Phony Boat Ads

[keninaz]

My wife and I drove 170 miles the other day to look at a 1990 Sea Ray Cuddy Cabin that was for sale. The pix they sent me, all 9 of them the boat looked great.
But when I got there the boat was in need of complete upholstery, a new prop (have to admit in all the boats I have ever looked at used I have never seen one that bad) and the boat needed polishing and so many other things it was not funny.
I don't think I would have taken their word for it that if ran fine either.
What a waste of my time and money for gas to drive there! Misrepresentation and then some.
Lessons learned, I will make them specify when the pix where taken next time.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

Ouch that hurts. Yes I have gotten into the habit of asking "when" the pictures were taken and normally they were taken when the owner took possession of the boat....... Frustrating.

 

[keninaz]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

We won't make that mistake again.

 

[gm280]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

Sorry to hear this. Pictures can be so misleading and with photoshop capabilities these days, who really knows what they may find when arriving to look something over to buy. Picture angles can be taken to cover up or diminish questionable areas without much doing. Digital pictures are so easy to take and see and adjust the shooting angles...

 

[keninaz]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

They were not edited, they were just very old pix.
Based on my knowledge of aging of boats and finishes I would say that the pix were about 7 years old or more and that the boat had been sitting in a harsh climate without being covered for that entire time since the pix were taken.
As far as I am concerned the lady that showed me the boat committed fraud.

 

[dvx216]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

I feel your pain. Two different times I went to look at a 230 weekender only to find out they were junkers and the trailers were not big enough to hold the boat.Heck one of them hung over the trailer so bad that it had road rash.The trailer thing is common around lakes where the boats are kept on the lake and only pulled out in the fall and never used to travel on the road.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

recently had an issue with a NOS marine part (Ebay). Seller had multiples of the item, and used the same pic in the listing -- but didn't accurately represent the actual item I bought (age cracking of rubber boots -- or maybe used, rather than NOS). Seller sent replacement boots when I complained, but think repeated use of a pic is very common. It isn't a photoshop issue, which probably would be considered clear fraud by most people, but it isn't completely honest, either. Can't assume anything, I guess.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

Once I went to look at a classic old car that was advertised as Mint Condition. Supposedly, the quicky oil change place left the oil plug out and the engine blew a mile down the road. But, mint except for that.

When I got there the engine was truly blown, but it also had a 1" wide scratch down the side of the whole car from dragging a ladder thru the garage. The upholstery was torn in a dozen places and had cig burns all over the front seat. Two tires were flat, the vinyl top was torn and there were scratches on the hood from garden tools that he stored there.

I said "are you fn kidding me?" and said it was a piecocrap that wasn't worth $100. He argued all the way down the driveway that it WAS mint.

Personal opinions on "quality" don't always agree.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

Listed my boat on Ebay. Stated in the ad it was priced correctly and in great condition. Told the 1st caller if it is not like the ad says he can have it free. We are talking an $8K 17' boat. He drove from GA to NC overnight and said it was the 1st Ebay ad he saw that was better than stated. Took it for a ride and he pulled out the cash. Said he would not ask for any discount. He also said even if he was not buying he would not look at another Ebay ad,,, not ever.

 

[keninaz]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

Usually, a digital photo has the date / time taken in it's meta-data. You can open and view it with a tool called ExifTool and you can get it for free here: ExifTool by Phil Harvey

ii

I don't know if that would have worked or not, but it too late now.
The pix were on their facebook page.

 

[jkust]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

Have had people use pics of when they bought it brand new as their pics to represent the shape after 5 years of use. People lack ethics unfortunately.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

Even recently taken pics always seem to make the boat look better than it does in person. It's a hundred times worse if the seller is intentionally trying to misrepresent...

 

[Buh-Bye]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

I've seen a few similar instances here but that is why you check the boat out in person before buying. At least all it cost you was some gas and a few lost hours. That's better than a guy who buffs it up all shiny only to find the problems a few weeks later. Still frustrating that it was a waste of your time in the first place though.

 

[?ommon?ents_]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

Drove to every state in new england, new York and Pennsylvania and looked at almost 25 boats... at least half were not as stated. At least half were not factually represented in photos. By far the best was on NY mass line, 89 Larson 19 footer. Pics looked great, when asked if he to provide a pic of boat as it sits today...he replied within the hour with a pic of same boat inside a heated garage. I was stoked! Drive all the way out to find boat is crap, filled with leaves, vinyl destroyed, out drive in shed "for winter", covered with a blue tarp. He says "boat in pics is my dads, but they are almost identical"....I left without a word. He called my cell 5 mins later to complain that I wasted HIS time. Unbelievable. Drove 2? hours one way just to waste his time. Guess I'm the jerk...

That being said I feel your frustration. I have sold many items, I really pride myself in not screwing people over or wasting their time. Being new to power boats I was shocked with the way people list them. But I must say, with all things, a little extra effort goes along way. It took 8 mos but I found a keeper. I'm sure the right boat is out there. Keep on hunting till you find it. Good luck!

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

Pictures can deceive even recent ones.

Went once last summer to look at one that all I really wanted was the engine off of it. Which was supposed to be in VG condition. Boat and trailer were supposed to be in fair to good condition. So I figured I'd go look as maybe a resale of the hull and trailer would offset the cost of the engine some.

Well when I got there the engine wouldn't start, then when it did it was leaking fuel all over amd wouldn't idle. As for the boat and trailer, both were junk and would have had a hard time giving them away. Lucky for me it was only an hour away.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Phony Boat Ads

everything looks good on craigslist.

photos are for a general idea, not details.

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

Had that happen when we were houseboat hunting. Ad pics of a 50's 3-Buoys were several years old. Even had a totally different paint job. We drove 150 miles out of the way just to look at it, and that was after looking at a 40' Gibson turd at Lake Mead. Double shot of letdown... but there was a silver lining, the dog was needing a drink, and the first water fountain we seen was right next to the boat brokerage office, which we walked into, and there in their for-sale brochure was a certain 1988 SkipperLiner...

I did learn a neat trick a few years ago if you want guaranteed recent pics-- insist the seller takes a sheet of paper, and in large letters write the date on it in magic marker, then take fresh pics of the sale item with the dated note visible in each photo. A seller on the up and up will do that for you, no problem.

 

[Monsterbishi]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

As has already been mentioned, any genuine seller won't hesitate to provide fresh pics.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Phony Boat Ads

I think the starting point is the risk in driving 170 miles to look at a 25 year old boat of the type that doesn't age well. Assume the worst and you won't be disappointed. Assume that any seller will take pictures to put the boat in the best light.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Phony Boat Ads

I think the starting point is the risk in driving 170 miles to look at a 25 year old boat

I did just that for the Alumacraft that I have now. The pictures weren't very good but they showed enough. The discription was clear and honest so there really were no surprises and everything was pretty much as I expected. The whole rig was also priced fairly for the condition it was in. So somethimes it does work out and is worth the risk too.

I think the biggest advise I can give is ask questions, wait a couple days and ask the same questions in a different way and then if the story stays the same then they are probably truthful answers.