BST: Are boats selling?

[Scott E. Bulger]

Edwards Yacht Sales reported:  Boats are selling! 24 boats sold or under
contract YTD!

Searching www.yachtworld.com for Edwards Yacht Sales yields:

175 boats listed as of 3/7

7 Sold listed with asking price above 100k
11 sold listed with asking prices below 100k,  These are asking prices, not
the SOLD price.

Of these listed above, 2, maybe 3 are "trawlers".  

Scott suggests:  I don't know how long the SOLD boats remain on the
yachtworld listing page, clearly it's an advantage for the listing broker to
prove they are selling boats.  However, I'd argue that many of these are
Sailboats or boats below 100K.  I don't have time to look how they compare
to a boat you want to sell, that is what I would do to evaluate if I was
going to place a boat with them.  I'd also look at how many boats like mine
were for sale and try to see how it compares to my asking prices.

I can tell you my perception is that things are very, very slow.  The broker
HAS to say things are moving, their lives and incomes depend on it.  You're
kidding yourself if you believe things are going to improve in a year or
two.  Take your blinders off and honestly look at what is happening around
the world.  Even IF things were to stabilize right now, and I just mean
stabilize, how well do you think the market is going to recover and how
quickly.  Having returned to land life I can tell you it's much more
expensive that living on the boat.  If I had the decision to revisit (family
issues set aside) I believe I could live more cheaply on a boat than on
land.  If you have the option to continue living on and enjoying the boat
I'd encourage you to stay there.  Returning to land and hearing all the bad
news and looking for jobs that are few and far between will take years off
your life!


Scott E. Bulger
(425)313-5922, home
(425)922-1850, cell