| There are hundreds of thousands of boats for | | | | you decide to make an offer on a particular boat. |
| sale in the world right now. In that sea of boats | | | | A realistic offer based on sound market |
| for sale is the ideal boat for you. With the | | | | knowledge can take some of the stress out of |
| overwhelming number of boats for sale, how do | | | | negotiating. |
| you even begin to narrow down the choices into | | | | Other good resources to determine boat values |
| something that is useful in making your selection? | | | | can be found in the Power Boat Guide written by |
| Clearly, the quickest and easiest way to begin | | | | Ed McNew and the N.A.D.A. Guide. I use one or |
| your search is using the Internet. Not many | | | | both guides when advising a client on what he |
| people read the classifieds in the papers and | | | | should be asking for his boat before listing it for |
| magazines anymore. The beauty of an Internet | | | | sale. I then consult the Sold Boat report to |
| search is that you have access to information | | | | compare values to the information provided by |
| about practically every recreational boat that is | | | | these two guides and then check online to |
| for sale in the world while sitting in front of your | | | | determine what the market is saying about asking |
| computer screen and it is free! | | | | prices on similar boats. |
| Start your search with the largest Multiple Listing | | | | Yacht World was bought by Trader Publications a |
| Services (MLS). Most of the time, you can search | | | | few years ago. You may know that company |
| without registering or giving anyone your contact | | | | through their Boat Trader, RV Trader, and Auto |
| information. You have access to much of the | | | | Trader magazines you find in the corner |
| same listing information as do yacht brokers. | | | | convenience store. Trader Publications (which has |
| These are the very same tools that a yacht | | | | since been bought by Dominion Enterprises) also |
| broker uses when assisting you in your search. | | | | has their own online boat listing service called Boat |
| Yacht World has the most boats listed in one | | | | Trader Online. Be aware that most of the boats |
| place and is a good place to start. On the left side | | | | listed on Boat Trader Online are also listed on |
| of the front page is the Boat Search box. Click on | | | | Yacht World. Boat Trader Online used to be a For |
| Advanced Search at the bottom of that box. Be | | | | Sale by Owner site that has since been taken |
| as specific as you can in filling out the fields and | | | | over by yacht brokers. You can still find some For |
| click on the region or country where you are | | | | Sale by Owner boats there, but not many. |
| interested in searching. Narrowing down the | | | | Yacht Council is a multiple listing service that was |
| specific geographic area helps to keep the number | | | | launched by the International Yacht Council several |
| of boats returned in your search results to a | | | | years ago. This site was started by and is still |
| manageable level. | | | | owned by yacht brokers from all over the world. |
| Most yacht brokerage houses list their boats on | | | | On Yacht Council you can be reasonably sure that |
| Yacht World. As I was writing this there were | | | | the information on each boat is up to date and is |
| 112,264 boats listed for sale by 2,463 brokers. | | | | actually for sale. The brokers that subscribe to |
| There are no For Sale by Owner boats listed on | | | | this service adhere to a strict code of ethics and |
| Yacht World. If you are searching for sail or | | | | keep each other accountable to keep this site the |
| power from 30' - 200' it will likely show up here. | | | | most professional listing service for yachts on the |
| The chances of finding a good boat for sale by | | | | Internet. You can also find information on yacht |
| owner and not represented by a broker are | | | | transport, insurance and financing on this site. |
| extremely remote. Do yourself a favor and save | | | | Those are the top three places to start your |
| yourself a lot of time and look where the boats | | | | boat search. Take it from the pros and use the |
| are. | | | | same tools that yacht brokers employ and pay |
| Yacht World also provides a Sold Boat report | | | | for when they are perusing boats for sale for |
| which is updated by the brokerage houses as | | | | their clients. A Google search will turn up several |
| they sell their listing inventory. The Sold Boat | | | | other listing services. My advice is don't waste |
| report is available by subscription only to yacht | | | | time in a fruitless effort to find some gem that |
| brokers. Ask your broker to provide a report on | | | | has been overlooked by the international yacht |
| comparable selling prices for the last year before | | | | brokerage community. |