Hello, It happened again. I looked at boat that sounded nice, and maybe it is a nice boat, but I could not tell because it was full of the owners junk, dirty, covered, and smelly. If you were going to sell your boat, why wouldn't you at least take the time to remove garbage, clean it (at least a little), open it up and at least air it out??? I am shopping at the lower end of the spectrum, I don't expect a brand new boat. I expect the boat to have some problems, but please, if you plan on trying to sell your boat, at least DO SOMETHING to make it presentable. There is nothing worse than going to see a boat, getting there, and almost being knocked over when the hatch is opened. I guess I better ask a lot more detailed questions before I travel. Barry
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Saw the same thing.....
We recently bought a new (to us)Catalina 380. We looked at Catalina 36's and 380s. Looked at two in Pensacola, FL and both had the owner's junk all over the boat. One looked like he'd just gotten back to the marina from a week on the boat. We'd made the appointment to look at these boats over a week before. We also looked at one on Lake Texoma, north of Dallas, TX. Same thing, the owner knew we were coming, but it was so junked up, there was no way to get interested in buying the boat. My wife couldn't get past the junk and dirt, I couldn't get past my feeling that if he didn't take care of keeping his dirty underwear picked up, how much trouble did he go to with other maintenance. Needless to say, we finally found one that was immaculately clean. As we dug further into the bowels of the boat, we found the same treatment throughout the boat. This owner was immaculate in every way. I don't understand trying to sell anything while it's dirty.
We recently bought a new (to us)Catalina 380. We looked at Catalina 36's and 380s. Looked at two in Pensacola, FL and both had the owner's junk all over the boat. One looked like he'd just gotten back to the marina from a week on the boat. We'd made the appointment to look at these boats over a week before. We also looked at one on Lake Texoma, north of Dallas, TX. Same thing, the owner knew we were coming, but it was so junked up, there was no way to get interested in buying the boat. My wife couldn't get past the junk and dirt, I couldn't get past my feeling that if he didn't take care of keeping his dirty underwear picked up, how much trouble did he go to with other maintenance. Needless to say, we finally found one that was immaculately clean. As we dug further into the bowels of the boat, we found the same treatment throughout the boat. This owner was immaculate in every way. I don't understand trying to sell anything while it's dirty.
Bought my C22 that way!
I went to look at the boat and it was dirty inside and out. It was on a trailer in the guys driveway. Took a long time to sift through all the equip and gear. Figured anyone who would let a boat get in this shape didn't deserve one. Made him a low ball offer for the boat, as is, and everthing in it. Got the boat and alot of gear I'm sure he must have forgot was in it! I'm sure when I sell her I will be able to get more than I Payed.
I went to look at the boat and it was dirty inside and out. It was on a trailer in the guys driveway. Took a long time to sift through all the equip and gear. Figured anyone who would let a boat get in this shape didn't deserve one. Made him a low ball offer for the boat, as is, and everthing in it. Got the boat and alot of gear I'm sure he must have forgot was in it! I'm sure when I sell her I will be able to get more than I Payed.
The upside is...
The upside is that many times an owner is selling his boat rather than continuing to neglect it. Now all of us like to see a well maintained boat, but a lot of the deals out there are with neglected craft that just need some cosmetic work. ajp
The upside is that many times an owner is selling his boat rather than continuing to neglect it. Now all of us like to see a well maintained boat, but a lot of the deals out there are with neglected craft that just need some cosmetic work. ajp
- Jan 22, 2008
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no exchange of money
My previous owner having had another larger boat, neglected this boat (daysailer) so badly after he bought it at auction, that he tried to give it away once, had it returned, and finally I was able to trade him for a small canoe. He felt so bad about its condition, that he threw in a motor, gas tank, spinnaker, trailering mast support, and an extra set of shrouds. It needed a lot of cosmetic work, but was worth it. This picture shows the damage I started with. Other pictures in the album's 4 pages show various stages of repair. Click on 'back to daysailer' to see these other pictures.
My previous owner having had another larger boat, neglected this boat (daysailer) so badly after he bought it at auction, that he tried to give it away once, had it returned, and finally I was able to trade him for a small canoe. He felt so bad about its condition, that he threw in a motor, gas tank, spinnaker, trailering mast support, and an extra set of shrouds. It needed a lot of cosmetic work, but was worth it. This picture shows the damage I started with. Other pictures in the album's 4 pages show various stages of repair. Click on 'back to daysailer' to see these other pictures.
I once bought
a Columbia 26 Mk II that had the owner living aboard. He was tired of sleeping aboard and wanted out in order to get an apartment. He was not the best house keeper and I found he used steel ball valves (pilfered from the plant he worked) for thru hulls!!! After getting the boat and removing the Kenyon stove to rebuild. I eventually found San Francisco Bay charts and a complete owner's manual crumpled up behind the stove!!! After changing to bronze ball valves, I kept that boat for 8 years, sailing all over the Texas coast. I later found out from marina residents that the previous owner before my seller, had bought the boat from San Francisco by truck. They were engineers that lived on a 34Ft MK II and sailed the 26 MK II as their daysailor. they later left for St. Thomas on a job contract... Now if I can only find a mobile career and sail to contracts......
a Columbia 26 Mk II that had the owner living aboard. He was tired of sleeping aboard and wanted out in order to get an apartment. He was not the best house keeper and I found he used steel ball valves (pilfered from the plant he worked) for thru hulls!!! After getting the boat and removing the Kenyon stove to rebuild. I eventually found San Francisco Bay charts and a complete owner's manual crumpled up behind the stove!!! After changing to bronze ball valves, I kept that boat for 8 years, sailing all over the Texas coast. I later found out from marina residents that the previous owner before my seller, had bought the boat from San Francisco by truck. They were engineers that lived on a 34Ft MK II and sailed the 26 MK II as their daysailor. they later left for St. Thomas on a job contract... Now if I can only find a mobile career and sail to contracts......
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