Boat purchase

[fishinwrench]

30 minutes ago, dave potts said:

I'd go used, especially given the current bad economy.  I imagine there are, and will be, a lot of good buys.  In 1986 I bought a 3 year old Charger bass boat and got it for 40% less than it sold for new.  I used it every year for 34 years and had very little problems with it.  It had the old 115 Mercury on it.  New boats are like new cars-they depreciate like crazy in the first year or two.

The used boat market is jacked up right now.   People look at the price of boating ACCESSORIES and think their boat is worth WAY more than it is.   And I guess they aren't wrong because eventually someone will come along and pay 3-7k more for a used boat than they should have had to.   

I've made a fool out of myself several times lately by telling guys "You'll never get that much for it".......and then 2 months later they did.   So now I just say "it's worth whatever you can get for it". 

I guess you could say it is a seller's market right now.

[Gumboot]

Maybe the used market may be jacked up because new is jacked up.  $100k Ranger???  It's like anything else, if you have to have it right now, you pay the offer.  If you can wait, and cast your net outside your zip code, there are deals to be had. 

[DADAKOTA]

What are the best sources to pick up a used boat besides Craigslist?

[liphunter]

I usually Check obituaries or divorce fillings an get the address. Then I drive by and see if there is any sign of a boat...   If you have or know someone with a Facebook account. They have a pretty good market place. 

[MrGiggles]

7 minutes ago, DADAKOTA said:

What are the best sources to pick up a used boat besides Craigslist?

Craigslist has been slim pickins' since they started charging for ads.

Facebook is where it's at right now, there's a lot of morons and garbage to sift through, but that's to be expected with any free, popular service.

[fishinwrench]

Yeah the Facebook marketplaces are it.  The only problem is that you have the sellers "friends" trying to help them BOOST their negotiation skills.   That crap gets kinda irritating.   🙄 

I refuse to go traveling all over to look at stuff, so I just tell them I'm interested and to bring it to me, and bring the titles....and if it is "as advertised" then I'll buy it.   That's when you find out the REAL condition, and whether or not any titles or lein releases have gotten mysteriously misplaced.

[snagged in outlet 3]

56 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Yeah the Facebook marketplaces are it.  The only problem is that you have the sellers "friends" trying to help them BOOST their negotiation skills.   That crap gets kinda irritating.   🙄 

I refuse to go traveling all over to look at stuff, so I just tell them I'm interested and to bring it to me, and bring the titles....and if it is "as advertised" then I'll buy it.   That's when you find out the REAL condition, and whether or not any titles or lein releases have gotten mysteriously misplaced.

Or if they won't drop in the water for a test run.  Because you'll have to believe me...

[fishinwrench]

6 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Or if they won't drop in the water for a test run.  Because you'll have to believe me...

Naw, I don't allow "test drives" of boats, and don't expect anyone else to.   

[MOPanfisher]

Unless it was dirt cheap a flat no on the test drive would send right on down the road.  Now say if the seller was willing to give a written guarantee for x number of days I would.consider it. At very least I would want to hear it run, and see compression  test on each cylinder. But that is my non trusting nature.

[Terrierman]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

Naw, I don't allow "test drives" of boats, and don't expect anyone else to.   

You won't drive and let potential buyer do a ride along?