When is the best time to buy a boat?

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Rob H 37

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Are the winter months the best time to get a good deal?

Does this make a difference for new or second hand?



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Yes, of course it does. Like buying convertible cars and other summer items.

But there is a price - buying a 2nd hand boat in octoberish means you have a whole load of expense without great benefit until the sunnier months - and the seller adjusts accordingly to get out of these obligations. Yoiu need to factor these in, not to adjust just a little bit.

Buying a new boat is somewhat less month-sensitive, i think - cos hi-demand boats will have a waiting list so it makes less difference when you order, whereas lower demand boats will always punt a bigger discount. septmebr -december is a busy time to take orders on new boats at shows for delivery the folowing season.

In a sluggish economy, lightweight boats for shallower pockets are affected most- they are the first thing to get the chop without adversely affecting daily lifestyle.

If buying new, i think it best to insist that you will not take delivery in december - otherwise the boat is a year older than it should be for the whole of the first season. Later in it's life when you sell it is price-bracketed against others delivered in january of the same year.

So, all in all you'll get a good deal - but not so good that the seller wil buy it back. You stil need to make sure you buy a boat that will last you a few years - the most expensive boats run on a thre year cycle year 1 = use it year 2 = forget it, year three= sell it. Remeber that almost all 30ish footer boats are always for sale - every owner is trying to sell cos they are either sick of the whole boat thing - or loves it and wants to trade up.

Note that the chepaest boats need not be private sales -the seller is more confident. Once a boat has stayed at a broker a month or so , and the price has been dropped, the broker will work on him to get shot of the boat to the best offer that swings by - commission of a small percentage of £100k is not a whole heap difference to commission on £120k. the seller also worries that he is fuly testing the market - so your offer may well be the best (or only) show in town.



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Any time is a good time to buy a second hand boat. I read recently that of all the boats in the UK, one seventh are for sale. It's a buyer's market, i.e. more sellers than buyers so after having their boat for sale for a year the average vendor will normally do a deal.

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when you can afford one...

seriously end of winter around Feb.

sellers still think they have 5 months before sunshine and are a few months through paying winter bills with no use of the boat

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I always think Nov/Dec is the best time. The Soton Boat Show stimulus has gone and most buyers are thinking about Xmas and not boats. Owners are trying to avoid winter maintenance costs and some will be keen to do a deal now rather than wait until the new season starts and as tcm says some brokers will be encouraging owners to drop their prices as well. Also dealers will be looking to get shot of their stock before they have to start taking p/x boats into stock after the London Show


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What me? I'm fine! How's your new purchase? Nice boats they are, saw a lot when I lived in Holland, it'll be dead easy to weld up that big hole in the bow, Byron might talk to you again!

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I'm all for Tony's new boat, even while he was looking at others I said all along it was best suited to his needs.
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The new boat is very nice thank you and even Haydn agrees that for my useage on the Thames the Bow Thruster is a desirable bit of kit so I shant be welding up the hole just yet! n
As always with a new boat there is much to do and the electrics are taxing my brain at the moment.....usual problem with spaghetti add in wiring by previous owners (or worse-their contractors!) but will win in the end. Have to keep reminding myself that steel hull is a conductor!
Wonderful to have proper owners cabin with full size double, standing headroom and en suite shower etc.
Positively glides along at 2000rpm and so quiet I have to keep checking tacho to see engine is running.
As an ex MN man feels like a real little ship to me, may even get round to buying a chipping hammer and a pot of red lead before long/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif
One difficulty......quite difficult to fix brackets etc to steel plate/angle brackets etc. Need to go on a welding course or get mtb down for a weekend!

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Chipping hammer!! Spent many an unhappy hour with one of those stuck to my hand! If you do buy a welder, get a good MIG one, much neater welds. MTB will teach you how to use it. But at least you can fit boarding ladders etc, really cheaply now. Also you can weld stainless to normal stell so make posh brackets. I wish you all the best with her! I like the feel of a bigger boat, I like walking across my wheelhouse, makes me feel like a real skipper! If the truth be known, I would love a bow thruster for Englander, but just no way I could fit one, even lifeboats have bow thrusters these days!

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