During the past few years I have read many posts regarding boat brokers. Most of them trash the brokers. I would like to make a positive and negative comment regarding my experiences: During the last 3 years I have purhcased 2 vessels. The first purchase was an extremely positive experience. The broker was very helpful and showed an interest in making sure that the deal was completed fairly to both parties. The boat was sold 8 months later by a different broker (closer to my home and home port). I felt that he did a great job in finding a buyer for a rather unpopular model. He also was able to get my asking price. I then purchased another (one footitis or whatever you call it). The selling broker - well known in the area - did a miserable job for both me AND the seller. The seller was so angry with him that they wanted to sue him. Finally, I just sold my C-30 in ONE DAY through the broker that sold my last boat. He arranged, what I believe, a very fair price for both me and the buyer. I never could have done any of this without brokers. They work crazy hours and have to deal with a lot of "tire kickers." I am in sales and have often thought that being a boat broker would be fun. Why would I want to work during prime sailing hours?? I guess Real Estate sales would be worse!!
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Brokers Soakers & Jokers...
Mike, glad you can say somthing positive about a broker. There are some disreputable ones that have no qualms on 'conflict of interest' spreading money around to seal a deal, and other little tricks of the business...;-) Some of the guys I know have a pet name for yacht borkers, "Car salesmen with boat-shoes". I have a good friend, honest, and a boat broker, but I believe he is exceptional, if not an 'exception'. Good to hear some positive info...still.
Mike, glad you can say somthing positive about a broker. There are some disreputable ones that have no qualms on 'conflict of interest' spreading money around to seal a deal, and other little tricks of the business...;-) Some of the guys I know have a pet name for yacht borkers, "Car salesmen with boat-shoes". I have a good friend, honest, and a boat broker, but I believe he is exceptional, if not an 'exception'. Good to hear some positive info...still.
Praise to Brokers.....
I have bought and sold 3 sailboats through Gulf Coast Yacht Brokerage ( I think thats the name ) in Long Beach, Ms. I have nothing but the highest praise for Lonnie as a professional. Also, I recently purchased another sailboat in Dunedin, Fl. Thats in the Tarpon Springs/Tampa Bay area. I saw the boat, a 1976 Allied Ketch on Yachtworld and the price was just reduced, but still just a tad out of my reach. I called Gilman Yachts and spoke to one of the brokers...Tom D'Amato. I asked for a detailed description and he gave it to me over the phone describing every little flaw, scratch and ding. I then told him I was about $4K short and would the seller be willing to take less. He checked with the seller and she agreed. Now mind you, I explained to him that i was 1200 miles away in south Tx. and that meant 2400 miles round trip plus motels, etc.just to see the boat, not to mention the lack of rest during my time off from work. It turned out that the boat was exactly like he said it was. So that is why I am nameing names. I have also heard of horror stories about people driving long distances for big disappointments. So far, i have just been lucky.
I have bought and sold 3 sailboats through Gulf Coast Yacht Brokerage ( I think thats the name ) in Long Beach, Ms. I have nothing but the highest praise for Lonnie as a professional. Also, I recently purchased another sailboat in Dunedin, Fl. Thats in the Tarpon Springs/Tampa Bay area. I saw the boat, a 1976 Allied Ketch on Yachtworld and the price was just reduced, but still just a tad out of my reach. I called Gilman Yachts and spoke to one of the brokers...Tom D'Amato. I asked for a detailed description and he gave it to me over the phone describing every little flaw, scratch and ding. I then told him I was about $4K short and would the seller be willing to take less. He checked with the seller and she agreed. Now mind you, I explained to him that i was 1200 miles away in south Tx. and that meant 2400 miles round trip plus motels, etc.just to see the boat, not to mention the lack of rest during my time off from work. It turned out that the boat was exactly like he said it was. So that is why I am nameing names. I have also heard of horror stories about people driving long distances for big disappointments. So far, i have just been lucky.
Pleasantly surprised
I had a couple of very positive experiences with brokers. I was looking for a boat in the 22-25 foot range and didn't want to pay over $6000, and I still received excellent service from a broker in New London. Even after it was clear he wouldn't be able to help me find what I was looking for, he made it a point to copy and fax to me Practial Sailor boat reviews of some models I was looking at on my own. He also took my kids on a tour of a million dollar yacht; great service. I recommended him to a number of folks, but I have since heard he has left the business. I also had a good experience with Gene Colvin in Westbrook. An older gentleman, he took the time to answer all of my newbie questions even though I had to have been a "low value" customer. Like my other broker, Gene had taken the time to copy and make available out-of-print literature for discontinued boat models and willingly made it available to me. I eventually bought a boat directly from a prior owner, but I would go back to Gene in a heartbeat. A nice guy who I would recommend to anyone in eastern Conn./western RI who is looking for a sailboat.
I had a couple of very positive experiences with brokers. I was looking for a boat in the 22-25 foot range and didn't want to pay over $6000, and I still received excellent service from a broker in New London. Even after it was clear he wouldn't be able to help me find what I was looking for, he made it a point to copy and fax to me Practial Sailor boat reviews of some models I was looking at on my own. He also took my kids on a tour of a million dollar yacht; great service. I recommended him to a number of folks, but I have since heard he has left the business. I also had a good experience with Gene Colvin in Westbrook. An older gentleman, he took the time to answer all of my newbie questions even though I had to have been a "low value" customer. Like my other broker, Gene had taken the time to copy and make available out-of-print literature for discontinued boat models and willingly made it available to me. I eventually bought a boat directly from a prior owner, but I would go back to Gene in a heartbeat. A nice guy who I would recommend to anyone in eastern Conn./western RI who is looking for a sailboat.
don't have to drive
a couple of years ago, my wife and i were looking for a used 470. we found one listed on the gulf coast in florida. i told the broker i did not want to come all the way out there right away. i had been told by a broker friend of mine that a classic ploy for some brokers is to misrepresent a boat just to get you out there. by the time you are that heavily invested, the chances of selling you something are improved. i had him take digital pictures of all the open lockers. in doing so, i discovered that the blue ultraleather interior had turned into aqua velour. needless to say, the deal was off and it did not cost a dime. the point is, if you are interested in a long distance boat. wear out the broker taking digital pictures first.
a couple of years ago, my wife and i were looking for a used 470. we found one listed on the gulf coast in florida. i told the broker i did not want to come all the way out there right away. i had been told by a broker friend of mine that a classic ploy for some brokers is to misrepresent a boat just to get you out there. by the time you are that heavily invested, the chances of selling you something are improved. i had him take digital pictures of all the open lockers. in doing so, i discovered that the blue ultraleather interior had turned into aqua velour. needless to say, the deal was off and it did not cost a dime. the point is, if you are interested in a long distance boat. wear out the broker taking digital pictures first.
Great experience
I feel obligated to put my two cents in here as well. I just recently bought a boat with the help of Sea Lake Yachts in Austin and Dallas. The boat was in Dallas and I was in Austin. Two brokers, Jeff Picard and Mike "Sailboat Mike" Shebester in Dallas were absolutely fantastic to work with. Low key but professional, and very personable. They made the process very smooth. They had me an email with photos of the boat in Dallas without me asking. They thought it might be a boat that met my request and here were some photos to look over. Mike was the sellers broker and Jeff was my broker. They were both very clear when they were approaching the invisible line of who they were working for. I feel I got a fair price and a good boat and I'm enjoying it immensely. Unqualified recommendation for these guys and their organization.
I feel obligated to put my two cents in here as well. I just recently bought a boat with the help of Sea Lake Yachts in Austin and Dallas. The boat was in Dallas and I was in Austin. Two brokers, Jeff Picard and Mike "Sailboat Mike" Shebester in Dallas were absolutely fantastic to work with. Low key but professional, and very personable. They made the process very smooth. They had me an email with photos of the boat in Dallas without me asking. They thought it might be a boat that met my request and here were some photos to look over. Mike was the sellers broker and Jeff was my broker. They were both very clear when they were approaching the invisible line of who they were working for. I feel I got a fair price and a good boat and I'm enjoying it immensely. Unqualified recommendation for these guys and their organization.
the teaching broker
When i decided to take up sailing i lived on the east coast and began to attend as many boat shows as possible and talk to as many brokers as possible - many simply did not know what they were selling or how they compared with other boats - i did meet a broker by the name of ted novakowski who now owns sound yachts in westbrook,ct - he took the time over a period of months to teach me what makes a good boat and not. we torn boats apart looking at construction and how a builder cut costs or tried to keep costs down. We took apart some boats that i simply could not afford as well as mass production boats and compared. He also took the time to try and find out what i wanted to do with a boat and my personality type as that says a lot about what i was willing to do. He also took time to understand my fianancial situation and the time frame i was working under before i retired. When i decided to purchase the Jeanneau, i had a page long list of items i wanted from multiple stainless steel rigging that was ultimately attached to the keel to battery isolator switches to the windless to a roller furling main and all winches and lines leading to the cockpit. As we talked and i gave him my ideas as an excruiser he had been there done that and knew what worked for him. at the end we got a great boat. The work he did was excellent and when we brought it to miami he was always only a phone call away. after we got hit by lightening he took the repair electricians phone calls to explain how he had her put together (to help save repair cost and rewiring). If i were to sell soulmates or buy another boat he is the only broker i would use. by the way when i found another boat a 3 hours away, he went up and looked at it for me, took digitals and went over it in detail along with it's history which the sell broker did not want to do. just as an aside, i took my son, a USMC electrical/mechanical tech) to a boat show and we started through a boat. the broker selling the boat was there and as we left he asked us to stay as he said he learned more from us in those few minutes than he had at anytime before as we taught him his boat -- how sad. chuck and soulmates
When i decided to take up sailing i lived on the east coast and began to attend as many boat shows as possible and talk to as many brokers as possible - many simply did not know what they were selling or how they compared with other boats - i did meet a broker by the name of ted novakowski who now owns sound yachts in westbrook,ct - he took the time over a period of months to teach me what makes a good boat and not. we torn boats apart looking at construction and how a builder cut costs or tried to keep costs down. We took apart some boats that i simply could not afford as well as mass production boats and compared. He also took the time to try and find out what i wanted to do with a boat and my personality type as that says a lot about what i was willing to do. He also took time to understand my fianancial situation and the time frame i was working under before i retired. When i decided to purchase the Jeanneau, i had a page long list of items i wanted from multiple stainless steel rigging that was ultimately attached to the keel to battery isolator switches to the windless to a roller furling main and all winches and lines leading to the cockpit. As we talked and i gave him my ideas as an excruiser he had been there done that and knew what worked for him. at the end we got a great boat. The work he did was excellent and when we brought it to miami he was always only a phone call away. after we got hit by lightening he took the repair electricians phone calls to explain how he had her put together (to help save repair cost and rewiring). If i were to sell soulmates or buy another boat he is the only broker i would use. by the way when i found another boat a 3 hours away, he went up and looked at it for me, took digitals and went over it in detail along with it's history which the sell broker did not want to do. just as an aside, i took my son, a USMC electrical/mechanical tech) to a boat show and we started through a boat. the broker selling the boat was there and as we left he asked us to stay as he said he learned more from us in those few minutes than he had at anytime before as we taught him his boat -- how sad. chuck and soulmates
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
I wanted to start a good thread, and think I that have done so. My intent was not to mention broker names. However, Gene was the guy that I was referring to when mentioning my miserable experience. He's been in the business many years, and I have been told that he was once a premier Catalina dealer. He apparently does a great job for the seller. So there you go. Everyone has different opinions and different experiences.
I wanted to start a good thread, and think I that have done so. My intent was not to mention broker names. However, Gene was the guy that I was referring to when mentioning my miserable experience. He's been in the business many years, and I have been told that he was once a premier Catalina dealer. He apparently does a great job for the seller. So there you go. Everyone has different opinions and different experiences.
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