New boat discounts

Yes, I agree and would never go for dealer fitted navigation or ancillaries etc. I find you can half the cost and control the job if you do it yourself.

With regard to the Marine Mortgage, when I bought my current boat in Greece last year, Lombard were more than happy to make the payment in Euros direct to the owner - and becasue they are a very big banking organisation (RBS I think) they get the very best rate and charge no fee (obviuosly) the only thing I did find is they fixed the rate when the loan was agreed, but spotted this early and as the rate improved, I actually borrowed slightly less.
 
Yeah but lets not overstate the enormity of what is going on here, we're only talking about selling a boat for goodness sake. we're not talking about developing a financial model for solving 3rd world debt.

i've had plenty of dealings with brokers in various countries in my time and nothing changes. smoke & mirrors and not getting a straight answer are part of the broker scene the world over
 
Thanks for that info.

When I spoke to Bank of Scotland 2 years ago it seemed a problem. Perhaps its more common now.

It would be nice to get the best deal in the UK though and not have to source a boat abroad.
 
I think Jonics answer was a reasonable one.

eg when I bought my 38 it was at SIBS, bought by the dealer for the show. 9/11 happened , stocks & shares went down , future sales less certain and they gave me a good deal.

If I went after the same boat at any other time I doubt if I would have got such a good deal. I described how I secured the discount on the last boat. I phoned them a few times after the competitive quote asking how the exchange rate was going and finally agreed a discount on the telephone on the basis that I would go down immediately with the deposit and sign the contract.

You can't blame the dealers for not surrendering at the first request for a discount and offering the boat at cost! Obviously they want to make a profit and there are unknowns in what warantee work they will have to carry out as I don't think the factory automatically cover this except in exceptional circumstances. Ultimately most dealers will do what is necessary to close the deal providing there is enough profit to run the business. I don't think any have stock boats that they must sell except possibly at a boat show but even then I think the manufacturers supply a "display" model (especially if its a new model) that goes round all the shows for a few months.

Best advice is wait for a time when they are not flush with sales, show them you are serious and try to source the boat from a few places and compare prices but buy it from the dealer that offers the best service even if it costs you a little extra.
 
Sailfree,

A lot of sense in that post. I certainly don't want to screw the dealer to the floor. I would much prefer a mutually beneficial price to be agreed where post sales service is given willingly rather than begrudgingly (although reading some threads, mayeb thats optimistic)...

Only thing I would pick up on from your post is the point about stocks..... certainly the dealer that I have been looking at using has a significant amount of stock at present... whether that stock sits as an asset on their books or the manufacturers I don't know though....
 
Send in another potential customer someone who you trust to weedle out the info of whether its on their books and not the manufactures. Let him try to get the best deal.

At least then you can go in with the right opening bid but avoiding annoying the dealer. They must get fed up with people trying to buy a boat with derisary offers.

Have you got everything in place so that you can sign on the dotted line?

Personally I would wait until they have converted all the likely prospects from the LIBS into sales or not. Might be worthwhile watching for handovers at the marina and try to strike up a conversation with the new purchaser. A bottle of champagne to celebrate their new boat may be a cheap investment.

Ultimately everything has its price and dont take it personally that someone has got a slightly better deal if you have bought what you want at a price that you are happy with.

I loved the layout of our current boat, the ability to turn the front cabin and associated double bunks into a state room with en-suite, the size of the DS windows (prior to the eyebrow look). I was concerned when I realised they were shortly going to stop production of them and I did not like the trend in smaller/skimpier fittings (even allowing that mine was following that same trend of its equivalent boat say 5 years earlier) so was determined to order one of the last ones built however I lost negotiating position as I was not prepared to risk not buying one and waiting to see if they did a final special offer on the last few they were scheduled to build.

Get the best deal but don't miss out on what you want by being too tough a negotiator. Its amazing the number of people that dig themselves into a corner and their pride stops them improving the offer. I see this in construction disputes and the legal boys always cost more than the amount of any difference between the parties positions!

Good Luck - what boat are you interested in?
 
No,

i'm not in a position to buy, which is why i'm not really approaching the brokers seriously yet.... I have a house to sell first.. blah de blah de blah.... and will wait until thats done, so that I will be a serious cash buyer..... I am sure that for example, a very healthy deposit could help with a decent price...

Boats wise... not 100% sure yet.... currently we like the Bavaria 37 (I await the outcries of anguish from the forum keel monitoring committee), but want a test sail at the appropriate time, and would also like to look more seriously at the Jeanneau....
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think Jonics answer was a reasonable one.

[/ QUOTE ]

Which bit?

I realise there are several factors which is why no-one is asking for an exact figure but more an indication of range. Any broker knows the max he has discounted hence could answer "well, anywhere between 0-x% depending on circumstances".

But of course we don't get that, just more waffle about how complicated it all is!
 
I seriously considered a Bavaria many years ago but once I produced a specification of eveything I wanted its Final on the water price wes not much less than the Dufour I finally bought. Beware of headline grabbing prices.

One difference in prices can be by bonding in inner mouldings I am not sure whether Bavaria do that but I prefer the conventional layup of using stringers and ribs bonded against a Kevlar reinforces hull (i am aware that Bavaria use Kevlar).
 
don't know if they build the saily boats the same way, but had cause to fit a new skin plug to my Bavaria at the weekend and was amazed how thick the layup was - just over an inch thick including the foam core.
 
Never going to be buying a new Boat, but FWIW........

1) Know 110% what you are looking at and how it compares to the competition. (the plus and Minus points). and price up the extras (inc fitting) you want / need / are different. And explain your thinking, listen to their answers and show that you are considering what they say - but that you are only thinking in cold hard financial terms, as they are - it's only business.

2) Realise that the competition IS also a s/h boat (including the same make & model), even if you do want / would much prefer only a new one. and explain your thinking. See above comments.

3) Find out what extras they would be willing to "throw in" - particulerly anything that "only" involves labour (wiring in additional electrics, antifouling etc) or other costs that does not involve them immediately writing cheques to 3rd parties or reducing their apparent margin. (can they provide storage ashore for next winter and / or find a free / cheap / sought after berth?? Free Haulouts?? Can they throw in any maintanence - even if only regular Valetting??)

4) Be 100% genuine and honest.........that if you can find better overall value you will walk away- it's only business.

5) Be 100% prepared to walk away.
 
Thankfully, it is not a problem I have had to deal with. However, we have a sub-contractor at work who uses ultrasound testing equipment and I would reckon he could spot a failure a lot quicker than Mk 1 eyeball. If I was chartering my boat I would probably want better "visibility", cos hirers may well not tell you about the rock they hit, but as owner/sole user I hope that I will know that I have clobbered something hard enough to start worrying.

I'm not saying that the system is perfect, but it is a bl##dy chunky piece of GRP and must spread the rig loads very well and seems to do the job.
 
I agree but as I charter our boat it was a major consideration.
Very impressed with Beneteaus otherwise.

Met Pink Lady at Cherbourg 2 years ago and she went on to do the ARC Oceanis 41 or thereabouts from memory.
 
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