Part Ex and boat sale

[qsiv]

It looks like I may have a buyer (or perhaps three at the moment) for my current boat. One of the buyers is keen to expedite matters by offering their boat (a Beneteau 47.7) in part ex. Assuming the boat is sound, and as advertised, has anybody had any experience of this? I'm not particularly keen, given that I dont think I really want a 47,7 - so all would have is the hassle of moving a rather fragile boat on - then again, if the price is right it may be worth it.

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[vyv_cox]

I part exchanged my previous boat for my current one in a private sale, although the owner was a car dealer and quite familiar with this process. He told me that he was always prepared to do this, simply because there are many more people around with the money for half the asking price than all of it, if you see what I mean. Later I met the new owner of my previous boat, who had bought at the same money that I traded in for. So, in that case at least, the value to the seller was in moving the higher priced boat quickly, taking a small chance on the trade-in, based upon his judgement.

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[billmacfarlane]

I WAS going to say what's fragile about the Beneteau until I looked at your personal bumff and noted that you sail a Trintella 51. I don't think the Beneteau is fragile but I can see why you think it might. What I think is simple - why think of buying a boat that you don't seem keen on ? A boat like the Trintella will always sell so why don't you wait, then get something you really want to buy? Which is?

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[qsiv]

Well - it does depend on your definition of fragile - but I was alarmed at Earls Court a year or two back to see the deck of 40.7 flexing as someone walked around, and on the same boat the hull/deck joint had completely failed. Thats not my understanding of solid.

I also spoke to the crew of a 40.7 that raced out of Lymington. Their view was that after two seasons the boat was a write off. They werent displeased - they had won lots of races, and they thought they had had good value for money, it was simply that the hull now flexed too much for them to be able to get enough forestay tension to go to windward, and the hull panels were cracking and grazing.

The boat I'm being offered has never been raced or rallied, so the structure should be sound - but I do worry about that hull deck joint failing after three days at a show - and a broker tells me it has been seen on other boats.

For a boat that is only 3 feet shorter than my existing boat, yet oonly displaces just over 1/3 the structure just cant be as strong - mind you the new race boat only didsplaces 4 tonnes on 40 feet, so I'm not really in a position to be derogaory on that score!.... but at least the new boat doesnt pretend to be a cruising boat.

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[david_e]

If you are tempted have a good mooch around the market for the value of the 47.7 and allow plenty below market value, or Ancasta should be able to value it fairly it accurately for you.

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[qsiv]

Thats useful to know - it's always risky buying something that you havent researched in depth. I feel I also need to allow for cost of flights, and potentially the cost of bringing back to UK - I'd love to use the boat in the Med while she's there, but just cant see how it could be fitted in to an already busy schedule. The cost of getting the family to and fro militates against quick weekend trips.

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[david_e]

Its possible that the cost of a few flights might be peanuts against a wrong buy.

A quick scan of a few sites reveals: prices from £136k - £209K all similar in age.

Suppose the usual rules apply; avoid ex-charter, get full history of the boat - cruise or race set up (sails & draft options) - extras etc.

Not many in the UK for sale though.

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[qsiv]

It wasnt so much visiting before buying, as going down to use with family- I cant see it costing much under £1000, which is a lot for a weekend.

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[blup]

As well as having my own Beneteau 36.1, I crew on a 47.7 which has been regularly raced over the past 2 and a bit years and as far as I am aware there have been no structural issues with it.

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