The quality of the interior of a yacht;

[Sea Devil]

JIMDEW got it right in my opinion -
Engine
Mast/Rigging
Sails
Cushions/Headlining
Electronics/Instrumentation
Winches/Cockpit
Galley/Gas/Water
Windows/Hatches

I have just sold and purchased - selling I spent a lot of time on the interior - varnish brush and pvc cleaner and a brilliant suggestion of oven cleaner from the forum. She looked lovely below and smelt nice and was warm and welcoming. She was a good boat with everything in good shape to circumnaviagate again but I am certain but it was the inerior which sold her.

Buying I was torn between a more expensive boat with newish engine and sails and someone had done a good interior job so she sparkled & a lot cheaper boat which has been sailed hard with original engine and sails - No sparkle as she had just been hauled at the end of the season and laid up - properly.. I put in a few low bids for the 'sparkly' boat but got the cheaper one as even if I have to replace engine and sails this year (and I can probably put both off for quite a while) she would still cost less than the sparkly boat and I know how to make things look nice and pretty below.

It is the interiors which sell new Barvaria type yachts as well as the price - they look lovely below - after a year or two?????

 

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
If you think that someone who cannot be bothered to tidy up his living quarters, but will change the engine oil, service his life jackets, ensure the flares are in date etc. I think you should be the cautious one!

[/ QUOTE ]

This is starting to sound like that house doctor program, where potential buyers complain about the bedspreads or the colour of the curtains.

I am part through renovating my boat. To many she would still be considered tatty as we are still concentrating on functional, she already needs the carpets replaced in the saloon (too much work carried out post fitting them etc.).

But I can assure you, she has 2 year old fully serviced engines, full new rewire, all in date flares, new sails, new instruments (complete). New bildge pumps, new new new. By closing your eyes because we have still not varnished the interior, or touched up some paintwork or filled in some holes where old cable runs went, you are missing the point.

If I was selling my boat, you would miss out on a nearly new old boat because you can not see through to what has been done.

ah well!

 

[aitchw]

It's a generalisation problem,shipswoofy. If you were selling your boat you would be at great pains to point all this out and rightly so. I guess you would be the one talking to a buyer, also.

Most of what has been said is valid for boats left to brokers/yards to sell where the owner has little or no contact with potential buyers. They miss out big time by not paying attention to the detail.

 

[FullCircle]

Woofy,
I'll give you a tenner for your tatty boat.
But seriously, you would have to be mad or broke to think of selling while the boat requires those cosmetics, because MOST people will just want to get on it and be comfortable.
Only seriously tight folk like me will have a gleam in the eye when I spy your excess of expenditure and try to rob you.
But I've joined the dark side now and bought new. In fact only 3 hours until it arrives now. Picture this: I have spent almost 8k in excess of the 'luxury, sailaway' spec which wouldn't be seen in the asking if I sold her. And I still haven't got a Kiwiprop. But it does look pretty inside. Except its being delivered in the wrong colour upholstery. No matter, more will arrive soon.


Jim

 

[Sans Bateau]

Exactly,

shipswoofy, if you were going to put your boat on the market you would go to great lengths to tell a prospective buyer about all the improvements, so would anyone restoring a boat. Come to that if anyone was buying a boat, looked at one halfway through restoration and was unable to have the vision of the completed project, they are looking at the wrong boat.

But the discussion does not only include boats for sale. You go around any marina this weekend, the boats, even those ashore with all the safety gear, sails and other kit still on the boat, open to the elements, old safety gear hanging off the pushpit, uncarred for, the cabin will be as bad. The boat laid up properly, equipment removed, taken home for service, will have the same level of care given to the whole boat, including the cabin. If you are going to care for and maintain your boat, why would'nt you treat the whole boat the same?

 

[pragmatist]

Becky - I'm not clear whether you're talking about original quality or the way the interior has been treated. Personally I like quality boats and if that means they need a bit of varnish or the upholstery renewing then that's OK by me - providing its achieveable/affordable. But a boat with high quality joinery and quality fittings - hinges, catches etc - is one which will remain looking good (or can be restored to that with relative ease). I do wonder when I look at more modern boats what they will be like in 15 or 20 years time. Perhaps this is all reflected in the high depreciation of some marques ?

And on presentation - when we sold our last boat the original broker (who failed to sell her) told us to remove all our personal possessions - irritating since it then took 6 months to sell her. We looked at a boat which was full of possessions and it didn't put me off a bit - rather the reverse, it was a boat which had been used and cared for. Sadly she had a structural problem but this was not a "showroom" boat but a much loved one.