In or Out

Having bought and sold boats not that long ago I would definitely 100% say in. I'm fairly certain my buyer would not have bought the boat without a 10 minute sea run and 100% certain I would not have bought my boat without seeing it in the water, running the engines and having a quick spin. I subsequently arranged a survey on the hard for the boat I bought, my buyer agreed the deal before we were even tied up again.
Just a by the way Setur Marinas which have 10 marinas in Turkey and one in Mytilini offer 2 free inspection lift outs of 1 hour duration each for annual contract holders who are selling their boats.
 
I'm helping my son look for a suitable yacht.

The boats we have seen so far have been in the water.

For our point of view we have found that to be good as we can get a better 'feel' for them.

As an example, the yacht we saw last weekend (a model I'm very familiar with), apart from being a wreck, was slightly bow down and stern high. Not something you'd notice when sat in a cradle.

So for me, as a buyer, in the water is good. If we wanted to proceed, she'd be lifted out for a hull survey anyway.
 
For me it would make little difference - except that in the water would increase my costs for survey, as I'd have to pay for getting her in and out of the water. That's probably several hundred pounds extra cost, so it would make a difference. Also, it depends who is buying. Someone who has been around for a while will probably know what they are looking for, and would like to have the opportunity to see the underwater lines and condition. Someone less experienced might prefer to get the feel of the boat on the water. A well known type with well-established performance etc. would probably do better out of the water; a less well-known type might do better in. Also, are you prepared to do test sails? Many sellers aren't, as it can end up being free day sails for tire-kickers. Some people require a deposit before a test sail!
There probably isn't a right or wrong answer; it will depend a lot on the yacht being sold, the seller's circumstances, and the type of buyer you anticipate.
 
Although i bought my current boat on the hard, i prefer to see boats in the water. If selling, i would have it in the water, it's nice and easy to take a prospective buyer out for a quick spin and you can still use the boat while you wait for said buyer.

As for surveys and lift in/out costs............ If it's in you might have to pay to lift out and then back in, or you might do a quick underwater survey with a lift and hold. On the hard you might have to pay for a lift in for the sea trial and then a lift back out. My current boat was on the hard, so my offer and deposit was subject to survey and hearing the engine running, not so much a sea trial. The survey was as expected and i had no real doubts about the engine, so my arrangement with the broker (Foxs) was that they would drop it in and i would run the engine, if happy with the engine i'd pay the rest of the money, if not happy i'd pay to lift it back out and they would refund the deposit. I have to say, the guys at Foxs were really good to deal with :encouragement:
 
PaulRainbow said:
Although i bought my current boat on the hard, i prefer to see boats in the water. If selling, i would have it in the water, it's nice and easy to take a prospective buyer out for a quick spin and you can still use the boat while you wait for said buyer.

As for surveys and lift in/out costs............ If it's in you might have to pay to lift out and then back in, or you might do a quick underwater survey with a lift and hold. On the hard you might have to pay for a lift in for the sea trial and then a lift back out. My current boat was on the hard, so my offer and deposit was subject to survey and hearing the engine running, not so much a sea trial. The survey was as expected and i had no real doubts about the engine, so my arrangement with the broker (Foxs) was that they would drop it in and i would run the engine, if happy with the engine i'd pay the rest of the money, if not happy i'd pay to lift it back out and they would refund the deposit. I have to say, the guys at Foxs were really good to deal with :encouragement:
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Actually, I don't think I'd ever rely on having a sea trial for the kinds of boat I'd be likely to buy. I wouldn't be keen on doing it for a prospective purchaser of my boat, so why should I expect one? I live an hour and a half's journey from the boat, and it's several miles from the marina to open water, so a test sail would be a whole day commitment. I certainly wouldn't offer one unless there was already a serious committment to buy - possibly including a deposit - in place. I also doubt it's utility - I can see that it would be useful for a motorboat to demonstrate the engine working over a range of speeds, but wind and weather affect a sailing voat so much that a single sail would hardly be representative, and might either flatter or rubbish a perfectly good boat!
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Actually, I don't think I'd ever rely on having a sea trial for the kinds of boat I'd be likely to buy. I wouldn't be keen on doing it for a prospective purchaser of my boat, so why should I expect one? I live an hour and a half's journey from the boat, and it's several miles from the marina to open water, so a test sail would be a whole day commitment. I certainly wouldn't offer one unless there was already a serious committment to buy - possibly including a deposit - in place. I also doubt it's utility - I can see that it would be useful for a motorboat to demonstrate the engine working over a range of speeds, but wind and weather affect a sailing voat so much that a single sail would hardly be representative, and might either flatter or rubbish a perfectly good boat!
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There's obviously a lot of factors regarding sea trials. I like to hear the engine running, but wouldn't be bothered about taking a sail boat for a sail. When i sold my last two boats neither buyer mentioned a sea trial, the first one actually bought the boat without seeing it, for £15k, the last one did hear the engine running. My last boat was a motorboat in Cardiff, a four hour drive, the owner lived very close to the boat and offered to take us for a quick spin around Cardiff bay. We bought the boat. I wasn't interested in a sea trial with this boat, i just wanted to hear the engine running. If the owner was present and offered a run down the river i would have accepted, but as it was i was happy to run the engine in the marina. When i sold my previous boats i was always present, as i didn't use a broker. I would have been happy to give a short sea trial, but i can see that in your circumstances i might be less keen.

Surveys are another thing. Had a survey with my first and cheapest boat, because insurance demanded one due to age. My previous boat was the most expensive, but was not very old, so i didn't have a survey. My current boat is again old enough that the insurance insist on a survey, otherwise i would have been happy without having one.
 
In, then if you decide you want to move, you can, easily.
Once out, you are stuck where you are. Out makes it harder for those viewing to imagine being afloat and harder for those partners that are un-nerved by ladders, but ok on pontoons.
 
Out. An experienced buyer will already have a good idea how the boat performs. A good look underneath is important, waggle the rudder, shaft, etc. If you want to give joy rides to fender kickers, leave her in.

Remove everything off the boat. Nothing in the lockers. Clean and smelling sweet.
 
Brockers like them out of the water in there yard, it makes it easy and economic for viewing.
I have viewed in and out of water, if she is a dog better in the water.
If she is good , it makes little difference.
If it is a boat appealing to a new buyer, probably best in the water.
If a boat that someone with experience is more likely to be looking for, then out is best.
Whatever you decide the end result will be different to what you expect, so do not loose to much sleep, someone somewhere will love your pride and joy , ultimately she will be bobbing up and down in a new home.
 
Before purchasing mine, I view a few others, both in water an out. Burton Waters in Ipswich had one in the water and were happy to sea trial, etc. If I wanted it out for survey, etc it would be cost price haul and drop back in. Viewed the others on the South Coast, 1 in and 1 out. Settled on the one I have, that was out the water and I did not sea trial. I had a ex VP mech engine specific survey done and he ran it up with a few fire hoses.

All intensive purposes bar a 20 minute look round and survey, bought it blind :nonchalance:
 
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