T&T: Yacht world

[Dave Clark]

Cole on Voyager wrote:
"I think you are correct about some sellers not budging. I started
looking about a year ago (mostly at Yachtworld) and finally closed on a
boat in October.
The boat I ended up with had been my third choice, but the owners of
number one and number 2 were really stubborn. Number one even RAISED his
asking price after I made my offer, his thinking, according to the
broker, was that since my offer was about 20% under his price, that
asking more would still get an offer at 20% off the asking and thus be
close the original asking price? Crazy I think. Considering the boat
needs a ton of cosmetic work. Boat number two has been on the market for
two years (at least) now and he also laughed at my offer that was about
15% off the ask. This boat needed some upgrading, like air conditioning,
and had a soft area on the deck around a forward hatch. It all works out
for the best though I think, as the 41 President that had been my 3rd
choice should have been my first so I am glad I ended up with it. I have
been living aboard her since November now and I like the boat more and more."

Such a coincidence that my wife and I went through the same process at the
same time. It was a frustrating and expensive three month search in rental
cars and motels. We did three trips from Mobile to Annapolis to Fort
Lauderdale and back to Mobile, looked at about 40 boats, made offers and
contracts on three or four boats that we backed out of on close examination.
In the end when we had exhausted all of our leads, time, energy, and money at
the last moment our President 41 entered the market in Mobile. We were in
Mobile at the time and successfully negotiated the purchase, moved aboard the
Monday after Thanksgiving. After repairs and outfitting for the Great Loop we
began from Mobile almost three weeks ago and are now in St. Petersburg. It was
all worth it now but the shopping experience was not enjoyable as some said it
would be. We found that the for sale by owners were priced above their value
and since there was no broker to give the seller a reality check we just had
to pass.

It's very hard to find a "good" 25 year old boat that has been well
maintained. Most are trash. Many of the boats were listed at a high price then
over a year or more as they deteriorated the price was dropped two or three
times until the boat sold. By then the boat would be cosmetically deteriorated
and systems that had not been used were inoperative. Brokers do not as a
general rule clean or even check on their listed boats unless they go to it
for a showing.

As for the original subject about more YW listed boats I think the prices
have, as far as I was able to detect, been dropping on most type of boats but
the trawler types are still in demand so have dropped less. A nice clean boat
priced reasonably will sell pretty fast. The problem is you'll seldom see it.

Dave and Marcy Clark
ADAGIO
1983 President 41
St. Pete headed South