What do you expect to see when buying a boat

[Daydream believer]

My boat is up for sale & I have had a very unusual & somewhat upsetting row with my son. He says everything shoud be removed (today) & i say that things like the 3 good toolboxes with filters impellors decent larger special spanners -all with different jobs like removing the prop- should remain in the lockers. The cool box should remain strapped in place in the cabin in its cruising place. The 2 spare jerry cans & 2 deck scrubbers, boat hook etc should stay in the stern locker with the large selection of ropes . In the main locker there is a special step I have for when alongside a pontoon & a plastic step for getting off the bow. A selectin of mains electric plugs for different marinas
In the cockpit sits the liferaft under the mainsheet traveller. He is most insistent this is removed as it makes the cockpit look smaller.
He says we will give a full inventory of items to be viewed along with all the spare sails inc spare mainsails & jibs etc & if the buyer is interested he can come & look ( I am 4. miles away)
He says the boat ( which I am having professionally cleaned in & out )should be virtually bare
I disagree as an owner can come and see that he does not have to buy many items . He does not want say to the broker- where is the cool box? in a shed somehwhere
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What do others do when selling a boat please

 

[Lucky Duck]

I’ve always cleared them out when putting a boat up for sale.

One man’s useful stuff is another’s clutter and as your sons says it can make the boat seem smaller.

 

[KevinV]

I'm afraid I'm with your son - I'd want to see the blank canvas, not your painting, however accomplished.

 

[Kwik Decision]

As a general rule, if it's being sold with the boat, it should be on board, and if it isn't being sold with the boat, take it off.
Provided all tools and bits and pieces are stowed away out of sight when you get on board, that's fine. You want first impressions to be a clean, sweet smelling and uncluttered boat. Then, when the wife's happy, you can open the lockers and go through the tools/spares you're including.

Is the life raft serviced and in date. If yes, I'd leave it on board, otherwise take it off.

Cool box is an interesting one. Unless it stowes out of sight, I'd probably take it off, and mention where you could put one when showing folk round.

 

[ylop]

Is your objective to maximise value, sell quickly or minimise hassle. I would suggest that your son may be right - clutter stops boats from selling. Extra stuff MIGHT help a new owner but I don’t think buyers are very good (in general) at evaluating what the cost would be of the accumulated gubbins.

I would expect to see everything that is officially included in the sale. Everything the surveyor is expecting to see. Everything the broker should be able to find and explain, But if eg there is a spare set of sails, a box of spares etc which if the offer is good you will generously include then I would probably not leave on the boat. I think boats should be in ready to sail condition with you able to provide a test sail without restocking the cupboard (so normal tools and impeller/belt/filter would be reasonable - the old exhaust elbow that still has some life in it, the wrong sized prop, a jabsco toilet kit, petrol for the outboard that is not included should not!). If there’s a liferaft cradle then I’d expect it there. If it’s a valise in the locker - probably not.
Coolbox… hard to say - if it emphasises lack of fridge, remove it. If it makes good use of an awkward space and provides a fridge where all other boats this size have one leave it.

I eliminated far more boats from the photos of clutter than I did from any “missing” essentials. Your buyer may have very different intended use from you and do your essentials are his clutter.

 

[Roberto]

Take photographs of everything, then empty the boat. Show the photographs to potential purchasers so they can decide what to take or not.

 

[wonkywinch]

I bought a boat just over two years ago so have recent relevant experience.

Cleared of all stuff so I can imagine how it could be "my" boat. To have lockers full of stuff, even if it was being sold with the boat, creates a negative impression with me.

We still watch a load of boat sales videos and cringe when they are full of tat like people couldn't be bothered to prep for sale.

The Parker Adams videos are a good example of "less is more" when presenting a boat.

Parker Adams

 

[dansaskip]

I was very glad when I bought my boat that on it were tupperware boxes of spares and special tools mooring warps and fenders and I think any potential owner would be pleased about that sort of stuff, particularly if it is all listed and labelled. Other more personal stuff I may bet tempted to clear out but I don't think you should completely clear out the boat, get rid of the junk yes. Of course it's a conversation you can and would have with a potential buyer about what you would leave on the boat. On a final note whose boat is it? yours or your son's? Isn't he being a bit bossy?

 

[ashtead]

Remove everything but if you catch a buyer you like offer a few extras they might like if price good as opposed to nickel and dimming purchaser -these comps might help deal along?
If buying secondhand I would appreciate some complimentary spanner’s and filters plus a typed description of usage say
Take cool box away -you can mention in dealings with buyer what you do and if they express interest volunteer-some might not appreciate or think it reveals fridge issues . A Jerry can and the steps useful in a locker to show how much you can store but not if they overfill. We keep our stern bathing ladder at bottom of locker so would leave in but all the other kit I would be clearing out of our full lazarettes. Good luck with sale -some pictures of your vessel might attract other forumite contributions though.

 

[doug748]

I have sold two boats this year, it's a tough market.....

Thin out the ropes so there are a couple of long lines + four for alongside and enough specialist stuff to run the boat, fenders etc. So the boat is ready to sail.
Leave one boathook, one full jerry can one scrubber - stowed properly in clean lockers.

Take the cool box away unless it can be stowed in a proper position, out of sight, consider binning it.

Lose the special steps, for a buyer it's only clutter.

Take the life raft ashore unless it has convenient proper stowage in a cradle of similar. Also the boxes of spares etc - but put them on the inventory

Leave nothing at all visible in the cabin except items that are fixed and part of the inventory or will be left with the boat. Stow the plugs away in a proper fabric bag or similar.



A tablecloth, Teapot, impeccable dishcloth, clean kettle on the hob gives a welcoming feel - unlike the cylinder head I found on the saloon table of one boat I viewed.

- Good luck.

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[steve yates]

Get rid of almost everything that is not fixed down.

 

[ashtead]

I don’t think the OP mentioned if a broker involved but if so listen to their advice . For what is probably a modest fee they might help give an objective view here as well (unless say a make can be shared as this might elicit contributions -you could also look a comparators for sale?

 

[jwilson]

This https://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/boats/s01425/images/saloon-wa.jpg is good

The aim is to make a buyer think "This is could be my boat", not "... I'm on someone else's boat with all their stuff".

But a boat should be able to be sailed away without the buyer having to buy a kettle, a couple of mugs, or any warps or fenders.

 

[Daydream believer]

Yes Broker engaged

 

[Blueboatman]

Sorry to hear that you’re selling up.

I’ve been on my holibobs and this past week does not feel like great sailing but it’s great boat viewing weather.

If you’ve chosen a successful broker then do what they suggest?

My last boat was ‘curated’.

But having bought it I then collected literally a large van full of all those lovely bits n bobs when an owner chooses to hang up their sailing boots.

So I would declutter completely so that any prospect can get a sense of all spaces without things lurking within.

But carefully list all those extras and spares and special tools which one would expect as provenance of a one careful owner boat..

Best of luck with the sale.

 

[Graham376]

I expect to see everything included in the sale or an inventory but not the owners personal belongings. Too many arguments when gear seen on viewing has disappeared on sale completion.

 

[MoodySabre]

I think it needs to be declutterred. You had it sorted for your own use. The new buyer may have different ideas.

Good luck with the sale, as regrettable as it is.

 

[dunedin]

I would be in the declutter camp. A few new spares in neat boxes would be an exception.

The liferaft would probably fetch more sold separately, or to add as an extra to swing a deal. But sounds like it occupies a lot of space, which makes the cockpit feel small, so better ashore and not on the official inventory.

It is difficult for us to see our boat in the way others stepping on board for the first time will. Your son is probably more objective than you. If in doubt remove.

 

[Roberto]

One possible exception I once visited a sailing boat which had a separate workshop cabin, complete with a sturdy table with a vice on a corner, nothing else, it was all empty. I saw on one side a big locker with say ten drawers, each quite wide but maybe only 10-15cm thick, I asked what they were for and the smiling seller invited ''please open them'': they were all filled with all types of very good tools, neatly organized. Big selling point (and very good seller)

 

[dunedin]

One possible exception I once visited a sailing boat which had a separate workshop cabin, complete with a sturdy table with a vice on a corner, nothing else, it was all empty. I saw on one side a big locker with say ten drawers, each quite wide but maybe only 10-15cm thick, I asked what they were for and the smiling seller invited ''please open them'': they were all filled with all types of very good tools, neatly organized. Big selling point (and very good seller)

Very relevant for a biggish potential world cruising yacht - but less so for a modest sized modern coastal cruiser (trying to avoid term AWB, but this does perhaps apply)