| I receive calls regularly from people that are in | | | | with discussions with his listing Broker based upon |
| their final step to boat ownership; discovering and | | | | several factors. I do the aforementioned with my |
| acquiring their ideal cruiser. They want my counsel. | | | | sellers . |
| And occasionally, most shoppers do not have a | | | | In what condition is the boat? Good yachts |
| true understanding of yacht values and the prices | | | | always demand higher prices, always! A newer |
| they demand. | | | | cruiser in deficient condition will bring less than an |
| Most individuals are shocked to find vessels cost | | | | older pleasure boat in good condition always! By |
| as much as houses do. They are occasionally | | | | condition I am speaking of both brightwork and |
| dumbfounded when I try to rationalize the | | | | structural issues involving tanks, rudder posts, |
| reasons a boat is priced so low. | | | | blisters etc. The more upgrades and maintenance |
| I want to furnish you a good idea of why they | | | | that has been performed, the more you should |
| cost as much as they do so let's begin from the | | | | expect to pay as the owner knows this. He also |
| top. | | | | knows that you will have already looked at the |
| On another pages on my website, you will | | | | very old boats and have abandoned them too. |
| observe about the absence of a Yacht Blue Book. | | | | How old is the yacht? See above. This factored in |
| Yes, that's right, there is no such object. There is | | | | but is not the thing. |
| one for cars but not for boats. | | | | How motivated is the seller? Many owners want |
| If you phone any used car dealer or bank in | | | | to sale their boat as shortly as practical and |
| North America and refer to any production | | | | anything nearby to an asking price may be |
| automobile, they will quote a value of within a few | | | | acceptable. It doesn't happen often but it does |
| dollars of each. This is due to the multi-billion dollar, | | | | sometimes. |
| car selling process. | | | | How many of these 40' boats are on the |
| And there is also the Powerboat Guide, NADA | | | | market? Recollect, the more demand for the |
| and others that like to sell you their variation of a | | | | cruiser, the higher the price will be. And I find that |
| Boat Blue Book. | | | | most customers will not travel far to buy a |
| With over 15,000 yacht manufacturers (USCG | | | | cruiser, so vessels in California will not be in |
| Listings) represented in North America there is no | | | | competition with East coast boats. |
| such market for used boats and the older one | | | | And lastly, and perhaps the most important issue |
| gets the greater the price discrepancies. And | | | | in determining that asking price will be past sales |
| recollect, that yachts are not built on an assembly | | | | history of related makes and models. |
| line. | | | | The past sales history is accessible only to |
| I've been inside my share of yacht factories | | | | Brokers from our MLS, YachtWorld. It will provide |
| including Hatteras, Bertram and Carver. Vessels | | | | me the recent demand for this 40' boat and at |
| are built like houses, one step at a time. Very | | | | what selling prices have been in varied parts of |
| labor intensive, they are built, cars are assembled. | | | | the USA. It tells me what individuals are asking |
| So you can easily see why new yachts cost | | | | and what buyers are paying! |
| thousands of dollars to produce. | | | | So when you are hunting for this and you have |
| Powerboats cost more than sailboats as they are | | | | found at what seems to be a excellent yacht for |
| more complex. | | | | $50,000.00 and all of the others are in the $85 - |
| Generally, yachts do not appreciate in value. But | | | | $100,000.00 range, there is a explanation for this. |
| they do reach a time in their life where they do | | | | Remember, condition, condition, condition! Be |
| not lose any more value. Much like antique autos, | | | | watchful as gas tanks will cost you about |
| the rarer a is, the more it will be in demand. | | | | $30,000.00 to refit, and rudder posts about |
| An old Huckins will probably bring more money | | | | $8000.00. But if you can live with the problems |
| today than when it was commissioned. But | | | | with the pleasure boat, then buy it. |
| vessels generally depreciate about 10% a year. | | | | I just want you to know not to expect a |
| So you are hunting for that 1984 40' Monk | | | | problem - free pleasure boat for the low, low |
| trawler, with a single Lehman and 2 cabins. What | | | | price; you'll pay for what you get. |
| is it worth? What is a fair price for her ? Simply | | | | So now you are thinking, are all yacht prices |
| speaking, that Monk is worth what you are | | | | flexible? Certainly they are. Everything has its |
| prepared to furnish and the seller is inclined to | | | | selling and neither the listing Broker nor the owner |
| take. So where do you start? | | | | may know what that will be. |
| Here is what you need to know when evaluating | | | | Only a resolute buyer with money on the table |
| prices. The owner has established his asking price | | | | will acquire that from negotiations. |