Looked at a used Beneteau Oceanis 323 today.

[[165264]]

I think this would do me well, as I reckon it would be easy for two to sail and possible for one. 2 cabins, large head and shower, copper treated, and currently out for a springclean. Its ten years old, two private owners and they are asking £54,500.

Engine has 500 hours, which I think is "nothing" really for a diesel. 50 hours per year.

Well, I would get a survey, of course, but I feel that at that age it will need re-rigging (guestimate cost, what? c £2k) new batteries, and new sails. No saildrive to worry about. I'd need to get the engine serviced too, and I suspect a new liferaft will be needed. (There is one but no details of the last check)

Any thoughts?

Most particularly, what should one offer? Having established that this boat fits the bill for me, and that it is not that uncommon a model, I can always wait for another to come along, but a quick internet search shows that for that model, at that age, everyone is asking around that sort of figure. But the £54,500 question is, "What are they fetching in terms of price?"

 

[pvb]

You don't say where you are located, but £54K sounds a lot for a 2008 Oceanis 323. Unless it has very good spec and condition, I'd have thought nearer to £45K. Nice boats, I looked at a couple a few years ago.

 

[RichardS]

500 hours is, indeed, almost new.

I would get the rigging inspected but if it all looks good I certainly wouldn't be changing it. Sails are something you can judge for yourself but even if they are worn they will still work so it's not mission-critical unless you want to win races.

How long has she been on the market for?

Richard

 

[RupertW]

I don't know the model but some general points - I'm not sure rigging really does need changing every 10 years unless that is a stipulation of your insurance. I just sold a boat which still had it's 1978 standing rigging, but I and previous owners had changed the running rigging.

As for sails - everything depends on how much they have been used and whether they are still the originals.

50 hours a years might lead to the opposite problem of too much wear which is being cold and damp 99.99 percent of the time with fresh and saltwater in the system so the engine could be fine or have rust everywhere, from cylinders to elbow.

 

[[165264]]

You don't say where you are located, but £54K sounds a lot for a 2008 Oceanis 323. Unless it has very good spec and condition, I'd have thought nearer to £45K. Nice boats, I looked at a couple a few years ago.

Near Southampton.

 

[jimi]

I’d be surprised if the rigging needs replacement, you could have a replacement schedule eg forestay next year, back stay following year etc etc

 

[bitbaltic]

50 engine hours a year suggests 20 day’s a year motoring about the Solent for 2.5 hours to me. Bet the sails are effectively new, although they will be cheaper factory fits not cloth from one of the better makers.

Personally I would want a lot more boat for that sort of money, but depends on experience and purpose. I don’t doubt it’s plus or minus 10% of market value if that’s what comparable boats are asking. I would expect to get a 15 year old AWB closer to 40 ft for that kind of money and if I was buying that’s what I might do, but if it’s a first boat, you want the comfort of nearly new (relatively) etc, then go for it.

 

[Tranona]

Near Southampton.

For typical asking prices look on Yachtworld and Yachtmarket. Mostly 2003-2006 as sales dropped dramatically after that and then model changed in I think 2009. Mostly asking well under £50k so asking price top end but seems well equipped and little used. Have you got link to details? Some boats are well loaded with extras but after 10 years makes little difference to price although the seller often thinks differently. However, at that price I would expect very little if anything needs immediate attention.

Have a look at Jeanneau SO32, Bavaria 31/33/34 of that era - all very similar and roghly same price new to see what asking prices are.

Selling price is much more difficult to establish, although for a relatively common and recent boat is likely to be fairly close to asking. an offer under £50k should get attention.

 

[Skylark]

It’s never easy to offer advice regarding the purchase of a boat as there are many variables and there are also, often, many alternatives.

I sold an Oceanis 361 5 years ago. Before the sale, I asked my local rigger for a survey/inspection report and he refused on the basis that it’s pretty meaningless and puts the onus upon him in the event of subsequent issue. In the end, I invested about £2500 to have it changed and I still today don’t know if this was the right thing to do.

I also had what I considered to be a cheeky offer, the sort of thing referred to above by several posters. The guy said that there were plenty of other boats to which I replied “good luck with your search because you will not be buying mine”. Be careful not to alienate the seller. I sold mine, a boat in very good overall condition, for very close to my Broker recommended asking price.

 

[Rafiki]

For typical asking prices look on Yachtworld and Yachtmarket. Mostly 2003-2006 as sales dropped dramatically after that and then model changed in I think 2009. Mostly asking well under £50k so asking price top end but seems well equipped and little used. Have you got link to details? Some boats are well loaded with extras but after 10 years makes little difference to price although the seller often thinks differently. However, at that price I would expect very little if anything needs immediate attention.

Have a look at Jeanneau SO32, Bavaria 31/33/34 of that era - all very similar and roghly same price new to see what asking prices are.

Selling price is much more difficult to establish, although for a relatively common and recent boat is likely to be fairly close to asking. an offer under £50k should get attention.

The problem is that ten years ago it was the fiancial/banking crisis and yacht sales fell of a bit of a cliff, ten years later, hey presto a shortage of 10 year old boats and prices fairly firm. If you were looking for a 12 to 14 year old boat, there would be more on offer and significantly lower prices. OK some of the items you mentioned would definitely need replacing, but even with a ten year old boat, you have to budget for them in the next 3-5 years, so might as well do them now and enjoy the new sails etc

 

[[165264]]

AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH! Mea cula, mea maxima culpa. It's a 343.

 

[ithet]

My 2004 Beneteau 331 had its rigging replaced by the previous owner in 2014 at a cost of £2014. I suggest you go through any paperwork, receipts and maintenance records thoroughly prior to any final offer. My boat was also advertised (by Broker) as 500hrs, however, on working through a pile of service receipts I could see that the hour meter had been replaced and the engine had another 450 or so hours.

 

[pvb]

AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH! Mea cula, mea maxima culpa. It's a 343.

Are you sure it's a Beneteau?

 

[ithet]

My 2004 Beneteau 331 had its rigging replaced by the previous owner in 2014 at a cost of £2014

AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH! Et ego!
The cost of rigging was £1012 (in 2014)

 

[langstonelayabout]

We've sailed a few of these 323s in Greece and as a result I keep an eye open on the prices as it is one we'd consider buying too. I'd prefer one with a fully battened (or at least conventional) main as opposed to the in-mast main we had on our boats. Ours were the fixed keel and single rudder: I'd prefer this to a lifting keel (yes, even in the Solent).

Keep an eye out for soft side decks (delamination?) and also cracking where the baby stay meets the foredeck.

At the moment a 10-ish year old 323 seems to be asking for GBP 45k to GBP 55k. What they really sell for is your opportunity...

We enjoyed sailing the ones that we had, my only gripe being ours didn't have an autopilot so singlehanded with a wheel would be a pain every time a sail needs adjusting. Being a bit lardy I also always sailed with the seat behind the wheel in the stowed position. I'd also get the VHF remote accessible from the helm position. A nice boat and good choice.

 

[Homer J]

I think this would do me well, as I reckon it would be easy for two to sail and possible for one. 2 cabins, large head and shower, copper treated, and currently out for a springclean. Its ten years old, two private owners and they are asking £54,500.

Engine has 500 hours, which I think is "nothing" really for a diesel. 50 hours per year.

Well, I would get a survey, of course, but I feel that at that age it will need re-rigging (guestimate cost, what? c £2k) new batteries, and new sails. No saildrive to worry about. I'd need to get the engine serviced too, and I suspect a new liferaft will be needed. (There is one but no details of the last check)

Any thoughts?

Most particularly, what should one offer? Having established that this boat fits the bill for me, and that it is not that uncommon a model, I can always wait for another to come along, but a quick internet search shows that for that model, at that age, everyone is asking around that sort of figure. But the £54,500 question is, "What are they fetching in terms of price?"

Price depends on condition. Having looked at every Jeanneau 37 in the country for sale in 2015 the condition varies enormously. Having looked at the cheaper ones then calculated how much it would cost to get into the condition of the best I concluded it was better to get one in great condition at a higher price. Still negotiated 10% off the price though.

 

[[165264]]

Price depends on condition. Having looked at every Jeanneau 37 in the country for sale in 2015 the condition varies enormously. Having looked at the cheaper ones then calculated how much it would cost to get into the condition of the best I concluded it was better to get one in great condition at a higher price. Still negotiated 10% off the price though.

Thanks- that is very helpful

 

[derekgillard]

2 years ago I almost bought one of these but as 6,3 tall I found headroom was a problem
In the end I bought a Bav 31 with only 150 hours on the engine and indeed as mentioned already due to low use I had to change various blocked or corroded parts of the exhaust.
I would have thought the price should be under 50k but I’m no expert
Good luck

 

[Kinsale373]

Have at look at " Annonce Du Bateau " online if you want to get a good handle of prices and spec on particular Beneteu models in France and the continent. I founf this a good starting point to negotiations.

Kinsale 373

 

[Sneaky Pete]

I sold my 323 about three years ago. Great boat single handed, very easy with two. Check out the spec he more toys on it the more the owner will ask. Copper bottomed is good find out how long it has been on the boat as it doesn’t last forever. All the floors lift out so will give you a good look of the bilge and bulk head joints. Great heads a plus with the wifie. Not too many grab points inside for when healed and saloon bench doubles as nav station seat. 3YM20 is the better engine easy to service with good access. The rigging can be replaced in stages usually the inner stays take more strain that the rest. The autohelm will be of those aftermarket fit to the wheel jobs with a motor the size of a toilet roll tube. They’re alright but do lack power. Five years ago i bought my 323 it was a 2007 build and paid just under £50000.