Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

[Kiggsia]

Last summer I bought a 16 foot Lund with 40 horse Evinrude and trailer for $2600, couldn't get the guy down any lower. This ("red") boat didn't meet my needs, so I bought back my favorite boat ("blue boat") I had sold 2 years ago, due to upkeep expense, and will grin and bear the expense, the blue boat meets my needs.

http://retrocrestliner.com/viewer_photos_page35.htm

I had made a few minor improvements on the red boat, and now on Craigslist I see the going rate for this type of outfit is about $1500. I never was good at price haggling, bet I should have got the boat for much less last summer. I put the red boat up for sale on Craigslist for $2000 but have got no replies.

http://toledo.craigslist.org/boa/1891301125.html

I'm guessing the used boat market is even more a buyer's market this year than last year?

 

[The Hammer]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

I think your giving away the Red boat. Both boats are nice. Hard to find red boat here less than 4000

 

[109jb]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

I hate to say it but your honesty is probably what is driving people away. In your ad you list every problem with the boat including slight rough running, trim/tilt needs repair, etc. Especially the deficiencies in the motor are something that will drive a buyer away. The trim an tilt could be expensive depending on what the problem is and people want to buy and head to water. I know I would just pass over yours. I don't think your boat is overpriced at all if everything worked as it should. Now I'm not saying you should lie about the condition of your boat but if you had those items repaired you could probably sell the boat quickly.

 

[The Hammer]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

Opps, I was just looking at the pics, kinda agree with above post as I tried to sell mine a while ago and when everyone that called and I told them about the quirks with it they move on also. If you can find a marina mechanic that works on the side should be able to get your motor running good at a reasonable price.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

I hate to say it but your honesty is probably what is driving people away. In your ad you list every problem with the boat including slight rough running, trim/tilt needs repair, etc. Especially the deficiencies in the motor are something that will drive a buyer away. The trim an tilt could be expensive depending on what the problem is and people want to buy and head to water. I know I would just pass over yours.

Totally agree. Exactly what I was thinking.

Here Kiggsia. Let me turn on the Craigslist Translation feature and then play the ad back to you so you can hear what your potential buyers are hearing when they read your ad:

Ad Sez: It is a 1981 with a 1987 tiller steer motor, electric start, generator, and power trim that needs work, it doesn't hold when you speed up the motor.

Buyer hears: Basically this motor is a basket case and I found out it's too expensive to fix so I'm trying to fob it off on some poor sucker like you.

Ad Sez: The motor starts good, and runs very good except for a bit of roughness at low RPM.

Buyer hears: Just in case you didn't believe me, I'll reiterate the motor is crapped out. It'll cost a fortune to fix. No, really, I've tired.

Ad Sez: The boat has a winter tarp system with a few tears that have been repaired with a repair tape similiar to tarp repair tape.

Buyer hears: Tarp is totally shredded and held together by some cheap duct tape. But hey, what can you expect after it provided 2 years of shelter for 14 fereal cats?


OK, you get the idea. Basically, the vast majority of buyers don't want a project, they want a boat. Your boat right now just screams "HUGE BOTTOMLESS MONEY PIT".

Personally I'd see what it would cost to give the motor a tune up and get an estimate for the power trim to see if it's worth fixing.

Grouse

 

[Mr_Shamrock]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

I have to agree with some of these statements. I make a good portion of my income off of internet (eBay and Craigslist) sales. I have found that the simple things will run off potential buyers - what seems simple to me can look major to someone else. I just sold a Harley V Rod that had a common frame paint fading issue. Harley sells the touch up aerosol paint, but I got lazy and listed it the way it was. I had 2 people look at it and the faded frame blew the sale. So I bought the touch spray, masked off the bike, prepped, and painted the frame. The first guy that looked at it after that bought it. It took me 3 hours and $20.00 worth of material. I have done a bunch of these and knew it wasn't a big deal, but to the average guy it was a huge deal.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

I suspect that at $2600 you did pay too much. Three years ago, under a much better economy, I bought a console steer 1990 LOWE 15.5 ft with a 1990 40HP VRO rude for $2500. I talked the guy down from $2750. I would have said maybe $2000 for your boat. It could sell for about that price here in Grand Rapids (but time of year is an issue.) I would have put a little less negative detail in Craigslist. Let them come and look and ask you questions, especially about the cat. Also, consider dealing with some of the issues before you sell it, especially the trim and tilt. Try running a tank of Sea-foam thru it and see if that cleans up the roughness issue.

Also, this is the wrong time of year to sell a boat, but you probably know that. My boat was bought in early June.

Good luck,
TerryMSU

 

[clarkbre]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

I wouldn't say you paid too much or too little. 3 years ago I bought a 16' Lund with a 15hp and trailer for $3500. In my area that's kind of the going rate. Anything under $2000 is a pure basket case that needs a complete restoration.

Try this on for size: Get the motor tuned and either take out the power trim or get it functioning. For the ad, sell the good points of the boat. People don?t want to hear about what problems they?re buying. This is the way I laid out my ad for a 12? Valco aluminum. It was about 20 years old and I sold it for $100 more than I bought it for 11 seasons before. It sold to the first guy I showed it to. () indicates notes


This boat is a turn key package ready for fishing and lake cruising. It?s a great way to spend quality time with your family.

Boat- 1981 Lund 16? (spell out exactly what it is)
Does not leak (show all positives)
Spotlight
Navigation lights
Wired electrical
Battery included
2 swivel seats
Carpeted flooring

Trailer- 19XX Brand
Bearings replaced in? (show that maintenance is done)
All lights work flawlessly (ease of operation)
Good tires with spare tire (well kept)

Motor- 1987 Evinrude 40hp 2 stroke
Fresh tune up with spark plugs and lower unit oil change (spending maybe $150 could result in a great running motor)
Electric start
Generator to charge battery

Extras- (People love add ons. Its like they're getting a lot for their money)
3 life jackets
Anchor
Ropes
Fishfinder
Boat cover for storage (If your going to mention cats...say fresh crab bait is included)

I am selling this boat in order to move to a different style set up. (Don't say you're selling it because you can't see when you drive it)

If you are interested in viewing this boat in person please contact me at 555-555-1212

 

[asm_]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

I sense you are an honest guy that is probably listing anything, or everything that is less then perfect for the boat you're selling. I'm not telling you to lie, but highlighting all the problems isn't going to help you sell your boat. I would only list major problem, if there is one.

When selling a boat that does run, I would simply list the boat as "Working and Running Condition" or "Lake Ready". Include all the plus and upgrade in the AD. And most importantly, offer to meet potential buyer at the lake for a test run. Nothing speak louder then seeing a boat that does run in water. During the "lake meeting" you should then mention some of those minor problem and allow the buyer to decide if those problems bother them.

B

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

Agree with the above as well...Also I would not limit myself to craigslist. For me its the first place I look when I want to buy something but MANY people dont use it. I sold two boats in the past, listed both on Craigslit and Ebay at the same time. Other than a couple of stupid emails from craigslist I got NO interest. Both boats sold on Ebay with tons of questions asked and alot of bids. Both buyers were from well outside our local Craigslist listing area. Ebay gets WAY more exposure.

 

[hostage]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

I agree with everyone else.

The boat is used and people expect some wear and tear. Completely leave out the repaired tear in the cover. Sometimes when people give out to much details in the ads it makes it easier for people to skim over since they are worried there might be something else that they are trying to cover for.

I was able to sell my car on craiglist for a lot more than what other people were asking, mainly because of the way I presented it.

1) Well kept car
2) Pics w/ it freshly washed, waxed, and detailed
3) Detailed maintenance history w/ invoices to back it up.
4) Reason I was selling it was for a larger vehicle. Not because the car was to small. (both sentences mean the same thing, but leave you with a different feeling)
5) A lot of small things can be omitted, that normally go with wear and tear.
6) I made sure everything was in working condition, when I sold it.

I don't know much about power trim, but if it is not a must remove it or get it repaired.

Good luck,

Hostage

 

[sltintexas]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

wifey sells a bunch on craigslist and she is a talker. I have told her when people come to look at stuff shut your mouth. Answer their questions truthfully. But don't sit there and blab about all the stuff that is wrong with the product or what you don't like about it.

Most sellers convince the potential buyer that their product isn't any good and talk themselves out of a sell.

Same applies to ads I think.

 

[oops!]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

Buyer hears: Basically this motor is a basket case and I found out it's too expensive to fix so I'm trying to fob it off on some poor sucker like you.

Ad Sez: The motor starts good, and runs very good except for a bit of roughness at low RPM.

Buyer hears: Just in case you didn't believe me, I'll reiterate the motor is crapped out. It'll cost a fortune to fix. No, really, I've tired.

please excuse me for a minit while i lay on the floor holding my stomach and laughing in hysterics at the truth of this.

way to go grouse

 

[jonesg]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

I hate to say it but your honesty is probably what is driving people away. In your ad you list every problem with the boat including slight rough running, trim/tilt needs repair, etc. Especially the deficiencies in the motor are something that will drive a buyer away. The trim an tilt could be expensive depending on what the problem is and people want to buy and head to water. I know I would just pass over yours. I don't think your boat is overpriced at all if everything worked as it should. Now I'm not saying you should lie about the condition of your boat but if you had those items repaired you could probably sell the boat quickly.

Exactly what I was thinking as I read the ad.!
No-one wants to buy from a negative position, they want to buy from a winner even if they think the winner lies more , its just human nature.

Fix the tilt and trim, its very simple to troubleshoot and advertise only the positives. Either that or let someone else sell it for you.

And don't post reasons for selling, you don't need to explain yourself, they just need to bring cash.

 

[Kiggsia]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

Thanks for your reply....my thinking about my overhonesty is that I'd rather let them know upfront about it's flaws so they don't have me untarp it, rig it with equipment I keep locked up in the garage , haul it to the launch with my car that needs engine work (the shopper may not be equipped to tow a boat when he looks at a boat), then unrig and retarp it (no easy task on this boat) only to tell me "I'll get back with you" when he discovers the flaws.

 

[Kiggsia]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

I cancelled the overhonest ad and posted this one, and so far got an offer of $1500 from a guy about a 100 miles away:

http://toledo.craigslist.org/boa/1898307445.html

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

I read your CL post. I like it, especially the part about the cat. Don't let the guy low-ball you at $1500. Especially this early after the post, and from 100 miles away. That is what he is doing.

TerryMSU

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

I have a Lund also and watch CL Lund postings almost daily and from what I've seen here in Wi. and Northern Il. that price seems to be right in the median price for that boat in the condition I can see in the pictures. I think $1500 would be a low offer and would depend on how bad do you want to get rid of it. Just the Evinrude alone around here is easily worth $700.-$800.00 if one needed to replace it.

 

[Kiggsia]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

Thanks for your reply. Reason I mentioned the cat thing is that the best view of the boat is the pic with the cat net. I took this one and others mainly to give a marine mechanic views of the interior so he could scope out possibility a couple months ago of installing steering console and remote controls. And the blue boat I bought comes with many more features such as convertable top and spray curtains.I didn't actually have this done, though, too costly and I'd have to wait until he could have the time to do it. I would have to untarp the boat to get another pic of it without the catnet, and since it has a tarp that should be replaced with a better more permanent one, my current tie down setup isn't real efficient, and is time consuming.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Poor Luck Buying and Selling Boat

Thanks for your reply....my thinking about my overhonesty... .

The word is ingenuous.