What do you expect to see when buying a boat

When I buy a boat I always love to get extra stuff with it. It's very easy to throw it out if you don't want it. That said, I bitterly regret letting things go with boats I've sold. Last one had the Autohelm with it. Now I need to buy one, I've found they're £500. Also an LED flare, shouldn't have let it go.
I would keep some stuff and let some go with the boat. Keep things like shackles, rigging screws, blocks. If it's someone's first boat, imagine the delight of sorting through things. I definitely don't agree with clearing it out, that's just plain mean.
 
ash2020 said:
When I buy a boat I always love to get extra stuff with it. It's very easy to throw it out if you don't want it. That said, I bitterly regret letting things go with boats I've sold. Last one had the Autohelm with it. Now I need to buy one, I've found they're £500. Also an LED flare, shouldn't have let it go.
I would keep some stuff and let some go with the boat. Keep things like shackles, rigging screws, blocks. If it's someone's first boat, imagine the delight of sorting through things. I definitely don't agree with clearing it out, that's just plain mean.
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Clearing out is not mean - it's for showing to potential buyers. Once someone is genuinely interested "extras" can be discussed. But they have to visualise the boat as potentially theirs first, and for that a very clean, very tidy boat matter a lot. And the heads must be super-clean and no trace of whiff.

Another photo - https://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/boats/m7625/images/saloon-table-1.jpg - I dither about settee scatter cushions - most people put them on board and it does make the ambience "friendlier", as most buyers will test the seating. But you don't tend to see them on "Boat Show new boats". And what you are trying to do is set up a mental price comparison with a new XYZ-35 at X times the price.
 
I have recently sold my boat, in Greece whereas I am in France, so there was no option to take home items on the inventory. We left lots of tools and extras, all stored tidily in lockers. The interior of the boat was clean, tidy and polished. It sold very quickly for the asking price and is currently being sailed back to the Aegean from the Ionian. I feel the new owner must be delighted with all the extra kit he found in the boat.
 
Clear anything not bolted down except perhaps the kettle and the cutlery.
Mention everything that could be included in the price if he wants it, stuff that would make using the boat simpler/safer/ and possibly save him buying something to complete his inventory.

Old hands just love a boat that previous owner has walked away from and half the fun is discovering the brand new handheld in one locker a brand new starter motor in another and some actually in date flares.
Finding locker full of damp mouldly covers on top of rusty tools does not quite have the same affect.
OGs dreams about finding a cupboard full of unopened bottles with " Starbright" on the label.
 
Regardless of how useful it all is, my first thought would be "that's a lot of stuff to have to take to the tip".

I'd declutter except for the "ready use" essentials - filters etc - which might fit in one tool box for neatness. That'd reassure me the owner took maintenance seriously, but isn't overwhelming in volume.

Try and organise the fenders, lines and maybe one jerry can so that they look neat and as if there's plenty of extra storage around them, even if it'd be tight.

Fingers crossed for you with finding a good buyer.
 
Doing Pre buying surveys I see many arguments about is it or wasn't it included in the sale, life jackets and outboards are typical

so if its not included remove it !
 
Roberto said:
Take photographs of everything, then empty the boat. Show the photographs to potential purchasers so they can decide what to take or not. :)
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This. In addition to photos, there should be a concise list of what conveys and what does not. The list can be long, but should be well categorized.

Your son is right. And it's not worth a row.

Boats, like houses, are mostly sold on first impressions. It needs to be clean and appear well looked after. Stuff in the lockers does not convey that; it might be good stuff, but at first glance it may just look like junk to them, and yes, it makes the boat look smaller. They also can better see the size and condition of the lockers if they are empty. Like furnishings in a house, the buyer needs to feel they can make it theirs. Let them imagine what they can do.

If the buyer gets serous (survey) bring out all the stuff.

Yes, I've sold a number of boats. I've also bought boats. A lot of the "good stuff" either went in the skip or moved home.
 
Bought quite a few and sold as well ... surveyed more than I care to remember !!

My personal level of whats left if I'm selling ? Enough that the buyer can sail the boat away .... but not be loaded down with 'it may come in handy one day' stuff ...
Galley should have an inventory of items to match the usual number of people on board... plates / bowls / cutlery / pots pans etc.
Bunks ? Get rid of duvets / sleeping bags etc - they are personal and I for one want to think I am sleeping only in my own !!
Tools - a minimum set to handle common stuff like shackles / odd stuff .. but forget speciality unless boat needs.
Jerry cans ? Remove unless buyer is going to sail boat away and you offer to add a can of fuel.
Filters etc - one of each is a nice gift.
Fuel ? A partial tank of fuel at least is appreciated.

I regard Boathook, bearing out pole, sails - various, reasonable number of fenders, two long mooring / tow ropes, at least 4 reasonable mooring lines as stay on board items.

Liferaft - if boat has obvious signs of having one - then discuss with buyer, as an OPTION.

The 38 I bought in Sweden was accepted even though seller had not removed various such as duvets / bedding .. the transom locker was crammed full ... generally the boat was as if he'd just got back from a few days out on the boat ... BUT the boat could be seen as worth it ... it was not cluttered up in the cabin etc.

Couple of months ago - I was invited on board a 38ft boat guy is renovating ashore .... interior had been modified by previous owner into a live-aboard single-handed affair .... sadly - no matter what is done to that boat - she will never regain the class and style the marque was famous for. It was a mess.
 
I’m in the declutter camp.

Things like specialist tools can be left on board, but if there are things like the cool box that are not out of sight they must come off.
But the golden rule is that if it’s on the boat when they view it, it must be included in the sale unless you’re very specific about it. Far better to conclude the sale and then say, oh btw, I have this, this and this, do you want them?

When we cleared Dad’s boat for the sale, it took us an entire weekend and 2 trips to the tip.
 
Clear personal stuff & bedding etc, Boat gear like fenders warps & basic gear can stay. If i was looking at a boat & it had been stripped bare i would walk away.
 
A friend bought a boat from a Solent based charter operators owner.

When we viewed it there was minimal equipment on board - a bucket, warps, fenders, boat hook, engine spares, pack of out of date flares, life ring, throwing line and a kettle on the stove. This I think was perfect, a blank canvas but just enough gear to make it ready to go.

Just bring your sailing gear and a toolkit for the delivery home.

When we arrived to collect it however all of this had vanished, a row ensued via the broker which spoiled the trip home.

To be fair to all concerned I think the owner had sent some of his employees to ‘clear the boat’ without giving specific instructions as to what that entailed.

My viewpoint was my mate had knocked about £25k off the price and £300 spent at the chandler not a big deal.

He was threatening legal action and getting cross, talking about theft etc.
 
To a degree, I suppose it depends whether you're buying another boat or packing it in. You can always draw-up an inventory and use it as a bargaining point when the potential buyer discusses price, especially if some of the items are peculiar to your boat.

Personally, I like to see a boat as the owner sailed it..... It paints a picture as to how well the boat's been looked after and gives a certain feel as to how competent the owner is. A locker with an oily old spanner that appears to be junk but is kept expressly for adjusting the stern gland would give me far more confidence than a sparkling clean storage space with nothing in it. Apart from anything else, it all helps tell the boat's story.
 
Surely fenders, warps, mooring hooks, deck scrubbers boat hook, shore power lead with the different sockets for different marina connections are an essential item that one would expect to be on board.
As for the cool box-12V/ 240V - if there is no fridge then would it not be sensible to show where the unit goes? Under the sink is stowed a set of very good clean SS steamer pans for the cooker. Could that not be left there? After all they are a cooker accessory
I have a fuel transfer system installed. It would seem odd not to leave 2 jerry cans that go with it
 
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Daydream believer said:
Surely fenders & warps,
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Yes, although if she’s on the pontoon most will be deployed so not adding clutter.
Daydream believer said:
mooring hooks, deck scrubbers boat hook,
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I would say a boat hook is needed for “ready to sail”. The rest not so much but they wouldn’t seem like “clutter” if neatly stowed. That might mean putting them somewhere different from you usually leave them.
Daydream believer said:
shore power lead with the different sockets for different marina connections are an essential item that one would expect to be on board.
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Will she be on shorepower whilst viewed? That’s one cable out the way. In UK marinas I’ve only encountered one connector style. It’s definitely not “essential” to have multiple options, especially on multiple cables. Shore power cables are quite hard to make neat and space efficient - so “spare” cables almost certainly detract more value than they bring.
Daydream believer said:
As for the cool box-12V/ 240V - if there is no fridge then would it not be sensible to show where the unit goes?
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It depends, if it’s somewhere out the way that is a practical use of space - yes. If it highlights a deficiency of the boat no. By all means include it in the listing and say “we take it home when not using the boat”. You can even spin it that this solves the issue of how to transport the food and keep stuff cool. But if a first impression of the galley/saloon is there’s a bloody great coolbox taking up space it might be best left to the buyers imagination.
Daydream believer said:
Under the sink is stowed a set of very good clean SS steamer pans for the cooker. Could that not be left there? After all they are a cooker accessory
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That seems reasonable.

No idea about the fuel transfer system. I think ONE spare fuel can is seaman-like. Multiple says to me that you find the fuel tank too small or the gauge unreliable. Of course you can provide all that to the new owner with a “we use these for longer passages” after the deal is done.
 
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Clear the boat out, it just makes sense. I do sympathies though, as you are letting go of what you put into the boat to make it useful to you. You may think your position is practical, but it is really sentiment being driven by your ego. Ego is not your friend.
 
The shore power connections are
A double for when too many in use on pontoon sockets
A 30 amp to 15 amp adaptor so one can use the big sockets when the small ones are occupied
a 2 pin for certain out dated shore power connections
A voltage reverser for when pos & neg are reversed
a 13 amp 3 pin adaptor for club use to the shore power
All short fittings wired up by an electrician
 
Nobody in the history of boat buying ever said - I really liked the boat but it only came with a 10m shore power lead with commando cable so I had to walk away. Lots of have said, “I thought it would be a nice boat but I couldn’t imagine where all our stuff would go”. I’m not doubting that your various cable configurations are handy - I have various option (which as it happens mostly came with the boat) but rather than making the locker look cavernous they make it awkward and messy. Quirks of shorepower are not high on buyers minds.
 
One of the tool boxes contains 2 complete sets of fuel & oil filters, anodes prop socket extension bar ratchet, allen keys & grease nipple for brunton prop. Cannot get it off without.
There are 6 prop anodes at £35 ea. There are 5 spare volvo impellors
All is neatly wrapped & nothing is rusty or greasy
If I was buying a boat & saw that I would not add it to the price --but be les inclined to knock it off-- but would certainly not discard it as trash. But others would possibly not apreciate its worth until they broke down
 
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