How to sell a boat quickly?

[Cactus Sailing]

If you price under £15,000 you can have a free one photo advert on https://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/classifieds.htm

the free one photo advert isnt likely to attract buyers if theres others out there with 50 photos and a couple of videos etc, especially for popular boats and if the buyer is travelling they might want to get a good idea of the condition before even setting off.

tidy and clean the boat within an inch of its life before taking photos too, also good photos, wide angle lens, and de-clutter the boat, no-one wants to see a quarter berth looking like an unloved crap heap / dumping ground

have a look on apolloduck at the "competition" https://www.apolloduck.com/search.phtml?search=sadler+29&exact=1&sr=1&q=1&x=0#result

 

[brman]

I might know someone who is looking for a Sadler at the right price. Let me know what you're asking and I'll pass it on.

I will PM you.

 

[Jim@sea]

A trick I did when wanting to sell a boat was that I listed it with a broker then put it on eBay stating it was up for sale and could be seen at (Named Broker) and that's what sold it.
I also did the same with a house in France, after having it for sale with two French Estate agents I listed it on EBay and I had loads of enquiries and then referred people who were genuinely interested to the estate agent.

 

[philld]

If all else fails try taking it to Clarke and Carters Dover Used Boat Show – 6th July 2019. The last time I sold a boat I'd only decided to dispose of her 2 weeks before one of their shows, she was gone before the show finished.

 

[PCUK]

The boat must be afloat so that people can try it. Charge a deposit for test sails which is deducted from the final sale price. Serious buyers will be happy to pay once they have decided the boat is what they want. As said, make sure it is in turn-key condition. Not immaculate by any means, just ready to go to it's new home. Finally, make it clear that you are prepared to negotiate.

 

[ianj99]

Finally, make it clear that you are prepared to negotiate.

Wait until you are asked if it is, otherwise you can sound desperate to sell and then receive silly offers.
I agree that the boat should be available for sea trial, if only to prove the engine works under load and the sails are serviceable.

 

[brman]

So it sounds like I am now getting contradictory advice, even though both sets of advice sound sensible!
1) Have it on the hard so it can be properly inspected and surveyed
vs
2) Have it in the water so it is available for sea trials
I can see the advantage of both so am in two minds.

Thinking from the buyers point of view, when my father bought the boat he looked at a number (and I was with him for most). Some in the water and some not. I don't remember it being a big factor but I remember being happier with the ones out of the water in that I could see better if there were any hull problems (damage, osmosis etc). On the other hand I do remember wishing they were in the water so we could see that seacocks and stern glands were working ok....
In the end it was not a deciding factor, this boat was out of the water. So it was surveyed on the hard then, once a deal had been agreed, put in the water (I think at my fathers expense?) for a sea trial.

I guess this works both ways? If it is in the water sea trials are easy but it will need to come out for a survey if the buyer is serious. If it is out of the water then it will need to go in for a sea trial. So I guess not much in it?
Am I being optimistic expecting a buyer to pay for taking it in/out of the water if they require it?

 

[brman]

btw. I guess one thing to consider is that when my father bought this boat he already knew he wanted a sadler 29. We had both sailed them before and knew they were good, seaworthy boats. So a sea trial was not needed to see if it was the right type of boat, just that it sailed as it should.
In that respect is that a good thing? ie. having it out of the water stops all those who just fancy a boat but want to try a few to see what they like. Tyre kickers if you will. Or am I being too fussy and should not restrict possible sales like that?

 

[Sea Devil]

So it sounds like I am now getting contradictory advice, even though both sets of advice sound sensible!
Am I being optimistic expecting a buyer to pay for taking it in/out of the water if they require it?

It is normal for a prospective buyer to pay for everything except the actual survey - Moving to travel lift - lifting in and out and pressure hose off... put her back on the mooring. If you are using a decent broker they will organise everything and you probably only need to be there for the sea trail...
You are right - viewing in the water or on the hard is neither here nor there. I have brought and sold 8 boats in my time and the situation did not make any difference..

 

[Fr J Hackett]

If you have to pay for a berth put it on the hard it will be cheaper, as for choosing where use one of the main marinas don't put it somewhere that people have to drive miles down narrow lanes with grass growing up the centre.
Once on the hard clean and polish the topsides, have her jet washed in the slings don't bother with antifouling as it won't be a deal breaker, clean the insides and take of all personal gear that isn't being sold with the boat. Hopefully it won't have MOB smell but if it does clean the bilges and try to get rid of it.

 

[Sea Devil]

btw. I guess one thing to consider is that when my father bought this boat he already knew he wanted a sadler 29. We had both sailed them before and knew they were good, seaworthy boats. So a sea trial was not needed to see if it was the right type of boat, just that it sailed as it should.
In that respect is that a good thing? ie. having it out of the water stops all those who just fancy a boat but want to try a few to see what they like. Tyre kickers if you will. Or am I being too fussy and should not restrict possible sales like that?

Really don´t get hung up about in or out of the water... where ever she is will work... Normally sea trials are done after a survey which has cost the prospective buyer money so they are serious.. A sea trial is to make certain engine, sails and instruments function which can only be done at sea... It is not a jolly

 

[brman]

It is normal for a prospective buyer to pay for everything except the actual survey - Moving to travel lift - lifting in and out and pressure hose off... put her back on the mooring. If you are using a decent broker they will organise everything and you probably only need to be there for the sea trail...
You are right - viewing in the water or on the hard is neither here nor there. I have brought and sold 8 boats in my time and the situation did not make any difference..

Thanks, that is reassuring.

 

[Sea Devil]

I should have written - including the survey - not except.

Really put her with a good broker and let them get on with it... They will give you good advice because it is in their interest to do so. They take away the stress and when it comes to the money part buyers are much happier to pay the deposit subject to survey to a broker with a clients account rather than a private individual

 

[brman]

If you have to pay for a berth put it on the hard it will be cheaper, as for choosing where use one of the main marinas don't put it somewhere that people have to drive miles down narrow lanes with grass growing up the centre.
Once on the hard clean and polish the topsides, have her jet washed in the slings don't bother with antifouling as it won't be a deal breaker, clean the insides and take of all personal gear that isn't being sold with the boat. Hopefully it won't have MOB smell but if it does clean the bilges and try to get rid of it.

Makes sense. It is currently in one of the main marinas in the area and I see no reason to move it far (other than onto the hard).

I think the key point I am getting from the advice here is to put the effort into making her look presentable. So she will need to come out the water to do that. Plus, if it is cheaper on the hard then she might as well stay there until I get a potential buyer.

 

[brman]

I should have written - including the survey - not except.

Really put her with a good broker and let them get on with it... They will give you good advice because it is in their interest to do so. They take away the stress and when it comes to the money part buyers are much happier to pay the deposit subject to survey to a broker with a clients account rather than a private individual

Thanks, looks like that is the subject of another thread - finding a good broker

 

[doug748]

If she is in a marina I would keep her there and fire up the on-site broker.

If she is on a mooring I would certainly put her ashore, at one of the central spots PYH, Mayflower or QAB. Sea trials are far from usual for a sailing boat.
At an attractive price you have a good chance of a buyer who will deal without going to sea or professional survey.

 

[ianj99]

if its afloat in the marina, leave afloat. Any serious buyer will be happy to pay for a haul out and survey and can do their own AF.
If the survey does show up anything then its a bargaining chip for them.

This is how it worked for me - sea trial, haul out and survey at my expense (£1000) as I had already decided to buy. Nothing found that I could bargain with at the time.

 

[Kwik Decision]

The boat must be afloat so that people can try it. Charge a deposit for test sails which is deducted from the final sale price.

I disagree with this. Serious buyers of a Sadler 29 know they sail well, and are more likely to go for an example which is on the hard, and they can survey without needing to pay for a lift out. This was how we both bought and sold ours.

 

[ianj99]

I disagree with this. Serious buyers of a Sadler 29 know they sail well, and are more likely to go for an example which is on the hard, and they can survey without needing to pay for a lift out. This was how we both bought and sold ours.

How can you assume a 'serious buyer' will know the Sadler 29 sails well? They maybe newbies, or upgrading from a smaller yacht and have no experience of them.
Given the cost of a new engine, I'd want to make sure it was up to the job under load - ie in real world conditions. If I was planning on taking the yacht some distance to her new berth, I'd definitely need to be satisfied with engine reliability.

 

[philld]

Another thing to consider is that many brokers will provide space on the hard for a time. If you are coming to the end of your mooring contract it might help.