mind i know someone about to put their coded Sigma 38 on the market. She has only occasionally been raced. Solent based.

I think I'm still researching the market not buying right now. Although if the right boat at the right price came along I would. But to change tack now (give up next seasons plans for the Arpege and prepare another boat before March) both of those rights would have to be very right ☺ the cash is available but I don't want to buy in haste and repent at leisure.

I haven't discounted the Sigma 38 but I'vé seen a lot advertised on line with interiors of water stained and worn varnish and rusty engines that look less than well maintained. The Arpege was a project boat and now she is one of the best available. But I can't do that again ... too draining in every sense.

 

[RobbieH]

If you are thinking now what you might buy in a year or two year's time, then I will tell you what few others will, and that is simply that older boats are very difficult to sell and final transaction prices are often way below advertised prices.
You need to decide now what models you would be interested and start tracking those that are for sale ( almost irrespective of price), then in 18 months time you will know they have been for sale for a LONG time. Of course this is easier said than done; when a lot of boats were advertised in magazines it was possible to keep back copies and trace how long boats have been for sale, in the case of private sales by noting the phone numbers. Of course now that everything is on websites it's a bit more time consuming and requires you to trawl websites noting the details or simply copy webpages every three months.
Then in 18 months or two years you will know which ones have been for sale for at least that long. Start by offerring 40-50% of the asking price. You wont need to make many offers before you have what you want!
Best of Luck

Sounds like my approach, although I would be surprised to get a _good_ yacht for 50% of the asking price, I would be thinking maybe 20% tops. Project boats are definitely out! I would not expect a good yacht of a well-known and desirable marque/model that was reasonably competitively priced to be on the market for 18 months. Although if any owners of 38-40 yachts of the sort I'm looking for want to contact me and offer their pride and joy at 50% of their current asking PM me. I'm not expecting my mailbox to overflow ☺

 

[Chris_Robb]

If you are thinking now what you might buy in a year or two year's time, then I will tell you what few others will, and that is simply that older boats are very difficult to sell and final transaction prices are often way below advertised prices.
You need to decide now what models you would be interested and start tracking those that are for sale ( almost irrespective of price), then in 18 months time you will know they have been for sale for a LONG time. Of course this is easier said than done; when a lot of boats were advertised in magazines it was possible to keep back copies and trace how long boats have been for sale, in the case of private sales by noting the phone numbers. Of course now that everything is on websites it's a bit more time consuming and requires you to trawl websites noting the details or simply copy webpages every three months.
Then in 18 months or two years you will know which ones have been for sale for at least that long. Start by offerring 40-50% of the asking price. You wont need to make many offers before you have what you want!
Best of Luck

I suspect those yachts are the ones that have been badly neglected or just poorly maintained. I still think a boat that has been well maintained - not just cosmetic maintenance - will sell relatively quickly, especially if all the maintenance records and logs are there.

Buying a bargain often costs more to bring up to standard coupled with unexpected break downs and their accompanying worry and costs in the form of enforced marina fees - especially in the med.

By a well looked after boat - not just cosmetically looked after - but where there is real evidence of maintenance.

 

[bignick]

If you are thinking now what you might buy in a year or two year's time, then I will tell you what few others will, and that is simply that older boats are very difficult to sell and final transaction prices are often way below advertised prices.
You need to decide now what models you would be interested and start tracking those that are for sale ( almost irrespective of price), then in 18 months time you will know they have been for sale for a LONG time. Of course this is easier said than done; when a lot of boats were advertised in magazines it was possible to keep back copies and trace how long boats have been for sale, in the case of private sales by noting the phone numbers. Of course now that everything is on websites it's a bit more time consuming and requires you to trawl websites noting the details or simply copy webpages every three months.
Then in 18 months or two years you will know which ones have been for sale for at least that long. Start by offerring 40-50% of the asking price. You wont need to make many offers before you have what you want!
Best of Luck

I'm not sure that is a particularly good plan as you will just identify the ones that are overpriced. The bargains will sell long before then. Also, you will then be trying to get a huge discount when the seller must think it is worth substantially more.

Studying the market so that you have an idea what the market values are, however, is good advice.

 

[robmcg]

I'm thinking that's a bit small. Great if I was single-handing but I can't see myself, 5 climbers and all the kit and stores for a trip to Greenland in a She 36.

Possibly you need to look at very different type of boat then. I wouldn't want to head to Greenland 5up in an overloaded cruiser racer. You would need something that could carry the weight and had larger water and fuel tanks too.

 

[RobbieW]

I'm surprised, given the OPs plans, that no-one's suggested a Discus - after all, if its good enough for Bob Shepton.....

...which has been posted before but is worth repeating

 

[Rafiki]

Obviously it depends on how realistic the asking price is in the first place, but some owners are not realistic yet brokers appear to still be prepared to list their boats ( I suppose they know that eventually the price will drop and they wills sell). I made my comment based on personal experience, not of the boat I bought ( 20% less than asking price, which itself had been reduced once) but of the next one along at the brokers, been for sale for 18 months plus and no offers, the man buying it pad half the original asking price -- and everything worked on board. Admittedly the cosmetics were poor but they could be put right, in my view experience a boat well prepared for sale and that looks and is well presented 'down below' sells easily.
What about this for a 38 foot 'bargain'
http://www.michaelschmidt.co.uk/yacht-details/?Make=Nicholson&Model=38&BoatID=4483170

OK not to everyone's tastes but I think it could 'go-far'.
Cheers