Service of Engines before purchase, who takes costs?

KajLehtinen

KajLehtinen

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 Dec 2003
Messages
93
Location
Sweden, Stockholm
www.sealine.nu
Hi!

I've signed contract on a Sealine with TAMD74p's that been stored onshore for a couple of years. I've been told that the seller doesnt want to pay for a fullservice of the engines before putting it back to sea for the seatrial or handover following a successful seatrial.

I would have thought that its the seller best interest to leave the boat as serviced as possible to minimize any risc during seatrial and hence do a full service prior to seatrial - no service records seems to exists so wether or not it was done just prio to boat was taken out of the water isnt documented.

Any thoughts from the community, what is the normal case?

/Kaj
 
I agree.

I'm assuming you've signed a contract to buy the boat as it stands subject to a sea trial. If anything serious is discovered on the sea trial then you negotiate but that won't include servicing. You are fully aware of the service state of the vessel.

If you were buying off a dealer (not a broker) then they may well service the engines prior to sale and offer a guarantee afterwards but if you are buying privately or through a broker then it's buyer beware I'm afraid.

All the seller needs to do is make sure the boat holds together for the hour or so of the sea trial. After that she's your problem.

Henry :)
 
Entirely up to seller.
Usual scenerio would be .
Boat is tested at sellers risk and expence if something blows up on sea trial.
If a serious problem occurs,on sea trial you can pull out or come to a agreement about who pays for fixing it.
Seller can fix it to your satisfaction and perhaps second sea trial or you can negociate a decent price reduction,bearing in mind something else might pop up after initial problem sorted.
No going back for second reduction at price paid.
 
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When buying a used boat I would view everything with suspicion until proven adequate.
In any case you might be best doing the service yourself or placing the work with someone you know and trust.
 
My experience is:

buyer pays for servicing items, that buyer benefits from, seller pays for rectification. If the engine service is significantly overdue, then make provision for this in your offer, and ensure you take a good mechanic on your se trial.
 
It tells you a lot about the seller, those engines need a thorough service before they are put through their paces, but he wants to scrimp on that and is prepared to see them damaged rather than pay up. Hmmmmm
 
Some people don't service engines when taking the boat out of the water, they leave the service until the day before the boat goes in the water again, in the case of the boat you are interested in which has been laid up for two years, if the impellers were replaced two years ago and the boat had not been run since the chances are that the "new" impellers may be cracking up now and putting the boat in the water now for a sea trial could result in an impeller fail.
If I was to buy a boat which had been stood for two years and wanted a sea trial I would have a mechanic do a quick check (rather than a service) inspect the impeller/s, check the filters, oil levels etc.
The last time I went out for a sea trial the engine broke down and we had to be towed back.
Personally I would have the boat put in the water and have the engines run for an hour before setting off.
 
KajLehtinen said:
I would have thought that its the seller best interest to leave the boat as serviced as possible to minimize any risc during seatrial and hence do a full service prior to seatrial
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At the end of the day, the only thing which is in the seller best interest is to find a buyer - which did happen in this case, I reckon... :)
Not only you knew the boat situation before making an offer, but you are the one who will eventually enjoy a fully serviced boat.
In your boots, I would actually PREFER to have someone I trust servicing the boat, and I wouldn't mind paying the cost.

But one thing you could try to throw in the deal (since a sensible and honest seller should have no reason to disagree) is that if any valid reasons for rejection would arise from the seatrial, the service costs should be refunded to you.
Apropos, define clearly in advance the rejection conditions!
 
We are missing a trick here, what if the prospective buyer has the engines serviced at his expense then the seller withdraws from the sale?? Were it me I would tell the seller "find another mug" lots of boats on the market and it.s a buyers one at that.
 
It's quite simple - if you want him to pay for the servicing ask him to do so or walk away from the deal. I'd be hesitant to buy any boat without a history and paper trail to back it up.
 
omega2 said:
Were it me I would tell the seller "find another mug" lots of boats on the market and it's a buyers one at that.
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People often say that but the reality is that boats that are for sale are often inaccurately described, don't exist, have dodgy paperwork, defective paperwork, etc. Furthermore they are geographically spread far and wide. The perfect ones are usually the most expensive ones (for a reason). So sometimes, it is worth persevering with a boat that fits most, if not all criteria.
 
Stats007 said:
The contract can easily be broken - the purchase is subject to inspection and seatrial.
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How can you tell?
The OP might well have inspected the boat prior to signing anything (I for one surely would, for instance), and the contract could be only subject to survey/seatrial.
And I wouldn't be surprised if in the contract the buyer accepted to bear any seatrial costs (though on this point I for one would have NOT accepted to bear any cost related to actually making the boat capable/ready to make a seatrial).
 
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