How much should I pay for this boat

[Jeff]

Hi,We are looking at buying a used 1988 Beneteau Oceanis 430,43'. The dealer is asking $112k. The boat is in very good condition and well equiped. Furuno Radar/Plotter RP100 Magellon GPS NAV5000 Raytheon ST60 Wind/In Box Speed Depth Autohelm 6000 Autopilot Sail & Genoa are about 4yrs Old Perkins 50HPWhat's a fair price to pay for this boat?

 

[Steve]

How much to pay for a B430

There isn't enough information to come up with a good bid, but whatever you do put in a contingent in the purchase and sale contract so you can get out of it, i.e. subject to survey. Blistering/osmosis, engine hours, deck conditions (especially around the hatch openings) and a dodger/bimini are very important too. My instinct would be to bid $92,000 and see if the dealer counters, with an eye on a final price of $99,000. There are lots of old Beneteaus on the market! Remember a boat is an easy thing to buy and a hard thing to sell.

 

[Charlie Gruetzner - BeneteauOwners.net]

Fair Price

Jeff, Steve is right about not giving enough information. Before you give an offer spend some time alone on the boat with out a broker or the owner so you can poke around yourself. Lift the floorboards and look at the bilges, check all the fluid levels on the engine and transmission etc. Also realize at this time of year and particularly in this cold weather a surveyor is not going to get real accurate reading on a moisture meter. If there has been any moisture intrusion it will actually be frozen right now. Also look at the chain plates to see if there is any rust showing. That is sign of moisture getting in. Anyway as far as a fair price you might want to go to yachtworld.com and see what they are going for and make a comparsion to what you buying.good luckCharlie