Boat show and demo boat

[rwoofer]

I am changing boat and I have an option to select that boat that will be used for SBS and subsequent Demos. I get a little bit off the purchase price, but not much.

A few questions:
- Is this a good idea?
- Has anyone done it before?
- Does SBS leave your boat scarred for life or do the dealers make good any damage etc?
- Are Demo sails likely to cause damage?
- What should I make sure I put in the contract, so that I don't loose out?

Any help or answers gratefully received.

Richard

 

[jb2006]

I think you will see a little wear and tear from the boat show, but the major dealers are very strict about taking shoes off - leaving bags outside etc. I would have thought this risk is where your discount comes in.

Test sails are unlikely to cause any damage as the boat will be under the command of someone from the dealer - might sail her overcanvassed though.

Any sailing damage should be covered by the dealers insurance and made good - but make sure this is fully documented.

Post show boats usually seem to be 5 percent or so off the new price - I thought about buying one last year, it still looked great - but wanted my own spec. Presumably you already have that

 

[Jobs_a_ good_ un]

hi
What have you gone for is it the one you posted drying out and how was the test ?
I would only let them display my boat if it was a decent discount
How much are they offering off
I couldnt stand people trampling all over my pride and joy the way they do at sibs
Got any pics of the new boat ?
Regards
Mark

 

[Richard10002]

I recall my father buying a brand new boat in 1990. When we arrived to take over, many of the commissioning bits hadnt been fitted and some hadnt been supplied. As we were on a deadline, we actually assisted with the fitting of various bits.

Part way through the trip to Pwllelli, the water tank leaked all of it's contents into the bilge.... it had come away from its' restraints, and split.

My immediate thoughts are that, if you buy a demo boat, it will probably have plenty of extras, everything you are expecting will have been fitted and tested and, during demo sails, things which are going to go wrong early on will have gone wrong and been fixed for the next demo.

 

[jackho]

If it's only 5% I wouldn't bother - buy new. I bought a 26ft new as boat show demo at cost which was less 20% a few years ago. Bought 2 new boats since at 8% + discount. Suggest you e-mail around all the dealers in Europe and see who quotes best discount. You can also save on delivery and comm. costs if you organise yourself. Otherwise pay your money and let the dealer make his full profit.

 

[BlueChip]

[ QUOTE ]
I am changing boat and I have an option to select that boat that will be used for SBS and subsequent Demos. I get a little bit off the purchase price, but not much.

Richard

[/ QUOTE ]

Rememember that at the show new boats will be sold with a package of extras and often are offered at significantly less than list price. If you dont anticipate this then even after your discount you can end up paying more for your demo boat than a buyer who looks over your boat at the show and has a demo sail on yours. Therefore make sure your contract is based on a % off the actual selling price of the show offer.

If they are using your boat as a demonstrator, they should be paying for your marina berth for the duration. Don't expect the sales guys to take as much care of her as you do, for instance if they have demos two days aprt, will they bother to put the sail cover on? Will they wash her off, fill her up with water & diesel etc etc?

Have a clause in your contract that after the demo period they valet and bring her back to original condition, polish out any marks and scratches that occured in their care. There will almost certainly be some, just getting her to and from the boat show is likely to cause some damage.

Have a log book on board where they and you fill in a condition report before and after each sail, this helps avoid arguments later over who is responsible.

If they won't agree to the above, then dont have the demo boat.

 

[Lizzie_B]

My cousin bought 'show boat' from Hamburg boat show and got about 20% off, plus avoided being charged for several extras which he 'claimed' he wouldn't have chosen for himself.

5% seems very little.

 

[kcrane]

Our boat was the SIBS 2005 and LIBS 2006 show boat, plus, it was the dealers own boat for summer 2005.

It had a lot of visitors at SIBS, fewer at LIBS. It was sailed to LIBS from Solent, and back with me on board.

It survived very well, snags were fixed and there were very few marks. I'd be concerned about the quality of the boat if being a show boat made any real difference. If it can't stand that without problems, try a pair of careless teenagers aboard for 3 weeks during a family cruise.

We also got some extras already fitted (PC, TV's etc), but still had lots to add ourselves, Victron charger, heating, Navtex...

You also get to see the boat exactly as is, I can't "see" what colours will look like, so much prefer not to choose from a small sample.

All in all, we would buy a show boat again, even without a large discount.