Shopping for a boat

[malyea]

HELP

I'm in the market for a ready to sail, low cost, swing keel, trailer sailer, 20' to 22' - idealy with trailer and outboard. It doesent have to be pristine, just sound and dry - I might enjoy some cosmetic renovation in between outings.

I lean towards the C22 type and less towards the San Juan 21 type (a little smaller, lighter, more tender).

I'll sail her mostly on lakes north of Atlanta with some trips to the coast.

My max price is less than $5,000 (the lower the better) and I'm looking for a winter time steal of a deal so I can be sailing by spring.

I don't require delivery (if it's the right deal, I'll drag her home myself) but I need lots of detailed photos and a test sail of at least 1 to 2 hours.

Keep me in mind and plz get in touch if anybody finds my boat.

Thanks

 

[Ross]

Have you considered the advertizing sheets available in every convenience store in the country?

 

[woodster]

theres a compact 16 ft on e bay now close to you ....but its a 16 ft may be to small for you i dont know

regards
woody

 

[Hermit Scott]

Have you considered the advertizing sheets available in every convenience store in the country?

People that have boats for sale on here will welcome someone bringing cash to them.
BTW my boat is always for sale. When I get rich I will need a bigger boat anyway.

 

[Sumner]

Try this..................

http://www.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/mash.c...ailboat&ys=&ye=&ps=&pe=&pgs=100&submit=++++go++++

.............. it will search craigs list and e-bay nation wide and you can also narrow the search by region it.

I put a Venture in the search as it might be another boat you might want to look at in that size.

We have a Mac 26S and sometimes you find those in that price range or the 26D. Also the Macgregor/Venture 25 is a nice boat. Ours has the pop-top and you will find that in some of the other boats and is something I would sure look at if you are thinking of overnighting at all on the boat.

For what its worth we love our Mac. Good luck,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

 

[Bad Obsession]

Another model to seriously consider is a Hunter 22. For a 22 foot boat the Hunter has a great lay-out. It is a descent boat and sails well. You should be able to find one in that price range easily.

I had a Hunter 22. I sailed her across the Chesapeake Bay and on many other sailing trips. It is a swing keel and it trailered well. Keep your eye out there for what you want.

Check out www.yachtworld.com and also www.usedboats.com. Oh, one more site is www.boattrader.com

Good luck!

 

[Bad Obsession]

http://www.usedboats.com/search/res...iceMin=&priceMax=5000&search.x=65&search.y=10

http://www.sailboattraderonline.com...l/Region-all/Price-100,5000/Sort-Length:DESC/

 

[txtowman]

I am reluctantly selling my 1975 catalina 22

 

[caguy]

Here's a sweet deal I would snatch up in a heart beat. I would buy it myself but its on the wrong coast. You have to pick up a trailer for it but not a big deal.

http://hiltonhead.craigslist.org/boa/1494990521.html

 

[Ross]

Hilton Head is not far from north Georgia!

 

[malyea]

Thanks for all the links, guidance and direction (.....no, actually I hadn't thought about all the convenience stores......thanks) - I can see it'll be quite a process narrowing the search down to 'the boat' given the wide swath cut by online shopping.

Question - how low do I start with an offer and not risk alienating the seller? Recession, winter time, cold and rainy.....I'm inclined to figure out the 'comparable asking price/value' for a good boat when I find it (no doubt an art form in itself) and then initially offer 60% - 65%...... Thoughts?

 

[Bad Obsession]

When you find "The Boat" figure out what you are willing to pay for it. If it is listed at $6000 and you really like the boat but figure that it needs some work, offer something like $4000 and go from there. It is about half way between the list price and the offer price where your max falls.

Think of what the absolute max is that you will pay for that particular boat. Check for something like a Kelly Blue Book value. Look at lots of different boats and compare. Name your price and negotiate. I don't think that I would offer someone less than 50% of the value they have it listed at if the boat is in descent shape and the person knows what they have.

 

[Sumner]

.......Question - how low do I start with an offer and not risk alienating the seller? Recession, winter time, cold and rainy...............Thoughts?

You might check.................

http://www.sailingtexas.com/cboats99c.html

...............for boats like you are looking at to see what some similar ones have sold for.

We did that before finding the one we wanted and then made an offer we felt was in line and it was accepted. Sure we could of gone through the process of bargaining back and forth, but if I'm buying or selling I'll put a price on the item and then stick with that.

I was self employed with a couple businesses over the years, computer store and then a tourist trading post selling Native American wares, and was hammered so many times by people trying to get the absolute lowest price that it is hard for me to go that route. I'm glad I'm retired and don't have to deal with that anymore.

Ok I'll get down off the soap box, good luck,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

 

[Coop]

Buying a boat is just that easy, just remember the person that you may buy from may be on this site. If the asking price is $6000.00 offer $5500.00, that is after you look at the boat, and you might want to have a pro look at it. Good luck

 

[shemandr]

Someone once gave me this advice about buying a boat: "You're not trying to make friends." If they don't like the offer they don't have to accept it. You can raise it or you can move on to the next boat - there is always another boat. The price you pay should not be substantially more than what you can turn around and sell the boat for.
To avoid allowing the owner to switch out equipment or take equipment off the boat he should supply an inventory of included equipment prior to price negotiations. The sale is contingent on delivery of the boat to you in the condition it was when you agreed on a price.
If you ever sell a boat you'll see the deal from the other side and trust me buyers will beat the daylights out of you.