Dreadful photos of boats for sale (please contribute examples)

[pvb]

My friend has just bought a new boat (new to him) over a hundred thousand pounds. In the words of his wife, it was minging when she saw it. . However plenty of elbow grease and it is now immaculate. The broker told him that he did tell the vendor, if he payed a valeting company a thousand or so to clean it up, he would probably have got another ten thou for it.

That's very true. My last boat was a Hallberg-Rassy 352 which had been for sale in Spain for some time, unsuccessfully. The broker told the owner he'd need to get it back to the UK to sell it. So the owner got a delivery crew to bring it back. They apparently had an "interesting" Biscay crossing, then arrived on the south coast and the boat was lifted out on to hardstanding. Nothing else was done. It looked like it had just been washed ashore by a tsunami. It was filthy. The interior had lots of broken glass, a smashed locker door, bloodstains on a carpet. I made a silly offer and bought it for a good £10K less than I'd have had to pay if it had been pristine.

 

[steve yates]

Dreadful photos are probably honest so you won't waste time and money on looking at the boat, so no need to get hot under the collar.

When I look at boats, if the photos are crap or there are none showig the insides properly, all of it, then I discount it immediately.

 

[Daydream believer]

When I look at boats, if the photos are crap or there are none showig the insides properly, all of it, then I discount it immediately.

I bet you would be great on a dating website

 

[Greenheart]

When I look at boats, if the photos are crap or there are none showing the insides properly, all of it, then I discount it immediately.

Exactly.

No excuse for not showing the cabin as it is. If there aren't photos, why not? If there are only poor photos, why are they poor?

Whether it's intentional distraction, total incompetence with elementary tech, or lack of care, it doesn't deserve closer enquiry.

I'm surprised when there's just one photo. I don't think buyers can be expected to be any keener to enquire, than the seller is to sell.

 

[penfold]

That's very true. My last boat was a Hallberg-Rassy 352 which had been for sale in Spain for some time, unsuccessfully. The broker told the owner he'd need to get it back to the UK to sell it. So the owner got a delivery crew to bring it back. They apparently had an "interesting" Biscay crossing, then arrived on the south coast and the boat was lifted out on to hardstanding. Nothing else was done. It looked like it had just been washed ashore by a tsunami. It was filthy. The interior had lots of broken glass, a smashed locker door, bloodstains on a carpet. I made a silly offer and bought it for a good £10K less than I'd have had to pay if it had been pristine.

There are some people with a weird idea of what a delivery crew are supposed to do; whenever I've done it we cleaned the boat thoroughly when we arrived and handed it over looking like it did when we took charge, if not better, the only exception being gear failure when that happened. If I was paying for a delivery I'd expect the same.

 

[mrming]

Spotted on eBay: Reluctant sale of my 19ft Yacht. Sound seaworthy boat. Little tlc needed is all. | eBay

 

[Gary Fox]

Spotted on eBay: Reluctant sale of my 19ft Yacht. Sound seaworthy boat. Little tlc needed is all. | eBay

Free magazine included

 

[Greenheart]

Have I missed something? It's not a show-room example, but it doesn't look terrible - does it? Admittedly I'm viewing it on a phone-screen.

Regarding the photo itself, I'm sure I've seen far worse. At 19ft, it's such a little boat, that view must be almost the only one needed.

 

[mrming]

Finger over the lens in 3/7 pics. Boat is a mess. Agreed the boat itself doesn’t look as bad as some of the horrors you see on eBay. I haven’t posted any of those as they are just terrifying boats rather than examples of terrible photos.

 

[Greenheart]

As you say, finger over the lens. I had thought on a dark screen, that the finger was an unusual bit of the interior, like half an inverted 'keyhole' bulkhead.

Go on, link us to some worse ones. They're very funny.

 

[mrming]

Creative use of garden furniture: Kingfisher 20 for sale UK, Kingfisher boats for sale, Kingfisher used boat sales, Kingfisher Sailing Yachts For Sale Kingfisher 20 (available) - Apollo Duck

Well worth checking out the pic of the dinghy in particular.

 

[penfold]

Finger over the lens in 3/7 pics. Boat is a mess. Agreed the boat itself doesn’t look as bad as some of the horrors you see on eBay. I haven’t posted any of those as they are just terrifying boats rather than examples of terrible photos.

What is the mainsail supposed to be 'ok' for? Burial at sea?

 

[mrming]

Listing now sadly ended, but the description is quite a thing: “There is some graffiti on the ceiling which will need painted over but it does have cute little hobbit doors.”

30 foot liveaboard sailing boat in Brighton Marina | eBay

 

[Greenheart]

Well worth checking out the pic of the dinghy in particular.

I can't decide if we're doing the seller a favour, by showing them here. Do you suppose that's a sliding seat?

 

[mrming]

Also now ended, but this has got to be the most hilariously dishonest description I’ve seen in a long time: Plymouth Pilot (Sail + Diesel Inboard). Vintage. Excellent Condition. Approx 24' | eBay

 

[Greenheart]

"Vintage", indeed. Parked amid saplings in 1968, I daresay.

 

[mrming]

Including such gems as:

“I wouldn't be surprised if the engine started first time!”

“It appears to be in excellent structural condition, although I can offer no formal guarantee. These boats were built to last.”

“The woodwork on the rigging is beautifully burnished and the bowsprit is solid as can be.”

“I would personally have a cabin fabricated onto this boat to create a two bed cabin with the usual offices. You then have Dulcibella from Riddle of The Sands. Truly beautiful, romantic, indestructible sea going boat. Restored to that condition it is a £50k boat.”

 

[Greenheart]

This is advertised as a 'Foiler yacht'.

I suspect it should be in Farmers Weekly, not Apollo Duck. I wonder if it bales as well as it threshes.

 

[penfold]

Including such gems as:

“I wouldn't be surprised if the engine started first time!”

“It appears to be in excellent structural condition, although I can offer no formal guarantee. These boats were built to last.”

“The woodwork on the rigging is beautifully burnished and the bowsprit is solid as can be.”

“I would personally have a cabin fabricated onto this boat to create a two bed cabin with the usual offices. You then have Dulcibella from Riddle of The Sands. Truly beautiful, romantic, indestructible sea going boat. Restored to that condition it is a £50k boat.”

My favourite is;

Whilst unwrapping her of her canvas storage tent we couldn't help allowing a deluge of water into her so drilled 4 exit holes to allow the water out before lifting her. Non structural and easily repaired - but worth mentioning.

Just the 4 holes.

 

[bitbaltic]

Also now ended, but this has got to be the most hilariously dishonest description I’ve seen in a long time: Plymouth Pilot (Sail + Diesel Inboard). Vintage. Excellent Condition. Approx 24' | eBay

That eBay now says ‘sorry, you missed out on this item’ only makes it better.