Tam Lin
Well-Known Member
I have heard it said that if you want a new engine for your yacht you get different prices quoted at different times of the year. Is this true and which is the cheapest time?
Does the price of a new engine vary according to the time of year?
- Thread starter Tam Lin
- Start date
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
September/October
Around SIBS people shop around for an engine because they are thinking of replacing (something to do over winter).
Someone looking for a new engine in Spring/Summer almost certainly needs one there and then (and hence will likely have to pay more).
Boatyards tend to be 'less busy' around that time of year (Sep/Oct) too, so you can haggle about the cost of labour too.
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Cousin Jack
Member
I've found recently that the engine discounts offered at the boat shows are usually held, typically for a few months after the show, then the engine companies raise their prices and after the next show offer the discounts again.
If you can do any of the removal and prep yourself, that helps.
If you can do any of the removal and prep yourself, that helps.
cryan
Well-Known Member
I have a price that I can sell them for. That price will only change if I'm offered an ex factory engine for a discount from the factory however those engines are at a pre ordained spec and if you need specific spec the price will rise.
The mark up for dealers on small engines is so little in cash terms that haggling is rarely worth it. However I have offered an engine for my cost price plus delivery if I get the work to fit it as I'll make more in the labour rate. Obviously the bigger the engine the more room there is for movement in price.
But to answer your question; From my point of view, No. The price is the same throughout the year.
The mark up for dealers on small engines is so little in cash terms that haggling is rarely worth it. However I have offered an engine for my cost price plus delivery if I get the work to fit it as I'll make more in the labour rate. Obviously the bigger the engine the more room there is for movement in price.
But to answer your question; From my point of view, No. The price is the same throughout the year.
alahol2
Well-Known Member
I don't know about other manufacturers but Beta (the factory sales people) are willing to negotiate. It is not too difficult to get them to agree an upgrade to eg a shallow sump, high rise exhaust, higher spec alternator, better control panel etc at the base engine price. When I got mine (admittedly 10 years ago) we started at the discounted boat show price and got a couple of upgrades thrown in to secure the order.
cryan
Well-Known Member
Of course if they are undercutting their dealers they won't have a very happy dealer network.
My advice is know what you want and sit down with the dealer. For example if you wanted a non standard alternator I might swallow that cost (say £200) if it made you sign however if you wanted a different gearbox at say £1000 then I probably wouldn't. Again though if you were having us fit it etc then that might change things.
You have got to remember though that the dealer has to make money somewhere.