Online Advertising

[Roy10289]

I ask advice from all sailors on these forums who have sold or have tried to sell their boats without a broker by listing them online. There are sites including this one where you can list for a small fee. Other sites are free for a basic listing like th boat US site for members.
What internet listing sites have yielded you the most legitmate responses and which are not worth the effort or expense for one reason or another?
Any opinions or guidance would be most welcomed.

 

[Tim R.]

Word of mouth is the best first way to advertise. I sold both of my last 2 boats that way. Only ever listed either on sailing forums. Last boat was sold after Mainesail posted it on the Sailnet forums.

 

[Deadline]

Advice

Word of mouth is only good locally, like at that marina.
I'm in the newspaper business, and classifieds can work IF you run in a robust Transportation or Boating category.
This very website is excellent because it reaches owners and wanabes.
Don't knock brokers, though. They have ways to sell beyond your expertise.
Final point: Price the boat realistically and be ready to come down 20%.

 

[Calif. Ted]

I sold a boat last summer, the free site of sailboat listings (you know who I mean) produced the quickest response from a Nigerian Prince willing to give me a cashiers cheque for full price plus ten thousand if I would just send him the change, I declined. This site produced the most legitimate responses including some who wanted to see it. It was sold before they could get here however by someone who saw my flourescent orange "for sale" signs from the very busy bridge where the boat was slipped.
The responses from people who saw the boat far exceeded those from any advertising, boat sold in 5 weeks for reasonable price boat in near perfect condition including new sails, canvas covers etc.
Absolutely nothing works better than a highly visible location with a lot of foot traffic if you can find one.
BTW even on a cash sale, no banks involved it was a PITA, I gained a new appreciation for brokers.

 

[Tim R.]

Word of mouth is only good locally, like at that marina.
I'm in the newspaper business, and classifieds can work IF you run in a robust Transportation or Boating category.
This very website is excellent because it reaches owners and wanabes.
Don't knock brokers, though. They have ways to sell beyond your expertise.
Final point: Price the boat realistically and be ready to come down 20%.

I had two guys who traveled to see my boat one from 120 miles away. The other over 500. It sold to the guy from PA and he sailed it to Annapolis.

I priced my Ericson 30% above average market prices and came down 5% in negotiations and did not use a broker.

My Pearson sold 30% above average and went for the asking price without a broker.

It can be done if you have something that people want and you price it accordingly.

During my Ericson negotiations I spent more time explaining what the boat needed rather than trying to hide it like many brokers would.

I am not knocking classifieds but let's be honest, it is a dying form of media. I cannot remember the last time I read the WSJ hardcopy.

I have heard good things about sailingtexas.com and some of the other free sites.

 

[Bob Poff]

Two years ago I listed my Mac 22 via this site. Rather quickly I received a flurry of phone calls and email. Including a somewhat fishy call from Croatia (I'm not kidding).

Make sure you quailify your buyer. I had one fellow say flat out "I'm taking it. Consider it sold. I can come next week to get it". Well, I still had some paperwork to clear up on the title to the trailer. I got that resolved quickly, called him and said "I'm ready". At that point he says "I need to talk to my wife about this". Never heard from him again.

Luckily I didn't stop talking to people. Sold the boat to a new sailor not far from here, and the boat is now back in one of it's former mooring fields.

 

[Merlin Clark]

The best/most responses I got were from strictly sailing and sailboat listings when sold my GS 41.
Used local classifieds on 4 boats because at the time there was no online advertising then. Newspapers used to have quite the $$ generator running but the internet broke the monopoly.
Sailboat Trader has also fizzled down to a few pages from 5 thick seperate magazines for Florida alone.

 

[All U Get]

I'll let you know as soon as my Catalina sells?
I just finished compounding the topsides and have some brightwork left. Thanks to those on this website that helped with DIY ideas, the boat looks great.
All U Get

 

[MSter]

There's a lot to consider here.
We are about to close on our purchase.
Over the last 12 months I have travelled to Boston 2 x. New Jersey and Philadelphia and looked extensively locally. As well I have talked with both brokers and individuals.
If you have a boat in above average condition that is CLEAN and you don't mind the calls and time required then you can sell it yourself.
We are dealing with the sellers broker who has has been very helpfull and professional.
Of the boats we have looked at several have been on the market for over 12 months and are now adjusting down their asking prices.
A good broker will help both with determining a realistic price and also sort through the nuisance calls.
It may be money well spent.
FWIW.
Mster

 

[Rick D]

I have sold my last two boats privately. One pre-dated this site. It was newspapers and sailing weeklies. I spent a chunk for photos. The other was through this site and it sold in a couple of days. Both boats were detailed and well maintained. The asking prices were not cheap but realistic and the sale price was pretty close. I didn't get many junk calls, those I did were easy to identify.

Also, although I did sell them privately, I made a package for all the local brokers and offered them 5% commission if they made a sale. Both boats were shown by brokers actively but not for long as they were sold quickly.

I basically followed a broker's process of taking a deposit with a conditional sales contract and made suggestions for a surveyor and insurance agent. One boat was paid for in cash and title transferred at his bank and the other was financed and we just handled it through his finance company (my last car was sold just this way too).

 

[KMm]

I have sold three boats on Craigslist and bought my current Oday 25 off Craigslist. You deal with local people and scams have not been an issue. In the SF Bay area its the place to find good deals. Newbies I suggest unless you have a knowledgeable friend, do your homework before you jump into any deal, And ask questions here,the guys on this forum know their stuff. Fair winds

 

[Merlin Clark]

I have sold three boats on Craigslist and bought my current Oday 25 off Craigslist. You deal with local people and scams have not been an issue. In the SF Bay area its the place to find good deals. Newbies I suggest unless you have a knowledgeable friend, do your homework before you jump into any deal, And ask questions here,the guys on this forum know their stuff. Fair winds

I really like Craigslist but for an expensive boat I'd rather go to a site where serious hunters will look to find thier boats.
I had a 32' double ended cutter for sale on the local classifieds, before internet, and it became a stopping point for too many people that just had nothing better to do. One raggedy ass looking guy walked up and handed me a for sale flyer for a crappy looking AMF harley and TOLD me he was going to trade me. The things you see and hear when you just don't have an AK handy.