What's in a Make name ?

[superheat6k]

I visited my broker today to discuss a potential buyer looking at OB, my Turbo 36. Now she is 1985/6 vintage but has to my knowledge no significant defects, and is presented in what I think is a clean and very tidy condition. She is not boatshow ready, but for a 29 year old a very fair boat, loads of recent work, decent inventory and at least the last 3 years detailed history of every nut turned.

Now my hankered for boat is remains the Corvette 32 / 320. My broker has just taken one on from 1988.

Sadly this example is dirty, non-prepared, rotten / worn out deck (declared by Broker as reflected in the price), very neglected, engines filthy and of fairly obscure make - Thornycroft and for this boat underpowered at 150 HP each (later Corvettes most commonly had 2 x Yanmar 315 HP). She will require extensive work, new upholstery, modernising of the interior, new covers. Possibly a money pit.

Price offered for both boats £59,950

Now I know New Corvettes are sold around the £400k mark, but does the marque of the boat really mean such a vessel really warrants a price match with a popular Make and Model 8' longer, faster planing, larger engines, and most of all properly presented ?

 

[Whitelighter]

Well you don't want you T36, but you do want a corvette.

So by that argument the corvette is more desirable, at least for you?

Nothing to stop you bidding the 320 owner in the nuts though based on the list above

 

[superheat6k]

Well you don't want you T36, but you do want a corvette.

So by that argument the corvette is more desirable, at least for you?

Nothing to stop you bidding the 320 owner in the nuts though based on the list above

Indeed, it was just the incongruity of the two boats as far as overall condition is concerned.

 

[Whitelighter]

Whyboats seem to have a 1988 model now with TAMD40s for £59,950 that lo0ks nice

 

[Flynnbarr]

If as described you will eventually sell with a bit of haggling,the corvette will not.Few years ago similar sounding Corvette went through 3brokers on The Thames,hung around for years eventually going for peanuts I believe.
He will not be the first or the last completely unrealistic owner.
Few Corvettes on New Horizon brokerage in the Channel Islands.One on Thames Boat Sales for sale has had the decks renewed in false teak,have seen it,very well presented.
You do know that on that age of Corvette the decks are just ply and veneer and all are knackered by now and the fuel tanks can be an issue?
Before they went bust it was always cheaper to send one needing refurbing back up to the corvette factory,that's what Boatshowrooms told me when I looked at various basket cases.
Good luck I think there great boats,younger the better.

 

[oldgit]

Price offered for both boats £59,950

In my humble experience,the asking price on some boats has very little to do with its net worth !

 

[superheat6k]

Whyboats seem to have a 1988 model now with TAMD40s for £59,950 that lo0ks nice

Sadly that is the one I based my remarks upon. Interesting what a photo doesn't show. And the TAMDs are in fact Thornycroft, and are described on another broker's listing as Yanmar !

Still if it dropped the starting price by £20k I would reckon an offer low £30 would allow the work required. I am also aware Steved on here bought 'Temeraire' for £29 k last Autumn from Fox in Ipswich. When I was looking in 2011 this one was in far better condition having just had the decks sorted, and was up for £70k, gradually reducing over the time I have owned OB.

 

[aquapower]

Are they the cummins based Thornycrofts?

 

[benjenbav]

Are they the cummins based Thornycrofts?

I wondered that, too. My last boat, an Aquastar 33, had engines which were badged as Thorneycrofts but were based on Cummins 6BTs rated at 200/210hp each, marinised by Thorneycroft.

These were outstanding, low-stressed engines which always gave me an incredible feeling of security.

Plus, as the B series was prooduced in vast numbers for various applications, I never really worried about lack of availability of spares.

Didn't stop various would-be buyers lamenting the lack of a couple of brand new green lumps in the boat as they walked away, though!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

but does the marque of the boat really mean such a vessel really warrants a price match with a popular Make and Model 8' longer, faster planing, larger engines, and most of all properly presented ?

Which begs the question why a Corvette 32 is your hankered after boat? There's obviously something about it which makes you want to swap your existing T36 for it and doubtless others feel the same, hence the price. The Corvette 32 is still in production now as the 320 but largely unchanged whereas the T36 has long gone (shame!) which means that older Corvette 32 could still look like a newish boat and I guess that pushes up the price too. However, don't be suckered in buying a money pit because you'll never get back the money you have to spend on it

 

[superheat6k]

Which begs the question why a Corvette 32 is your hankered after boat? There's obviously something about it which makes you want to swap your existing T36 for it and doubtless others feel the same, hence the price. The Corvette 32 is still in production now as the 320 but largely unchanged whereas the T36 has long gone (shame!) which means that older Corvette 32 could still look like a newish boat and I guess that pushes up the price too. However, don't be suckered in buying a money pit because you'll never get back the money you have to spend on it

We love the Turbo 36, except the very high aft deck, which SWMBO hates when we come to moor, plus this is awkward with our larger dog. We were looking for 32-34 feet, and in fact had looked at five Corvettes, and was on a trip to Fowey to view a real dog of a 32 when we found OB languishing in Mayflower Marina, Plymouth.

Also we simply are not getting the distance usage the Turbo 36 warrants, so I want to reduce the annual outgoings, and get something SWMBO is a bit more confident on, besides I love the miniature trader style.

As to the Corvette background, I have been doing some research and there are three basic makers / models, with the earlier 32's made by the original Corvette company in Nottingham. I understand that quality was sometimes an issue, prior to Corvette Marine in Norfolk taking over with the reworked 320, a far better made boat as far as interior finish and standard engine was concerned. The marque was then sold to Fleming in Taiwan, who opened out the aft cabin and increased it to 34', and build it to near superyacht standards.

Thus the early 32's do bolster price on the reputation of the later 320's, and these are held up by the massive new price on the 340, but I can understand certain older 32's being potential money pits. Mind you I would be quite happy with an early 32 requiring a load of work at the right price, and we prefer the island bed layout in the aft cabin.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

When our mutt went through a phase of refusing to jump on to our T36 from the pontoon, I used to just let go the lines and motor away, returning a few minutes later when he'd had time to pine for us. Without fail, he jumped on board then. Used to do the same with the SWMBO as well. You need to show them who's boss