Trial sail - when selling a boat

[Spirit of Glenans]

I have never bought a boat without a trial sail.
In your case I think that you are the better person to demonstrate the boat. Another skipper may express opinions which might reflect badly on it and in the case where a sale has not been confirmed it might affect the outcome of the transaction.

 

[pagoda]

I have never bought a boat without a trial sail.
In your case I think that you are the better person to demonstrate the boat. Another skipper may express opinions which might reflect badly on it and in the case where a sale has not been confirmed it might affect the outcome of the transaction.

Not been quite in that position . However I now realise I would not consider another boat without a trial sail. Preferably WITH the owner, absolutely NOT by proxy on my part..
I would be happy taking a prospective buyer out for a trial sail, with or without "expert " support.
Surveyors are experts more at caveats than boats....

 

[Richard10002]

Has this trial sale taken place yet? Outcome?

 

[Mandarin331]

Well in the end they bought her. However the broker took the buyers out without our knnowledge. We made our feelings very clear and will not be user that broker again..

Our anger was tempered only by selling within 6 weeks of p u tting her on the market.

 

[shan]

Who was the broker?

 

[JimBrown]

Our anger was tempered only by selling within 6 weeks of putting her on the market.

Good Heavens - Fancy that: making an effort and being accommodating when selling a boat results in a quick sale.

I think you should have stuck to your guns on principle and behaved like the typical UK owners trying to sell their boats - present the boat in an un-loved and crappy condition, employ a broker who's next to useless, put an unrealistic price on it and then sit around moaning about how the 'secondhand market is in the dumps'.

I'm always happy to take anyone interested for a test sail - no different from taking them out in a car for sale. It's worked every time over the past 40 years, both here and the States.

 

[Mandarin331]

Good Heavens - Fancy that: making an effort and being accommodating when selling a boat results in a quick sale.

I think you should have stuck to your guns on principle and behaved like the typical UK owners trying to sell their boats - present the boat in an un-loved and crappy condition, employ a broker who's next to useless, put an unrealistic price on it and then sit around moaning about how the 'secondhand market is in the dumps'.

I'm always happy to take anyone interested for a test sail - no different from taking them out in a car for sale. It's worked every time over the past 40 years, both here and the States.

We were perfectly happy to take them for a test sail, with us on board though. So no `guns to stick to`.

And the reason she sold so fast was that.she was spotless and, as the surveyor said, in amazing condition for her age. Having been looking at boats though we agree about the general state of them when put up for sale, we spent hours of hard work making sure ours looked A1 and would resent buying one where the seller had not done by he same, unless at a hefty discount.

 

[NormanS]

Well in the end they bought her. However the broker took the buyers out without our knnowledge. We made our feelings very clear and will not be user that broker again..

Our anger was tempered only by selling within 6 weeks of p u tting her on the market.

So did the broker have your permission to take the boat out? It's just that "taking without permission" is tantamount to theft, and could have had insurance implications had anything gone wrong. However, glad it went well for you.

 

[sailorman]

So did the broker have your permission to take the boat out? It's just that "taking without permission" is tantamount to theft, and could have had insurance implications had anything gone wrong. However, glad it went well for you.

Shirley theft "is to deprive"

 

[NormanS]

Shirley theft "is to deprive"

Does that mean that it's alright for me to take e.g. your car for a spin, as long as I bring it back before you actually need it?

 

[smert]

Shirley theft "is to deprive"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWOC
Taking Without Owners Consent is a Summary Offence under Section 12(I) of the Theft Act 1968

 

[ghostlymoron]

Before we get too involved in legal definitions, I would say good result and full marks to the broker for taking the initiative require to clinch the sale. The OPs interests were protected by having the broker on board and the insurance requirements were met as the broker is your appointed agent.

 

[Mandarin331]

We're certainly happy with the outcome. I should have added that we had told the broker we wanted to be there and could be readily available to suit the buyers.

Anyway, all done and dusted, boat sold, new boat bought in double quick time. Time to move on now.

 

[Jim@sea]

Sounds a little dodgy not to say downright arrogant to me, I'd want to be there and in charge.

I don't know the insurance angle but it certainly needs checking; I hope I'm wrong but doesn't this sound like the prelude to a lower offer ?

I would want to be there, the RYA Skipper may be a Motor Boat enthusiast and yours may be a Yacht, He may also know of another boat which may be more suitable. When I bought my present boat the owner had someone take me out for a trial sail, he was not familiar with the boat and as the diesel switch was not marked On or Off, he thought it was off whereas it was On, he pushed the lever to Off and we set off, only to break down a few minutes later and we had to be towed back.
You need to be there.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Reading this stuff makes me wonder that boats get bought and sold at all.

 

[thinwater]

Would anyone actually sign a contract, without having sailed the boat, that said that they could not withdraw if they didn't like the way she handled? If you have placed a deposit (refundable) and paid for a survey you are NOT a tire kicker and will lose money if you bail. You should need no reason other than dislike.

Gump.

 

[jordanbasset]

In the process of buying my next boat, offer accepted subject to survey. No trial sail, similar to my other two boat purchases. I can see how she handles from a couple of reviews and speaking to people who have actually sailed the same model. I personally think that is better than taking it out for an hour or two in almost certainly one type of weather (be it windy or flat calm) although it is horses for courses and if people want to and the owner is willing, fine.
Can also see the point of a trail sail in an unusual boat or rare boat. But the large majority of AWB's handle pretty much as expected from the reports on the boat.

 

[Seajet]

jordanbasset,

agreed. I bought my Carter 30 when she was ashore at a yard, I could see how she'd handle and go by her lines and I sought out a review or two.

I think that's how most boats are sold, if a boat is in the water fair enough it's worth asking for a test sail but as you say only one type of probably benign weather, so it would be more a demonstration of how well the particular boat's kit works than design fundamentals.

 

[Garold]

In the process of buying my next boat, offer accepted subject to survey. No trial sail, similar to my other two boat purchases. I can see how she handles from a couple of reviews and speaking to people who have actually sailed the same model. I personally think that is better than taking it out for an hour or two in almost certainly one type of weather (be it windy or flat calm) although it is horses for courses and if people want to and the owner is willing, fine.
Can also see the point of a trail sail in an unusual boat or rare boat. But the large majority of AWB's handle pretty much as expected from the reports on the boat.

A friend of ours liked our old boat and considered also buying a catamaran to replace their monohull.

After taking him and his wife out for an hour or two on our boat, they decided against it and bought a bigger monohull. The sailing experience of a catamaran was not exciting enough for him, and the motion of the boat made her seasick.

So, sometimes a test sail can be pivotal.

In this case it was nice and easy for them to take a sail in a boat model that they were considering. But it would have been a sad event if they had purchased a similar boat without trying one first.

Garold.

 

[jordanbasset]

A friend of ours liked our old boat and considered also buying a catamaran to replace their monohull.

After taking him and his wife out for an hour or two on our boat, they decided against it and bought a bigger monohull. The sailing experience of a catamaran was not exciting enough for him, and the motion of the boat made her seasick.

So, sometimes a test sail can be pivotal.

In this case it was nice and easy for them to take a sail in a boat model that they were considering. But it would have been a sad event if they had purchased a similar boat without trying one first.

Garold.

I think if some had not sailed in a catamaran before it makes sense. Similar if some one had not sailed in a monohull, but I humbly suggest that is not the large majority of people.
Personally if I had never sailed a catamaran before I would have probably charted one for a week to see if it was suitable to what I wanted