beneteau antares 9.80

[TommieDee]

We are about to buy our first (own) boat for use in the Isle of Man, having cruised the last 30 years since a kid on my parents boat on the River Shannon.

We have shortlisted our options to 1 (which took some time!) - the Benny Antares 9.80. Read all the reviews/owners report, crawled all over it at LIBS this year and been for a sea trial last week on one (which interestingly wasnt actually for sale). SWMBO and I loved the boat as did our 2 and a half year old. The six month old slept soundly throughout the sea trial, so I reckon that he has also given it the thumbs up!

We are looking for a used 9.80 in the price bracket 80k-100k. We have seen one online at the Hamble which is a 2003 model and well priced. As a 2003 model, this must have been one of the first of the production line. Sea Ventures say the boat is in good order and are sending me their survey (done when taken in part ex). Needless to say, we will get our own survey if we like the boat when we see it.

I have a few questions for you ever helpful forumites:-

1. does anyone have any major negatives about the 9.80;

2. should I stay away from a 2003 model being so early in the production run (anyone aware of any problems/issues with the early boats?)

Many thanks
Tom

 

[oldgit]

If memory serves me correctly the very early boats came fitted with Volvos minus all the fancy electronic trickery.Although the electronics may have made the boat a tad more economical and a tad faster ?,it will a lot cheaper and simpler to maintain in the long run without them.You will be able to fix most things yourself or be able to call in a local man to do the job ,rather than having to rely on a man with a white coat with an expensive magic box able to read the fault codes in your arm and a leg to replace ECU.There was a boat with a couple of older model Volvos in Brighton up for sale at around £90K a year or so ago.
Also bear in mind that a lot of this sort stuff will be coming on the market this summer due to the increase in fuel costs coming into place in November,you will have a lot of choice so drive a very hard bargain,buyers will be few and far between,do not be afraid to offer a very low starting bid you can always go up,any broker type suggestions of 2-3% or less of asking type offers should be ignored.
Friend of mine got £15k off the price of a very similar boat last summer and that was before the fuel increase wobbles set in ..
Good luck.

 

[seadove]

We bought one a couple of years ago. Built 2003, but an 04 model. Great boat. We went for the 200 hp nanni diesels, rather than the volvo ecu stuff. YBW has boat test report if you do a search.

 

[TommieDee]

The boat has the 200hp Nannis which i think are a lot simpler to maintain than the new volvo EDCs as you say.

Very good point about the market being flooded with boats in the run up to red diesel demise. Hadnt thought of that. Will certainly push for a decent price.

It is on for £85k (2003 model). There are a few others on elsewhere for £95k (2004). So it seems already fairly competitively priced.

What do you think i should offer in those circumsstances. Does the fact that Sea Ventures are taking this boat in part ex against a new aquador make any difference to how you would negotiate. So effectively i think they are selling for themselves rather than broker.

Thanks
Tom

 

[Alrob]

i would treat it as if you were trading in a car, more "cost to change" than price of boat.

 

[Whitelighter]

They will want to move it on fairly quickly to get their money back, so that is in your favour. The ither advantage is you are dealing with the descision maker, not a middle man so you can press them for a deal. I would start at £75k though I would be amazed if you got it for that. £85k seems a good price already, but you dont ask and you wont get.