AuntyRinum
Well-known member
Sell it afloat. Even on a mooring a boat is alive but in a yard it's a dead thing. I've sold two boats so far, both afloat.
Dry or on mooring. Which is better to sell?
- Thread starter Tim Good
- Start date
CFarr
Member
I agree. I know it's easier and cheaper to survey the boat on the hard but as said above, they just don't feel right.
Walking on deck feels a bit unsafe too.
I looked at identical boats at one yard but instantly felt at home with the one in the water.
I suppose a bit more tricky if not on a pontoon though.
Good luck.
Tranona
Well-known member
That is the point. Big difference between a boat on a pontoon mooring in a marina and one on a swinging mooring in a tidal river with a 20 minute row to get to it!
AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
I bought Capricious on the hard; however she is a well-known type with a good reputation, and I had the chance of a sail on a sister ship. Personally, though, I'd rather be able to see the underwater hull for myself, and see that there weren't any obvious nasty surprises lurking around. I also wouldn't buy a boat whose underwater shape didn't appeal to me.
I accept that all of this is personal preference and that I might think differently if it was a less well-known type, or a design that I haven't experience of - for example, I might well ask for a trial in a catamaran, which I have no experience of.
I accept that all of this is personal preference and that I might think differently if it was a less well-known type, or a design that I haven't experience of - for example, I might well ask for a trial in a catamaran, which I have no experience of.
AuntyRinum
Well-known member
The buyer should always have a survey and a sea trial if required. If they are serious they will pay for a lift out with ample opportunity to examine the hull.
Kelpie
Well-known member
Depends on the value of the boat though!
AuntyRinum
Well-known member
Not if the buyer has any sense.
Kelpie
Well-known member
Well when SWMBO bought a Graduate dinghy for a couple of hundred quid she didn't get it surveyed.
I'm just trying to point out that below a certain value, the cost of a survey becomes too big a proportion of the value of the boat.
On haul out costs, we just dried the boat out against the harbour wall.
AuntyRinum
Well-known member
We're not talking about dinghies. Why would we have a discussion about whether you should sell dinghies in or out of the water?
Kelpie
Well-known member
Just to illustrate that boats come in all manner of sizes, and values.
Would you get a £1000 yacht surveyed? Would you get it hoisted?
doug748
Well-known member
I have bought a small number of boats, all without pre-purchase survey.
Anyroad,
A thought for the OP.
If/when the boat goes on the mooring make sure you have an efficient way of getting viewers out to it. You need a large dory, big yard boat or RIB. The prospective customers will like it, esp the ladies, in this case size does matter. It feeds our fantasies. You might borrow something, rent it or slip someone a tenner in the yard. Whatever you do, a small wet tender ride will not promote a sale.
Anyroad,
A thought for the OP.
If/when the boat goes on the mooring make sure you have an efficient way of getting viewers out to it. You need a large dory, big yard boat or RIB. The prospective customers will like it, esp the ladies, in this case size does matter. It feeds our fantasies. You might borrow something, rent it or slip someone a tenner in the yard. Whatever you do, a small wet tender ride will not promote a sale.
