Buying a boat..Is this what I should expect?

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ruselhobs

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I want to buy my first boat and looking forward to it, but first experiences suck (sorry for the Americanism). Live in Newcastle. Went along to York Marina as the biggest marina in the area. I only have a modest budget 20k and was made to feel it. The service was one of disdain and contempt. Surely buying a boat shouldn't be like this or is it. Are all brokers like this? Should I buy privately? Any advice pleeeeeease.
 
You've obviously hit the economic brightspot of the country where people who work on commission can turn their noses up at earning a four figure sum for being nice to you. Feck 'em. There's no shortage of boats for sale.
 
I live in the South and went to Dickies at Brighton Marina with a similar budget just over 4 yrs.ago.
They sold me a boat and treated me as if I was spending £150k, and this is in the''affluent South''.
I still get recognised at the boat shows and if I ever come into money, that's where I'd go.
Customer service, Definitely.
 
salespeople are, in the main, tossers and they are going to begin to realise in the coming months, that someone with money to spend on a non essential toy is a god send to them. as above feck 'em. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
My wife went to a boatyard on her own as I was working. We had a similar budget to above. The broker was such a patronising prick. Basically said to my very youthful looking wifey that when you grow up and have some more money come back and see me as on your budget you won't get what you want.
Well, we proved him very wrong and we are thoroughly enjoying our boat.
It was great to see the chap at SIBS and we made sure he remembered my wife before telling him we weren't interested in his boat and stepped onboard the Aquador on the next berth that we patently can't afford. It was worth it though just to see his sad little face!!
 
Go back to the same place looking to spend the £100,000 aunt ethel just left you in her will and arse him about all day, then tell him his boats are all crap and you prefer the one you saw just down the road for £5000. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I dont know what boats this guy normally sells, but if he sell one of the big brands then maybe he doesnt really have much interest, in fairness.
And although £20k is alot of money, in fact for a boat it isnt very much.
Having said all that, if the guy was any good at all, he would have helped you properly, made suggestions,"educated" you a bit.. that way even if you dont buy something from him today, you might well go back to him next year or the year after.
Some specialist dealers are informative and helpful, but I ve never been very taken with just general brokers
 
As others have said that is certainly not how it should be whether we are in a recession or not. Just sold a boat for £130,000 and another for €17,000
I like to think I treated each customer with the same courtesy.
 
Years ago at the London Boat Show my 6 year old daughter said to the salesman on the Princess stand that "Daddy had just had a little win on the lottery" She didn't say it was only a tenner but we did have a good look around. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Sadly many brokers are like that, particularly if as someone said, they're used to selling new boats from the big marques.

£20k is a big chunk of cash, in fact, and will get you a lot of boat. Can I make a suggestion? Let us know (if you can):
<ul type="square">
[*]what sort of boating you're looking to do
[*]where you want to base the boat
[*]who (and how many) will use the boat regularly and occasionally
[*]how much you think you can afford to spend running the boat
[*]if you're any good at DIY or mechanical stuff
[*]how old you're prepared to go

[/list]
Armed with that, the assembled rabble here will doubtless offer you tons of advice, help narrow down some boat types, makes and even likely boats, and generally get you going in the right direction.

Don't be afraid to ask daft questions, because although they've doubtless been answered before the search facility is crocked. Expect to get a little ribbing or other types of abuse, but please remember that most everyone here knows everyone so despite how it might appear, it's all good natured - don't take offence.

That aside, welcome to the world of boating, and I hope you will have many happy years wondering why the hell you do this stuff.
 
Point taken about the people who usually sell big yachts not seeing the need to have an interest in the guy with £20k. Not the attitude at Northshore though. I had a small Bavaria at the time and spent ages doodling about on a Southerly costing about 6 times the price. They were helpful, welcoming and said basically - everyone starts somewhere - we get them when they trade up. Good people and if SWMBO hadn't decided that diesel was the thing, I'd have one today
 
Exactly the same thing happened to me a few years ago at York , (then Naburn boat sales or something) I was looking at sealine Flybridges 310 to 350.
He asked what I currently had, once I mentioned a Bayliner that was it, he was far too stuck up his ..... to speak to us, I had to help myself to the sales sheets.
Similar issues at Sealine Hamble, very friendly and helpful until I mentioned I had a BAyliner.

I bought Privately, completely different experience

You can ask real questions and get real answers
Easily find any problems, just by asking and looking for expansion if you have doubts

I agreed the deal with the previous owner who took me for a test drive, We were 300 miles from home and he suggested we stay on the boat to save looking for a Hotel. we ended up having the weekend on the boat, I found a few little issues but paid up in full once the survey was sorted 3-4 weeks later.

The survey was waste of money, the previous owner will know far more than a surveyor can find in an hour , the trick is friendly interrogation to find it, a Broker takes away the opportunity of the interrogation, you must be mad to buy through a Broker.

The last guy's wife got a bit fed up with the interrogation but it was my hard earned cash they wanted and I will ask as many awkward questions as I like !
 
I dont think the amount you are spending has anything to do with it. Some people are just like that. Ignore them and go to the next dealer.

Best boat I have seen around for £20k is the Doral on Boats and Outboards.

http://www.boatsandoutboards.com/view/F190526



I know nothing about this boat apart from the advert but it looks great value if still for sale.
 
Thats a serious bargain, you could even re-engine it with a new diesel and still be quids in /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Hi Russ, Yes if you have not find out yet you soon will... all brokers are to$$er$. You would do better to look for something for sale privately at £35 -£40K and then bid them £20K and get yer'self a bargain. Remember it takes the same amount of effort on their behalf to sell a £10k boat or a £200K boat so they are not going to be interested in you as they only make 8% plus VAT commission.
 
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