Best time of year to buy a boat ?

[Boo2]

Hi,

I read somewhere that the best time of year to buy sails is Aug / Sept because that is when the sailmakers are having a quiet time. Is there similarly a best time of year to buy a boat ? I mean a time when they are cheaper than otherwise as opposed to just before the season begins ?

Thanks,

Boo2

 

[Canopy Locked]

Hi,
Is there similarly a best time of year to buy a boat ? I mean a time when they are cheaper than otherwise as opposed to just before the season begins ?

Thanks,

Boo2

Trouble with boats is that there is no "Parkers Guide" listing new and used prices.

A lot of peoples thoughts turn to boating in the spring - so boats on sale are more likely to attract interest and possibly buyers. So if there was a "best time" it's probably the winter.

But to be honest I don't think it makes too much difference... if you want to buy a boat and the owner wants to sell..... all you have to do is agree a price! Obviously if you're desperate to buy (not a good idea) you'll more likely pay a higher price .... if the seller is desperate to sell, you might get a good deal.

 

[vyv_cox]

It has been said that end of season is good, as the present owner would like to avoid a winter's berthing fees. It gives you time to carry out any mods/repairs that may be necessary.

 

[bob26]

Hi,

I read somewhere that the best time of year to buy sails is Aug / Sept because that is when the sailmakers are having a quiet time. Is there similarly a best time of year to buy a boat ? I mean a time when they are cheaper than otherwise as opposed to just before the season begins ?

Thanks,

Boo2

By "best time" do you mean when are you likely to get the same boat cheaper? Or when are you likely to have the widest range of boats to choose from? Or what is the most convenient time to buy? You want all three of course! So the best time is just before you want to start using the boat, when all would-be vendors have just completed all the pre-season maintenance and fitting-out work with meticulous care, paid the mooring fees for a year and are so desperate to sell to buy a new boat of their own/settle a debt/avoid bankruptcy/pay their alimony/emigrate that they will accept the first ludicrous offer you make even though it leaves them heartbroken and their children starving and in rags.... Though there may be one or two flaws with this strategy.

Owners may occasionally skimp the maintenance in their last weeks and months (and years) of ownership - hard to believe I know, but it has been known to happen. Parting with a boat can be as long drawn out and messy as parting with a lover (I'm told). And there again some may be suddenly rather keen to shift the b*****r before the rent falls due...or the winter lay-up charges or the horrid scrubbing off. So there may be cheaper boats about at the end of the season - or only apparently cheaper since these maintenance tasks and charges then fall to you.

Of course big spenders may be persuaded to change boats at the London Boat Show or some such event in which case their lavishly equipped and money no-object maintained previous boats might not be on the market until the new year. So does the neglected down at heel cast-off you snapped up for a song in November look quite such a bargain now?

The truth is that just as every vendor is only looking for one buyer (preferably at the asking price) so every buyer is looking for the one boat that ticks all his or her boxes. And you may have to be prepared to buy it when it eventually comes along rather than at some theoretically "best time". An old bloke selling a boat once said to me (when I made a ridiculous offer) "A bargain is only a good one if both sides are happy with it. " I didn't understand what he meant at the time. But I think I'm beginning to.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Quandary]

Best time to buy, definitely Dec. to Feb. if you are looking for value. It works like this, owner decides to sell after a bad (or good) season, starts looking for next boat, puts own boat on market, no offers in September, realizes he is expecting too much, sees boat he fancies and wants it in the water by Easter. Desperate not to finish up owning two boats so starts reducing expectations even more. If it does not go by March gives up and decides to wait until next season.
If you are a boat owner you should always have it on the market, if some one asks how you find it, start to sell, if you decide to wait until September, as I did once, you finish up getting a lot less.
So now I have a 2007 Finngulf 33, great boat in fantastic condition, I know what I will take for it and if any of you offer that amount you can have it. It is always easier to buy than to sell.

 

[Tranona]

Don't think there is any "best time" to either buy or sell. There are times of the year when buying and selling is more active and times of the year when there may be more or less choice of available boats. You can only buy what others are prepared to sell and the biggest problem is finding the right boat if you are a buyer and finding a willing buyer if you are a seller.

Very few boats are like cars where there is always a plentiful supply and a range of alternatives. Neither are purchases (nor most sales) out of necessity so the process is often drawn out.

So, concentrate on identifying the boat that meets your needs best at a price you can afford and buy when you find one that ticks sufficient of your boxes such that you won't be disappointed.

 

[cimo]

I agree
considering you'll want to inspect the hull out of the water and test the boat on the water before handing over you hard earned, it could take >6 months to close a deal. Buy whenever you are happy that what your getting is what you want I'd say. Not something to set a clock to. happy hunting.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Hi,

I read somewhere that the best time of year to buy sails is Aug / Sept because that is when the sailmakers are having a quiet time. Is there similarly a best time of year to buy a boat ? I mean a time when they are cheaper than otherwise as opposed to just before the season begins ?

Thanks,

Boo2

I think research is the better answer to this queston: having narrowed down to 1 or 2 marques, assemble from all sources the details and prices for half a dozen boats recently on offer. Look abroad too. You will soon spot the obvious median price / year configuration,
the premium charged by south coast brokers etc...! Oh yes!

Investigate boats that look good against this target and close in. You could find this happens at any time. Sure, more folks think about selling in autumn etc but your deal could come at any season for a plethora of reasons including lurches in the economy / interest rates that, as far as I know, having nothing to do with solar cycles.

PWG

 

[Quandary]

I bought a Sigma 33 once, spent a long weekend at the end of October driving all over, Lancashire, South and East Coast etc. At the time, 1986, Sigma 33s as one designs had fairly firm prices all published on the Class Assoc. website. The one I liked best was afloat in Burnham, it had two owners, one wanted his share for something else. After inspection I made a low offer, as it sat, undertaking to arrange lift out, transport etc all factored in to my offer, take it now or I was on my way to the next one. After about 1 hour of wrangling, not with me but with each other I had the boat. They were free to do what each wanted with no hassle over wintering etc. I took a bit of a risk, but it was not difficult to arrange for lift out with Priors. I know I only saw it afloat but by then I was confident about the marque and knew I could budget for quite a bit of 'undiscovered' and still be in pocket.
The Sigma 38 which followed it in 1996 was selected after visiting the used boat shows which go on all around the Southhampton show, there were a large number to be seen in a small area at one time though I suspect some of them were only for sale to high offers. This is one of the best places to start because of the choice offered, you leave an offer sitting and if it is not beaten by the end of the show your chances are good.

 

[V1701]

Start looking as soon as you've decided you are in the market for a boat, then go and see as many as you can, sail on as many as you can, there's always bargains to be had, so no need to rush. I don't know what it's been like in the past cos I'm quite new to all this but a lot of the boats on brokers sites have been around for quite a few months. Most of all enjoy it...

 

[simplyred]

See as many styles and designs as possible it's best to identify the type of boat you dont want, then narrow it down to the design you do want.
Winter is a good time to negotiate deals, as mentioned before, the seller knows he can seriously start looking for another boat for the coming season if he has agreed a deal with you.
also as mentioned in an earlier thread the South Coast Brokers dont seem to care to much about second hand sales, we arranged to look over a boat at hamble point at a set time, the ba****d didnt even turn up, having driven down from Essex it was a bit raw,
Good hunting

 

[V1701]

See as many styles and designs as possible it's best to identify the type of boat you dont want, then narrow it down to the design you do want.
Winter is a good time to negotiate deals, as mentioned before, the seller knows he can seriously start looking for another boat for the coming season if he has agreed a deal with you.
also as mentioned in an earlier thread the South Coast Brokers dont seem to care to much about second hand sales, we arranged to look over a boat at hamble point at a set time, the ba****d didnt even turn up, having driven down from Essex it was a bit raw,
Good hunting

Hmm, some brokers. I had a real mix of attitudes from them ranging from near complete lack of interest to really very helpful...

 

[cimo]

When you can, buying private has a lot more on offer. Who better to answer your questions than the current owner!