The state of the current yacht market

[Sailing steve]

Just supposing a clean and tidy, well maintained example of a popular smaller yacht based in north Essex with almost new sails was looking for a new owner when does the house think might be the best time to put it to the market?

Asking for a friend of course...

 

[steveeasy]

As soon as possible. Not sure the time of year makes any difference.
Steveeasy

 

[Tranona]

There is no best time. You can construct arguments to say that some times of the year are better than others but the reality is that boats change hands all year round. You won't find a buyer unless you expose the boat to them, so as soon as you are ready to sell go for it.

 

[Graham376]

Our previous boat, a Moody 346, was on a transporter within a week of ad appearing in Y Monthly, in December. 20+ enquiries as it was the only twin keeler on the market at that time.

 

[webcraft]

Curious that me posting that a friend's daughter was having to sell his boat to pay for his funeral generated a warning and removal because it mentioned a boat for sale.

But this blatant advertising is apparently OK.

Oh well.

- W

 

[Sailing steve]

My friend was picturing a scenario where a project boat might be more attractive in the late summer and autumn with several weeks to do the necessary whilst a ready to launch example might become most desirable in the spring with the promise of warm sunny days just around the corner.

Whatever occurs I'll be sure to tell him.

 

[ashtead]

I guess any project boat will sell at any time of year if price is low enough ? Or is it a white elephant -it’s no real difference to buying property advertised by agents as needing an owner to put own personal stamp on property. I recently sold a desirable Audi to a garage -they will tart up and make a turn but have the time and resources to do this and likewise your project boat which is a headache for the friend and an opportunity for another. Good luck on sale but until you have tested market you won’t know I guess

 

[webcraft]

My friend was picturing a scenario where a project boat might be more attractive in the late summer and autumn with several weeks to do the necessary whilst a ready to launch example might become most desirable in the spring with the promise of warm sunny days just around the corner.

Whatever occurs I'll be sure to tell him.

Tell him I'll give him £500 (forum limit) for his boat right now.

Thanks,

- W

 

[ylop]

As soon as possible. Not sure the time of year makes any difference.
Steveeasy

I disagree! For most boats this is probably the worst time to sell. Boats looking good and in ready to sail condition should sell easily (at the right price) in spring - so new owner gets the full season’s use. Similarly towards the end of the season boats that need a little TLC can move because you aren’t missing sailing time tarting them up. But now we are firmly in the off season - most people looking to buy a winter project probably have one, most people looking to buy something ready to sail probably don’t want to have to deal with storage, winter servicing etc before they even get it wet. At the top end of the market buyers may be less cash flow sensitive but at the bottom end - Christmas is often perceived as an expensive time, and it can be a long wait till January pay day. If you are eating into savings you may not be excited about buying now. But then when buyers emerge with the first shoots of spring they will see boats which have been on the market for 3 months and be suspicious.

I would say to sell a boat easily you want it looking good, fully rigged and ready to test sail, smelling fresh, no clutter, if you want buyers to use imagination the numbers go down.

Obviously there are exceptions for highly sought after boats, as well as ways to sweeten a deal for a buyer who won’t want to make a delivery trip this time of year (like yard fees paid till April!)

 

[Allan]

For a sale to happen you just need three things, a product (the boat), a seller and a buyer. I sold my last boat in December, I had three calls from the Apollo Duck advert. One chancer, who offered 25% under the asking price and got upset when I refused to negotiate. One person rang, asked loads of questions all of which I could answer positively and never rang back. The third was my buyer who didn't haggle and took the boat away a few days before the years mooring were due. If you have the three things, the time of year is irrelevant.
Allan

 

[Minerva]

I disagree! For most boats this is probably the worst time to sell. Boats looking good and in ready to sail condition should sell easily (at the right price) in spring - so new owner gets the full season’s use. Similarly towards the end of the season boats that need a little TLC can move because you aren’t missing sailing time tarting them up. But now we are firmly in the off season - most people looking to buy a winter project probably have one, most people looking to buy something ready to sail probably don’t want to have to deal with storage, winter servicing etc before they even get it wet. At the top end of the market buyers may be less cash flow sensitive but at the bottom end - Christmas is often perceived as an expensive time, and it can be a long wait till January pay day. If you are eating into savings you may not be excited about buying now. But then when buyers emerge with the first shoots of spring they will see boats which have been on the market for 3 months and be suspicious.

I would say to sell a boat easily you want it looking good, fully rigged and ready to test sail, smelling fresh, no clutter, if you want buyers to use imagination the numbers go down.

Obviously there are exceptions for highly sought after boats, as well as ways to sweeten a deal for a buyer who won’t want to make a delivery trip this time of year (like yard fees paid till April!)

I think the paying for winter storage thing is a bit of a red herring. I know I pay for the 6months winter storage upfront. Therefore should I sell my boat today, the new owner wouldn’t have to pay anything ‘till they take it off to their new mooring.

 

[Sailing steve]

I think the paying for winter storage thing is a bit of a red herring. I know I pay for the 6months winter storage upfront. Therefore should I sell my boat today, the new owner wouldn’t have to pay anything ‘till they take it off to their new mooring.

Well, this.

My friend has paid for his boat storage 'till the end of March - that's surely sweetens the deal for any new owner, especially if s/he has to get it cleared by Management.

 

[ashtead]

I just wonder though if there are not many out there who have a boat with which they are quite happy but if the right alternative choice came along might be prepared to trade up or down? Let’s say you have a perfectly good 40ft yacht but realise maybe you want a change in boating to something with bigger diesels which trundles along at say 10-15knots . Now the right one might not be out there but the opportunity might arise. Surely the same applies to a project boat if the make and price is right at any time of year?

 

[steveeasy]

I just wonder though if there are not many out there who have a boat with which they are quite happy but if the right alternative choice came along might be prepared to trade up or down? Let’s say you have a perfectly good 40ft yacht but realise maybe you want a change in boating to something with bigger diesels which trundles along at say 10-15knots . Now the right one might not be out there but the opportunity might arise. Surely the same applies to a project boat if the make and price is right at any time of year?

Why not start a site then for trade ups and downs. Sounds a really good model if one can get a fee for the site and boats on it.
Steveeasy

 

[NickRobinson]

I'm one of those odd people looking for a winter bargain. One thing I've noticed several times, is sellers saying that the storage or berth afloat is paid up until some future time.
On checking, I've been told I'd be charged from day one (marina) or need to join then be added to a waiting list (YC) or leave ASAP

 

[Tranona]

That is quite common. Most marina contracts are fixed term and non transferrable. The seller is misleading if he suggests otherwise unless he has agreement from the marina.

 

[Aeolus]

That is quite common. Most marina contracts are fixed term and non transferrable. The seller is misleading if he suggests otherwise unless he has agreement from the marina.

Marinas can only get upset about what they know.

 

[ylop]

Marinas can only get upset about what they know.

You don’t want to buy a boat without knowing there is not a big outstanding marina bill! FWIW, I’ve had a very accommodating Marina who did transfer the rest of the year to me as buyer (and it was as I said a sweetener - that meant we made an offer there and then, rather than having to go away and think about it) but my last 2 years winter storage fees were paid as 2 instalments (nice yards probably don’t care about change of owner so long paid - but it isn’t getting lifted back in without the second half, the electric bill etc all settled!). But a yard I used to use had a waiting list and if you sold the boat you had to choose - transfer the space or join bottom of waiting list for your new boat…

 

[rotrax]

I disagree! For most boats this is probably the worst time to sell. Boats looking good and in ready to sail condition should sell easily (at the right price) in spring - so new owner gets the full season’s use. Similarly towards the end of the season boats that need a little TLC can move because you aren’t missing sailing time tarting them up. But now we are firmly in the off season - most people looking to buy a winter project probably have one, most people looking to buy something ready to sail probably don’t want to have to deal with storage, winter servicing etc before they even get it wet. At the top end of the market buyers may be less cash flow sensitive but at the bottom end - Christmas is often perceived as an expensive time, and it can be a long wait till January pay day. If you are eating into savings you may not be excited about buying now. But then when buyers emerge with the first shoots of spring they will see boats which have been on the market for 3 months and be suspicious.

I would say to sell a boat easily you want it looking good, fully rigged and ready to test sail, smelling fresh, no clutter, if you want buyers to use imagination the numbers go down.

Obviously there are exceptions for highly sought after boats, as well as ways to sweeten a deal for a buyer who won’t want to make a delivery trip this time of year (like yard fees paid till April!)

My view, based on direct and recent experience, is directly to the contrary.

We chose a high profile broker, presented the boat properly, warts and all, two weeks on their webpages, got a veiwing, accepted an offer, subject to survey. That has been organised in a couple of weeks time.

Our circumstance is covered by your last para. Our berth - which will be transferred - finishes end of June.