Boat Prices

[Birdseye]

Dont take much interest normally but have been looking over the last week , thinking of selling my own boat. Been surprised by price levels despite what I am told is a strong market. For example the Moody 336 bilge that I sold for £51 k a few years ago is now a £30k to £35k advertised price.

has the market changed? Is it now more like the car market where buyers go for the latest newest foreing boat with all the bells and whistles? This looks like being the first time in my several decades of boating that I havent sold my boat for much the same that I bought her for.

 

[Brentwales]

I've been boat shopping recently and the well cared for good condition boats have been snapped up quickly as by the time I enquired, the boats were already under offer or sold. So I'd say the market is very buoyant at the moment.

 

[Carib]

I've been surprised by some low prices coming up, particularly on facebook for sale groups. This is pure speculation, but I suspect many of these very low priced boats turn out to be badly kept/ laid up for years/ dodgy engines on close inspection. There will be more and more of these available as time goes on, while, logically, the better boats not requiring much investment should still be sought after by anyone who realises a cheap boat is rarely a bargain (and, as time goes on, these will be rarer for any given older design). That said, there seem to be very conflicting views on whether the market is strong, or is tanking due to the economy.. so watching replies with interest.

 

[Never Grumble]

I heard that a Moody 336 Bilge recently on the market had been run aground into some rocks perhaps it might be that one. Might explain the price?

 

[jwilson]

At the moment the market is very definitely strong: we ( Yachts for sale at Yachtsnet - UK sailing yacht brokerage and boat sales ) are running low on boats to sell. If however you compare prices with 5, 10 or 20 years ago values of most older boats have dropped significantly, especially for smaller yachts. Really immaculate examples can always sooner or later fetch a good price: knowledgeable buyers understand that it's usually better to buy a well looked after boat with recent engine, sails and upholstery etc. (all biggish ticket items) than buy a fixer-upper at half the price.

I suspect Covid is the cause of the strong market - I have talked to people that say "... I was booked to charter in Greece/Croatia this summer but I can't travel." Also there an element of "....life is too short to wait - I've always wanted my own boat - or a bigger boat".

For sellers one problem is that many boats missed their usual spring pampering, thorough cleaning, maybe some or a lot of varnishing, etc., as the boatyards and marinas were locked up for months.

 

[bitbaltic]

At the moment the market is very definitely strong: we ( Yachts for sale at Yachtsnet - UK sailing yacht brokerage and boat sales ) are running low on boats to sell. If however you compare prices with 5, 10 or 20 years ago values of most older boats have dropped significantly, especially for smaller yachts. Really immaculate examples can always sooner or later fetch a good price: knowledgeable buyers understand that it's usually better to buy a well looked after boat with recent engine, sails and upholstery etc. (all biggish ticket items) than buy a fixer-upper at half the price.

I suspect Covid is the cause of the strong market - I have talked to people that say "... I was booked to charter in Greece/Croatia this summer but I can't travel." Also there an element of "....life is too short to wait - I've always wanted my own boat - or a bigger boat".

For sellers one problem is that many boats missed their usual spring pampering, thorough cleaning, maybe some or a lot of varnishing, etc., as the boatyards and marinas were locked up for months.

Agree with that. I’ve been doing a bit of internet fender kicking as the family is growing and I’ve been wondering about trading up/throwing in the performance towel and looking for a 35ft or bigger AWB. Prices are 5-10k stronger than I seem to remember 18 months or so ago probably because of the caravan quality (and caravan resaleability) of these sorts of boats

 

[Koeketiene]

When I was looking to buy in Jan/Feb/Mar I had a shortlist of 11 boats.
Was looking at boats in the 31-36' range and max 40K.
All the boats on my shortlist have now sold.

 

[ashtead]

Seems a real shortage of newish secondhand boats in the sub5 years old space I assume due to lower production and younger owners maybe ?

 

[Koeketiene]

Seems a real shortage of newish secondhand boats in the sub5 years old space I assume due to lower production and younger owners maybe ?

Sub 5 year old boats have always been rare to the market in my experience.

The newest of the boats I was looking at was still over 20 years old.
Considered/viewed two HR 312, a Moody, a Nicholson 31 and a 35, a Contest 35, Contessa 32, two Victoire 1044, a Mason 33 and finally two Standfast 36.

 

[STATUE]

Dont take much interest normally but have been looking over the last week , thinking of selling my own boat. Been surprised by price levels despite what I am told is a strong market. For example the Moody 336 bilge that I sold for £51 k a few years ago is now a £30k to £35k advertised price.

has the market changed? Is it now more like the car market where buyers go for the latest newest foreing boat with all the bells and whistles? This looks like being the first time in my several decades of boating that I havent sold my boat for much the same that I bought her for.

Just sold my 26 footer after 19 months for a song.
Big stuff will keep their price but the aspirant yacht owner will virtually disappear after October 2020.
So those with funds in the Cayman Islands and Grandads trust funds won't flinch at buying.

 

[pragmatist]

Just sold my 26 footer after 19 months for a song.
Big stuff will keep their price but the aspirant yacht owner will virtually disappear after October 2020.
So those with funds in the Cayman Islands and Grandads trust funds won't flinch at buying.

Why October 2020 ? Or are you looking at October as the end of the 2020 season ?

 

[Tiderace]

Seems most boats in the 27-38 ish foot range are selling well; or have been. We have just sold our 40 plus footer and that market is a different place.

As eluded to above, I suspect its the staycation thing driving the market as that price bracket isnt too expensive to buy

That said, we have COVID Mk2 and the real BREXIT to come, so I'd suspect the market place next year will be very different place, and likely not a good one if you are a seller.

 

[Catalina36]

It's all in the mindset. 30 years ago I sold a Jag 27 I'd had for 10 years for the same amount that I'd paid, £9k. Any suggestion I'd got my money back was of course a nonsense. Ignoring inflation and thus currency depreciation, I'd had 10 years of running costs ie maintenance, boatyard fees, insurance etc not to mention several thou spent on improvements like VHF, Decca, ST winches, new sails and rigging, wind speed etc.

When I bought the current boat 15 years ago it seemed a lot money but since then I've paid the marina more to keep it in a berth and haul out than it cost, not to mention many thou in improvements. The fact that I'll get back less than I paid for it rather than the same is academic really. Either way it's cost me a lot of money, but so what?

Most people buys car expecting to lose money on them, in some cases thousands per year, though I always buy cheapos and run them for years. The real question is what else you'd spend any spare cash on if it weren't going on a boat?

 

[half tonner]

The real question is what else you'd spend any spare cash on if it weren't going on a boat?

Well there is Sarah, Fiona or Mary for starters . Not to mention the divorce lawyer
Oh and Carol , but she does not know it yet

 

[FinesseChris]

Well there is Sarah, Fiona or Mary for starters . Not to mention the divorce lawyer
Oh and Carol , but she does not know it yet

"Some of the money I spent on booze and birds, and some I just wasted" – attributed to G Best Esq.