Best time to buy a boat?

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catseven

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After more than 40 years of on and off sailing on other peoples boats from 10ft sailing dinghies to 40ft Sailing cruisers I am planning to buy my first boat. (Yes, before you say it, I should have done so 40 years ago!) From my research it will probly be a sailing cruiser around 30 to 33 feet long about 3 to 6 years old.

The question is this: In order to get the best deal, when is the best time to buy?

1) Now?

2) End of this season - say October/November?

3) Early next season - February/March?

Any views on this would be gratefully received. Thanks in advance for all the expert advice.

Regards

Catseven
 
Hi & welcome.........

IMHO the best time to buy is around Jan/Feb........
reason- if a boat has not sold from the end of the sailing season until after xmas then you should get a reasonably priced boat, offer 20 to 30 percent below the asking price (subject to survey) & see what happens.....good luck.

What yacht are you looking at any ideas?
What sailing are you going to do, coastal, accross the channel, blue water??


Poter
 
Start looking now. You will see many tatty boats at the end of the season, and sellers often don't seem to be botherd about tidying up their boats.

We looked long and hard for a boat in the spring, and eventually found exactly what we were looking for. Above budget inevitably, but the right boat.

I suggest you get to look as many boats in your price range and type, you may well see a lot of dross before the right one pops up.

Only other tip is to look locally, you can drive many miles on fruitless searches, plus hotel bills etc.

Good hunting
 
Decide if you want a "ready to sail" or a "project" boat.

Odds are if you start looking at boats, as others have suggested, that haven't sold you will be looking at a project.

Most vendors will have declared an asking price but will have a figure in mind they will accept............ if you like the boat, then make an offer.

Only other advice would be not to make an offer on the first viewing as there will be lots of things you forgot to look at/ask about first time around.

Be prepared for viewing boats that are described as superb/good condition that you wouldn't kennel a dog in......... it happens, I viewed several like that looking for a bargain. Don't let it get you down as I nearly did after travelling to Jersey to view a boat described as "in good condition and in regular use" to find the inside ripped out and problems with the hull.

The "best deal" is when you get a boat in a condition you're happy with at a price you're willing to pay........... oh, and you never know, it may happen at 3.00 p.m. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]



1) Now?

2) End of this season - say October/November?

3) Early next season - February/March?



[/ QUOTE ]
Having just sold my boat and looking for a replacement my thoughts are:
1. Now- a lot of people are looking for boats at the moment, inspired by good summer and the hope of getting a couple of months sailing in this year, so demand is relatively high.

2. Sellers may have invested in winter storage costs by November and may prefer to sit tight for a better price in Spring. Maybe early October with haul out looming might be an idea.

3. Early season gets a lot of people looking at boats but no rush doing deals as the whole summer lies ahead. Most sellers, myself anyway, are a bit ambivalent about selling at this time of year and may be unlikely to bargain.

I think each boat needs to be treated individually. Find out when insurance renewal, berthing etc is due and use these costs to negotiate. However irrational, it easier to reduce the price on money the seller hasn't got than fork out for these costs with money already in the bank, especially when they don't add value to the boat.

Good luck.

Andy
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I've always found the best time to buy is around 3:00pm.

[/ QUOTE ]

Er....... would that be BST or GMT?

Catseven

[/ QUOTE ]

.. pub closing time!
 
Seems like the sort of boat you're looking for is likely to be a trade-in from people who bought new a few years back and are now upgrading. If so, they may well be placing orders at the Soton Boat Show to get "Boat Show Special Prices". In which case, you'd expect their existing boats to hit the used market in Oct/Nov. So maybe look in Dec, with the intention of finding the right boat and spinning out the offer/survey/negotiation process into the early spring, so you don't pick-up too much of the overwintering costs.

Mmm - all smacks of a few too many assumptions. In which case I'd add - if you find a boat you love, at a price you like, at any time of the year, go for it, coz a better deal may not come along later.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Don't let it get you down as I nearly did after travelling to Jersey to view a boat described as "in good condition and in regular use" to find the inside ripped out and problems with the hull.


[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry about that /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Actually works both ways though /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Best time to buy.
When you have found the right boat at the right price, and you have the money.
Never mind what time it is, and remember the two best days with a boat.

The day you buy it and the day you sell it, there will be a lot of fun and expense in between.

It is a lot cheaper on other peples boats and a lot less of a worry.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Now all I have to do is find the right boat at the right price

[/ QUOTE ] After 40 years you should have now decided what type and model boat you want, and know what the going price is.
So the right time to buy is when you see one in an acceptable condition at a price you are willing to pay. In other words, when you see it, go for it!
 
I am with TKen - If you know what you want and it's from a major manufacturer then approach the distributor before the show and give them a note of your needs/details. They may well be able to make a sale on the back of your purchasing a prospective trade in etc and everyone comes out a winner! Especially at the beginning of the show they will be reluctant to take in trade ins they cant shift fast for profit so having you available is good news!

What you don't want is to end up with a list of boats where people are of the view that "If only we could sell our boat for £ then we can get a new one..........." - you want to pay trade price on a well looked after, well equiped boat that someone needs to sell!
 
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