New or secondhand when replacing your boat?

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D3B

D3B

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Ok. I went through a lot of problems when I bought Still Dunno and on occasions wondered why I bought a new boat and not second hand. Except I couldn't get a used S29 then.
I remember why I bought new but would like the learned panels opinions.
so a new F34 @ 200K or a two year old @ xxxK (sorry don't know current prices)
I had things like no-one else had slept in the beds
no damage hidden
finding a suitable name...amongst the things on my list.
I am not overly concerned about depreciation this time as at WILL be the final boat....YES IT WILL
Doug
 
I went through this loop as well, and after considerable consultation with other esteemed forumites, agree with Talbot... secondhand every time.... the cost saving, not on the purchase price, but on the fitted extras such as lifebelts, danbuoys, gps, fog horn, liferaft etc etc are substantial
 
I really enjoyed buying a new boat, choosing everything to my exact spec (and then spending 6 months agonising over those decisions while waiting delivery !!).

But I have to agree with MagnaCarter, the cost of extras was just stupid. I still shudder to think that I (Wifey insisted )payed £400 for the optional pillow package-this was actually just 3 small cushions /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I am now looking at another boat from the used market, hopefully with the 'pillow package' already /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I'm going through the same dilemma with the same arguments. Im keen on a new F37 or second hand Phantom38/ 40. Im so tempted to go new but I cant bare the depreciation. Im not planning to keep the boat for more than 2 to 3 years.
I haven't done anything yet as Sealine offered me a [--word removed--] deal at sibs that I passed on their offer.
Im going to advertise my boat early March and go shopping with money in hand.
If the boat sells and as a cash buyer, I think I will go second hand.
Cliff
 
Don't worry about the beds, it's only a mattress which can easily be changed. I have had a new boat every year for the last 4 years, I bought secondhand for the first time this year. I must say my seconhand boat had hardly been used and was as new, so there are some out there worth looking at. I can't say I saved that much on a new one after I had done bits and bobs to it, but it saved the waiting time for a new one.

I would however only buy new again from a reputable dealer who offered an efficient and professional service, there are too many cowboys out there that wouldn't recognise customer service it was put in front of their face. The industry is a shambolic inefficient mess of cocky know nothing salesmen who don't have pot to piss in themselves and therefore can't understand the investment you are putting into a boat, to them it is another tin of beans.

Please NOTE, this DOES NOT relate to the friendly and efficient Cranchi dealer and salesmen here in the UK who have been nothing but professional and helpful. I would have no problems buying new boat from them apart from the Zanussi look a like type models the factory are churning out at the moment /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Can't comment on Sealine as I personaly don't like the look of them so never dealt with them, I will leave that to others who are able to comment /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
By the way, I had a mate with a fantastic 2yr old F34, immaculate, so much so you could eat your breakfast off his engines, full teak and leather, plotters/radar up and down, BUT when he was selling it to buy his Princess he was offered peanuts for it, tried to sell it himself and had no real interest, put it in the secondhand boat show, no interest, sold it to a friend at the last minute for what Princess offered as px rather than give it away to them. So be warned, you can buy but nobody will want to buy from you, I know nothing more, just the facts here.
 
I understand the desire to have a virgin new vessel, car or even a house and I guess that if money was of no object at all I would probably buy new. However in the real world many people go boating on some sort of budget and certainly I am one of those people.

I have been boating 20 years plus and always bought second hand because I cannot afford the new equivalent. I have always had the boats surveyed and as I am pretty handy have always checked them myself as well, I have never had any problems worth talking about and I have been able to have as large a boat as my money will run to!

In my experience most boat owners love their vessels and spend time and money keeping them in good order, so even if you are considering a 20 year old boat , its not like buying a 20 year old car! its likely to be in far better condition.

Barry
 
A px value on a boat (or car or pretty much anything else for that matter) is meaningless without reference to the price of the new one. You have to factor in the amount you could have negotiated off the new price as a cash buyer to work out the real value of the px you are being offered. Your mate was almost certainly better off selling privately and then wandering back into Princess with Liberia's deficit in his sky rocket.
 
After 15 months of nagging to get warranty work done that I could do myself (but thats not the point, is it?) I will only ever buy a used boat again.
Its also cost me loads.
However, I now have no fear in drilling holes in 90k's worth of my boat's brand new woodwork.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I had things like no-one else had slept in the beds


[/ QUOTE ]

You don't stay in hotels then /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Does a new S34 really cost £200k? Thats a hell of a lot of money which buys a hell of a lot of used boat. Secondhand every time for me
 
First 3 MOBOs were new. I only bought them because I had a good deal i.e. at least 15% off list. This minimised my depreciation but it still hurt. Also had the hassle of snagging etc so the 'newness factor never really worked' also, all three lasted less than a year each so I was stupid to buy new.

Looked at buying new at SIBS and decided that if it was the boat for us for next 5-7 years then would consider it. Unfortunately I can not commit to a boat that long so just saw depreciation walking out of the marina entrance.

SWMBO likes new...and it is easier to get her excited about it at boatshows. Me, I think I will stick to 2-5 year old and save a packet, just try and buy a good one.

I do not have the answer....it is your cash. If getting an F34 would get a second hand one and save £45k. Most are well speced and not well used so a bargain is to be had.

My Last MOBO was a 4 year old Regal and still had the plastic on the berths, the microwave plastic on it and only 76 hours from new...turned out to be an amazing boat.

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
My point was nobody was interested in his F34 and he couldn't get rid of it. I see there are a lot for sale at the moment, don't know the reason, maybe there are deals to be done on bigger ones and they want to shift them, but it still requires people at the bottom buying them to keep it all moving.
 
Hi Doug how was Barthellona?? Talking new or s/hand boats
you know my Northshore Ranger, 30 years old just fantastic
She was all over France this Summer, Brittany/ CIsles
Cornwell/Devon and back to Norfolk. Seven weeks of
virtually non stop travel about 250 hours. I n various
Marinas i came across modern boats, broken down with
a variety of problems, i felt for the owners, but permitted
myself a wry smile, me and my 30year old
If i was a wealthy man, yes i would love to buy a new
boat, but you must cut your cloth, de da de da
I have a sneaking feeling that the Ranger will still be
going when some of these expensive sport boats are
in GRP Heaven.
By the way she can still lift her skirts @25knots
Is'nt it wonderful to love your boat!!
 
Hi Doug, if thinking of an F34 have a look at this one, i've seen it many times at Largs marina, and it was featured in MBM recently(maybe upto a year ago) as an Owners report.
Sealine F34

They are nice boats, certainly one of my and Kirsty's favorites.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

Cheers

Al.
 
Quote:-

"there are too many cowboys out there that wouldn't recognise customer service it was put in front of their face. The industry is a shambolic inefficient mess of cocky know nothing salesmen"


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I think you should forget about the sugar candy coating and put it to us straight. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Not my experience, I'm afraid, I have nothing but good service from Fairline @ Port Solent as you know. The Cranchi dealer has been good for you and there plenty of good stories and satisfied owners around too. I've heard good reports from the Jenneau dealers in the Hamble also.

The point really is the same for all industries and markets, there are good and bad dealers / manufacturers and always the cowboy / trader (apt)

The trick is to find the good guys and it's not always that easy. Not to mention buying new doesn't ensure good product quality or service as we've seen recently.

Personally, I prefer used, buy the best you can't afford and look after it, and it'll always be saleable later.
 
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