What d'ya think?

Rich Stidger · Mar 7, 2012

This is just my opinion-

Clean boats have the best chance of selling. If it were me, I would put the boat together in shape to sail. I wouldn't bend on the sails, but have them aboard cleaned and in bags for inspection. If you haven't cleaned everything and everywhere do so now.

Be sure there is no mold or mildew and put some air fresheners in the boat. Have the batteries on-board and fully charged so a prospective buyer can turn on power, instruments, and lights.

Research actual selling prices in your area and set a realistic price accordingly. Some buyers feel that they absolutely must get a price concession from the seller regardless of the reasonableness of the asking price, so I would build in a small negotiable amount. No more than 10%.

If you have a recent survey, have copies available for prospective buyer to read and take home. Take pictures of the boat inside and outside and print them on a couple sheets of decent photo paper as handouts or for mailing to inquiries. Produce a comprehensive list of features and amenities and attach it to the pictures.

Be prepared to accept a lower offer based upon a recent survey if serious deficiencies arise.

Understand if the yard where the boat is stored requires a piece of the action so you don't get surprised later.

I suspect that a local Catalina dealer might generate good prospects for you (remember he will demand a commission), but I would offer the boat on places like SBO (Here!!), Craig's List, and any local boating stores that will allow a 3x5 picture and ad. My experience with Soundings has not been positive- my experience was high cost and very little traffic. YMMV.

Good luck.

31seahorse · Mar 7, 2012

Hello,
Clean,Clean, Clean. A boat that is clean will help the prospective buyer see all that is there and crud never improved the look of a boat. Stage your pictures a little, and try to accentuate the positives you have discovered about the boat regarding space, ease of access, storage, and sailing comfort. When you show the boat have pictures of sailing activities on hand if appropriate. Show your maintenance information to the buyer.

Make sure the boat is well lighted in all areas when you show it. Either open hatches or use reasonable artificial light. We had a couple walk away because the "Admiral" felt the V berth was too dark.

Point out any upgrades and their time of installation. Mention anything that is not included, but very little of that should be aboard if you are not actively using the boat.

Respectfully, Phil

Deadline · Mar 7, 2012

3suggestions

First, clean and dry and paint the bilge. It's a dead giveaway as to the standard of care by an owner.

Second, replace any and all lines. It's the equivalent of paint the house before the sale.

Third, hire a real estate staging expert to do a half-hour walk through. These people shape up houses in a hurry for relatively small cost.

Swan · Mar 7, 2012

All U Get said:
Hi all,
We (corporate boss and myself) were discussing what else to do to the Catalina we have for sale. I didn't bottom paint it since I stripped it thinking the next owner might want to choose her own paint. We polished it last year and everything seems clean enough. We do have pieces stored and wondered if we should just load them on the boat. I did get the "word" though, "Get off your butt". Man-o-man I was getting a nice groove in the sofa. So what d'ya think?
All U Get

When selling houses, "staging" always gets more traffic So.... Besides cleaning, take many pictures of the boat without clutter and put everything in its place (ie: cushions, curtains, equipment, etc...) take out any unnecessary stuff like sail bags, boom, tools, and personal items. We advertised our boat on Sailboatlistings.com and were VERY happy with the site. FREE and Easy for seller and buyer to use NO spam and they allow lots of photos (large jpgs). Because of the amount and quality of the photos on our ad, we got tremendous traffic in the middle of winter and sold her in february!!! Also, every prospective buyer commented on how good the pictures were. We also created a web album and put the link in the ad so people could see more photos if they wanted. One more thing....don't post blurry photos or photos of friends and relatives unless you want them to go with the boat

We had looked all winter for our next boat and I hated "bad advertising"

Swan · Mar 8, 2012

My cousin is looking at Catalina 30's. Pass on the link to your ad and I'll share it with him.

RichH · Mar 8, 2012

As other posters have listed ... clean, clean, clean.

Then make the boat 'smell like summer' by judicious wiping of a 'fragrant' sun tan lotion (CopperTone, etc.) in a few places ... hides any remaining sour/mold 'boat smell' and changes the 'mind' of the purchaser to think about the 'joys of summer'. Soaps and detergents sometimes make a boat smell like a train station or airport wash room, sun tan lotion is much better to enhance the 'right appeal' of what you're selling. *<;-)

Gunni · Mar 8, 2012

I would put a coat of hard ablative on the hull, something like Trinidad just to dress it up and give it "curb appeal". Mention that the boat has a signal coat of paint and suggest a contrasting soft ablative be applied before use. As a buyer I would pay for a sea trial launch during survey anyway, and you don't want the boat going in the water without bottom paint.

Ray Bowles · Mar 8, 2012

When we bought our IP38 we had looked long and hard everyday for over 40 days before we found a boat we wanted to buy. The biggest turn-off was when the seller said "I have that new part over there. I just haven't put it on yet." There are other versions of this mantra for parts that have fallen off or need adjustment.
If that is all the better you care for your boat then what else aren't you telling us?
Fix everything!
Ray