How to sell a unique boat? need help please

[uma]

Dear all
I live on a tugboat-icebreaker conversion in london on a residential mooring. Sadly time has come to part ways. With many posts on different forums here and help from more experienced people, i have not only been to drydock, completely refurbished her in terms of painting the superstructure during first lockdown, but also recaulked the deck in traditional fashion with oakum and pitch! Yes, i managed to cook the pitch on hold hatch and pour it and now i can say i can offer many tips to other . I also gained much needed experience with making and using the infamous "boat soup "..
I want to advertise and sell her but it is hard to find the right sites for unique boats such as mine...
Sadly the marina brokers dont advertise premium and they seem to be focusing on turnover of canal boats//
Any advice will be much appreciated.
I have so far advertised on facebook marketplace, local real estate agent, and ebay classifieds. [Inappropriate content deleted.]

 

[Portofino]

The vid needs smarting up a bit .It’s lacking a certain something . .

Sales and selling I have learnt ( which might be different to other’s experience) is all about two things .
1- lifestyle, aspiration , imagery, ” do I want that ? “ .Will it fit in my lifestyle ?
2- can I afford it ?


Here for example.This vid .

Then the price .Auctions are the true value .Send it to the “ ring “ = eBay auction for it real world price .
Why have you not auctioned it off ?

 

[uma]

The vid needs smarting up a bit .It’s lacking a certain something . .

Sales and selling I have learnt ( which might be different to other’s experience) is all about two things .
1- lifestyle, aspiration , imagery, ” do I want that ? “ .Will it fit in my lifestyle ?
2- can I afford it ?


Here for example.This vid .

Then the price .Auctions are the true value .Send it to the “ ring “ = eBay auction for it real world price .
Why have you not auctioned it off ?

 

[uma]

Thank you for the video. I couldnt sell the english weather as summer was over by the time i finished painting. secondly as far as she is concerned, key thing is she is a 2 bedroom property on residential mooring in central london. Location , location location but one i cannot do a video like the one u said due to its location in canary wharf!!
I will try with better weather coming summer though..thanks

 

[uma]

i want to be honest and sell the boat as is .....if i sell the weather and they come when its raining in england, she has no chance....

 

[Seastoke]

You don’t mention the hull ,which is worrying on a boat.

 

[uma]

She has just been to drydock and needed no plating. She is icebreaker and her hull is 10 to 12mm thick in most areas.
Since i am marketting her as a floating home rather than working boat her ad reflects that.
If someone is seriously interested they can do their own in- water survey or I share info I have...and answer their questions

 

[BruceK]

I want to advertise and sell her but it is hard to find the right sites for unique boats such as mine...

Since i am marketting her as a floating home rather than working boat her ad reflects that.

I think you answered your own question. A site that specialises in narrow boats and liveaboards. If you wanted to sell her as a boat then FAFB (Find a Fishing Boat) brokerage site would be a better bet.

 

[oldgit]

When I sold my brothers livaboard tug and his workboat both were eventually sold on Apollo Duck and Boats and Outboards.
A real selling point is if it comes with a permanent berth, which can be worth more than the boat itself.
Most boatyards usually view a boat sale as chance to get rid of existing boat and relet the berth at a much higher price.

 

[henryf]

The traditional place to advertise such things is probably Waterways World or possibly Canal Boat.

Places like Apollo Duck or Yachtworld are a bit more boat based whereas this falls into the property genre although it won’t be seen as a secure “bricks and mortar” investment by lenders.

A lot depends on the security of tenure on your residential mooring, without a mooring your boat might be seen as a liability rather than an asset - I haven’t seen any details of the boat so please don’t be offended !

I built and lived on a 70 foot narrow boat which at the time sold as a boat rather than house. It was fully mobile for cruising, I’m assuming your boat isn’t self propelled for cruising.

eBay achieves a wide scope, auctions tend to be a bit of a bargain hunters playground for stuff like this. You would be better using the classified set price format.

Finally there is a thing called Google some people use on the internet. You type in a question and it gives answers. Typing “houseboat for sale in London” throws up “On the Market” as a top result as well as a number of other choices. That’s where I’d look.

 

[henryf]

Just to add having looked on “On the Market” a lot of the listings are by “Riverhomes”. Seems like they know their stuff and list houseboats as well as residential moorings. They will be best placed to advise on price.

 

[Dino]

Premier Houseboats seem to have a good few similar boats listed on Www.Apolloduck.co.uk