Boot-sale/boat-mart bargains...what's the best you've bought?

[Greenheart]

I sought a 'sprung' upright block for my mainsheet to replace the obstructive little practical joke which the boat was sold with. Options were overpriced, until...

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...not new or slick, but at two quid for a 50mm Holt Allen block with exactly the fitting I need, I believe I'll see the system work pretty well.

Also picked up 50 meters of 3mm burgee-halyard for £3...so if my lazyjacks turn out to be as daft as everyone says, that's a lot less wasted than £17.50 for the same length at the chandlery...and, I found a handy little all-stainless block with a jammer for the cunningham, £3.


Considering how cash evaporates like flatulence in a gale every time I visit a chandlery, I'm glad I got up early yesterday. Why are boot sales always so early?

At risk of hearing about whole boats sold for the price of a pint, or liferafts given away as unopenable suitcases...what's the best bargain you've enjoyed?

 

[superheat6k]

20LB kedge anchor £15 then 2m heavy galvanised chain to attach to it for £5, then a virtually new impact driver for £2 all at Netley this morning. But my best buy that i can remember was 2 jabsco electric conversion loo pumps for £5 a couple if years ago has to be my best.

Offered to buy three rather grubby looking fenders with Fairline logos. Bearing in mind these three were lashed together I assumed the seller's request for £15 for the three was a bit high so countered with a tenner. He then offered me them at £14, but then said "did I mean all three" ! The look of astonishment on his face when I pointed out I could buy new fenders for less than this was unbelievable. Also met another dreamer who wanted £50 for a short length of light galvanised chain.

So found a few gems, but why do so many sellers at these things think the punters are mugs and will buy absolute tat for silly prices.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Two brand new Lewmar ST winches for £100.

Two fresnel lenses....big ones 10" high, 12" diameter for £10. Perfect fit for a project with some old cast iron pedestal navigation lights which will eventually illuminate a path. Heaven knows how much they would have cost through a chandler. I must finish that project!

 

[Greenheart]

Yes, there's never any shortage of 'themed' tackle...big immovable pieces of ironmongery, propellors from motor torpedo boats, a rudder big enough to double as a bar-room door, untold ships' bells, casks and trunks seared with the names of famous historic vessels...

Pricing is weird. A chap told SWMBO we could have 2 (apparently new) buoyancy aids for £25...but such were mademoiselle's charms, she ended up getting one, for £10...

...but lots of well-worn stuff seemed to be priced at more than I'd seen new, in retail outlets. Weird.

 

[bigwow]

2 Lalique perfume bottles for £1 does that count?

 

[jwilson]

Pair of superb optics Russian 7x50 binos for £10. Only snag is that they are heavy enough to use as a spare anchor. Local car boot sale.

 

[Fantasie 19]

I found a handy little all-stainless block with a jammer for the cunningham, £3.

Me too! Netley??

I had a good day.... some cheap rope/bungee, a boat hook (only a fiver), and a couple of good quality pad eyes complete with a double block for a little project I have in mind & less than a fiver for all three..... beer was good at the Rising sun afterwards as well... breezy old day in Southampton water by the look of it....