Is selling a Late Model Used Large Hunter Difficult?

[Beautiful Day]

I have heard that selling a late model large Hunter can be challenging. Is this case? For example, do sellers of used 2007 thru 2010 Hunter Yachts 41 feet or greater have a rough time finding a buyer? Do they tend to sit on the market longer? Could these boats be an opportunity for buyers to have a low ball offer accepted?

If this is true, what do you attribute this to?

1. I have noticed that there are little to no Catalina's available in this large-late-model category. I was told by a broker that Catalina owners tend to hold on to their boats longer. Is this true? Does this suggest satisfaction on the part of Catalina owners and dissatisfaction on the part of Hunter owners?
2. Is it hard to sell a used late model large Hunter b/c someone spending that kind of money wants to order a new boat from the factory? Because they want a warranty, they are willing to pay a premium? Yet, there is a huge depreciation related discount for those buyers willing to buy a boat a couple years old.
3. Is it hard to sell a used late model large Hunter simply because the pool of potential buyers is smaller?
4. Is Hunter more of a first time buyer's boat and most first time buyers start out with a smaller vessel?

All of your comments, observations and advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Rick D]

It isn't true here, but I don't know about Florida.

 

[Steve Dion]

I think you will find that Hunter & Beneteau have had a larger share (40'-50' +) of the larger boat market for several years.

Up until a few years ago, Catalina was a West Coast Mfg. They purchased Morgan which increased their presence in the larger boat market. I believe that they are also building a few of their other models in the Fl. facility. I would guess that some of this move is because of the cost of doing business and regulations in California.

I believe we see many of new purchases of larger boats are the Hunter 41 and larger.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

a quick search of Yachtworld yields the following numbers of both Hunters and Catalinas for sale in the Southeast:

Hunter 217
Catalina 219

Looks pretty close to me

 

[robertsapp]

The secret to selling anything in a reasonable amount of time is to pick the right price. If you think your three year old Hunter is worth within a few thousand dollars of a brand new one, then I would imagine you'll have a bit of difficulty selling it. If the boat sits for months with no offers, the seller is asking too much, regardless of what they think it might be worth. Markets work if people listen to them.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Having worked as a broker some years ago, I think that three things sell any boat: (1) Price; (2) Condition; and (3) Equipment, in that order. Anyone selling a fairly new boat knows they must compete with the cost of a new boat. Price a boat in good condition correctly and it should sell in a reasonable amount of time. The problem I've seen over and over again is owners trying to recover all of their costs, for boat and equipment. This often results in a boat sitting for months, or years, with the owner absorbing the carrying and/or loan costs while refusing to negotiate a "reasonable" price.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Don, did your Yacht World search include a size range?

 

[Clark]

I ran Yachtworld on Hunter and Catalina for 40'-50' and years from 2000 to 2008 and US only. For Hunter, there were 152 and for Catalina there were 54.

JMHO of "late model"

 

[Rick D]

Just a thought; that may be where the length breaks fall.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Don, did your Yacht World search include a size range?

yes I searched for everything over 40 ft as an arbitrary figure just to see if this could be true. I suspect the same holds true, that there is no difference, with all lengths.

 

[sandpiper10471]

I think selling any boat these days is tough. I have never seen used boats cheaper than I do now in the states. Re Hunter - in Canada, at least Ontario, a new Hunter can be bought for far less money than a new one a few years ago. The strong Canadian dollar means anyone selling a boat several years old will take a huge beating. On the other hand, some incredible deals are happening on used boats being brought into the country.