Any experience with trying to sell a boat on Boat trader ? Effective ?

Has anyone out there ever advertised and/or sold a boat on Boat trader ? Just curious as am considering trying.

I have used many advertising platforms to sell my boats, except the one you mention. Never had a problem selling my stuff. Some times I get numerous calls but they don't show up. Typically I have sold to the first or second person to show up. Now, I have to say this....my boats did not require any work to make them operable, nothing was broke or need replaced. Everything worked as it should. One thing I see today that would turn me off from a sale, is when people start listing all the issues and things that need repaired ......turn key has always been good sellers.

Hi airshot, yea i get what you are saying for sure. Especially with outboards. The boat I am trying to sell is pretty much top notch EXCEPT, the rig has been stored in my shop since last summer and it is just quite dirty. But overall superb for a 49 year old boat. The only issue I have is that since last summer , a whole bunch of new parts were installed on the motor and my only problem is that I have no way to fire it up because I no longer have a battery and fuel tank for it. Health issues have stopped me from being able to do anything else to this jewel so since I can't start the motor because of that, I am sure that has prevented some interest when people see that the motors status is unknown except for all the new parts. But overall the old boat is in phenomenal condition for the age and all original. The vinyl top is in great shape and upholstery is like new. This boat was stored inside most of its life.

What are some sites that you have successfully used and is there a fee for listing ?

rodsnguns said:

What are some sites that you have successfully used and is there a fee for listing ?

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In my area, Craigslist was the hot spot many years back. We have a small town local newspaper that has worked well and the FB ads which my granddaughter does for me. FB is getting bad for no shows or scammers in the past couple years. Of course we all know Craigslist is mostly scammers. I have shopped on Boat Trader, but never found anything close to my area. My current boat was 200 miles away, but well worth the drive !
Unfortunately, the issues of it not running is going to scare away lots of potential buyers. Is it a fiberglass boat ? If so, that will be a bad sign to shoppers as it is 49 years old. The risk of rotten wood in the transom and stringers is a real possibility in most peoples thoughts. Good luck to you, but I think you have your work cut out to find an interested buyer. Wish I had better news.

red flag for me is when a listing says 'just needs x' because if it just needs x, why not do it before the sale.

Hi airshot, yea it's a fiberglass boat. Best i can tell by the overall condition, it has been stored inside of something most of its life. Original soft upholstery with no tears anywhere, original bright white snap on vinyl top, original green astro turf , all windshield glass looks new and looks to be original for sure, paint not faded, the list goes on. Several months ago I was healthy enough to completely redo the trailer only because it had the normal surface rust. So I sanded it all down and primed and repainted it. Still has the trailer spec stickers on it that are clearly readable. Almost perfect. Then I put all new lights, wiring, winch strap, bearing repack job, etc on it. Looks great.
Back to the fiberglass aspect. This boat appears very solid. The transom is very solid with no indications of rot as well as the floor being very solid throughout, no weak, soft, creaky places anywhere i could find.
I know that a questionable motor will stall a sale so hopefully soon I will get a helper over here to fire it up. With all the new parts it has, I have no doubt it will fire rite up. It currently has no battery or fuel tank so I will have to hunt around and get those.
A real gem for sure.

Are you prepared to allow a survey or an interested buyer to do transom and stringer tests to test for potential wood rot ? Anyone with boat knowledge would want these test due to boats age, no matter how good it looks...just to big a risk. Extremely few glass boats of that age that have no dry rot !
Often a good test requires drilling a hole into the transom and stringers which are enclosed in the fiberglass. Not thru, but deep enough to get wood chips to test. The holes are plugged by marine sealant after. You have some tough decisions to make !

When I say I have no doubt it will fire up, it has had carb rebuilds, New coil packs, starter and solenoid, all new fuel hoses, fuel pump, plugs, impeller, thermostat. Compression is good. 110 to 120 on all 3 cylinders. Time will tell.

rodsnguns said:

When I say I have no doubt it will fire up, it has had carb rebuilds, New coil packs, starter and solenoid, all new fuel hoses, fuel pump, plugs, impeller, thermostat. Compression is good. 110 to 120 on all 3 cylinders. Time will tell.

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What motor ?

1977 70 hp Johnson.

rodsnguns said:

1977 70 hp Johnson.

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Those are good engines, I had a couple over the years, mine were 79 and an 81 I think....but good hard runners.

Oh yes, sweet motors. Very easy to work on. Parts are cheap and quite plentiful.