To sell or not to sell?

[dozerII]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

It's to bad your so far away or I would be all over that deal. 2100 miles, it would cost me more to get out there and back than the price of the boat!!
Glen

 

[reelfishin]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

I'd love to see it go to someone that will use it and fix it up again like new. Its been a freshwater boat its whole life and will make someone a great boat. I had one guy look at it but he had no cash, he wanted to trade me a pretty well worn looking 13' Boston Whaler from the same year but it needed a ton of fiberglass work, and 13' is just to small for me. The key is to lessen the boat count here unless I someone really comes up with something decent, I have to hold out for cash. Worst case scenario is that it gets stored at a buddies place till it sells but I hate to do that as I know it won't get maintained there. At least here I keep a fresh tarp over it and keep the tires up and the snow off it.

If I knew I was just going to sell it, I probably wouldn't have put all new lights and tires on the trailer and a new two speed winch with a new winch strap. All that stuff was over $300. When I first got this boat and trailer it had one odd tire, so I sprung for a new pair on galvanized rims. That was late in 2008. It came here with me in 2009, but the next move is too far to drag everything that far and it'll just cost too much making many trips.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

I've had the Starchief on CL now for several weeks at $1500 and not a single taker. Three people came to look at it, the only one to make an offer wanted to trade a quad and an some music equipment, neither do I have any interest in. That guy got an attitude when I told him I wasn't interested in any such trade, then he wanted to make payments, $10 or so a week till it's paid for.
I've had 8 no shows, four of which I spoke to on the phone. I pretty much decided that I won't go under $1500, with the cost of the items I added plus buying the boat, I've got at least that in it.
One guy offered to buy the trailer if the boat sells, which is fine too. I even went so far as to call the scrap yard and see what they would give for it but they said $300 tops if all wood and plastic were removed. That's not an option but I just wanted to know what the aluminum was worth.
I'd let the boat alone go for $1000, I can sell the trailer for $500 right now if the boat was to go.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

Selling stuff on clist can be a real pain sometimes - chuckle heads by the dozens.

 

[Broadcast]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

Ha! Chuckle-heads! One of my all-time favorite words! Like you better by the post Jas!!!

 

[reelfishin]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

Chuckle-heads wasn't the word that came to mind.
I had another guy today want to swap me a gutted out 24+ foot I/O hull on a rusted out trailer, nothing but the bare lower hull with a huge hole in the transom where the drive belonged. The trailer was a tandem missing half the front axle and both front wheels. Worse yet the guy had out of state tags, so he apparently dragged that thing a distance to just show up. I'm not sure which email he corresponded too, but none mentioned anything about any trades, nor does the ad.
Not that I'd be against an interesting trade but a 24' flower planter isn't what I consider interesting. He was more than upset when I told him I don't want it, and be sure not to leave it anywhere around here. He started his sales pitch with what a great boat it was and that it only needed a little work. I told the guy that I wouldn't want that boat if it were new, I don't care to haul or feed a 24' anything.
For some reason I get a lot of oddball replies to certain ads, it seems the better the item being sold, the crazier the replies.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

Yah, you get some doozies rf! I don't know what your fella there had to be upset about????

I feel like I can weed out those "chuckle heads" pretty quickly through email/phone to avoid most garbage and time wasting.

The last one I had emailed me on my ancient 45hp Chrysler asking if I still had it. I could tell right away by his email he was absolutely going to waste my time, maybe even a scammer. I told him that I had it but had grown very attached to it so I wouldn't let it go for a penny less than $5500. I think he moved on to greener pastures.

 

[starcraftkid]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

I've had the opposite problem lately, I've been watching an ad for a Starcraft SS for sale for months now, I've emailed the ad a dozen times with only two replies. I asked if the boat was complete, and if he had all the stuff not shown, like the windshield frame, emblems, etc, he replies with a simple "Still for sale". I at that point figure he's not much on emailing, so I email the guy my phone number and ask him for his address, which by the town listed is about an hour away. Keep in mind now he's had the boat listed now for nearly 6 months. He emails me a phone number, no area code, so I try the most likely for that area and nothing, I try 5 more and none are any good. There's dozens of area codes it could be and five wrong numbers was my limit. The boat looks decent, but it's not listed super cheap so I don't get the impression that its someone mining for info or email addresses. I finally used another email address, again, got worthless replies, I asked if its still for sale and does he have all the parts that are missing in the pic, this time I get a phone number about 2 hours away. I reply with my phone number, tell the guy if he wants to sell the thing to call. He never does. The ad gets renewed again that night. I've emailed him a half dozen times for an address, told him I'd call when I'm close, but no address, no valid phone number and he won't call me. He's got ads running both online at several sites and in one of the boat shopper papers yet is impossible to get through too. I've even emailed him for more pics, he sent me the pics, in detail and even shots of various areas and parts I asked for. But he won't tell me where he is. I've told this guy a half dozen times I want to look at the boat and then we'll talk, but I can't do that without an address.
I've also had a few sellers refuse to answer emails, and list items saying that they will only respond to phone. I feel that if your going to deal online, then you certainly need to be able to communicate by email. When I'm browsing CL at 3:30 AM, do they really expect me to pick up the phone and call? I've also found that 90% of those listing a phone number don't list a time to call and most aren't there to answer the call anyhow. I can't count how many ads I've called about and never gotten a response to a message left.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

Had another screw ball today, I got several emails and finally a call about the Starchief, the guy says he'd like to look at it and said he'd be here around 10AM. At noon, he was still a no show, at 2Am he calls and says he'll be late. At 4:30PM he shows up, wife and kids in tow, driving a a brand new mini SUV, and has me uncover the whole boat, he climbs in and starts complaining that the boat is filthy, needs new seats, carpet, and everything. Then he asks when was the last time I had it detailed???? Then came the best question of all.... How does it run? The ad reads hull and trailer only, the boat has no motor, no controls. His wife kept on about how ugly it was, the kid was in the car beeping the horn, and this guy then asks me if I'd take $500 for it. I just started covering it back up, got him out of the boat and told him all he'd find for $500 is a used canoe.
I think the full moon brings out the really best. I made it clear I could part it out for far more and scrap what's left. I knew he was clueless when he hopped in the drivers seat and started flipping switches and pushing buttons, and his wife asked if it had air conditioning.

Another guy that came to see it yesterday went on about how much work it needed to be new again. He offered me $750. I'm not sure what people on CL don't understand about an ad that reads $1500 Firm. I could see if the boat was dented or all salt corroded but this thing is straight as an arrow, no dents, and other than looking a bit weathered, you could hang a motor and go fishing tomorrow. The ones I like the best are the email offers from those never having seen the boat. I guess they think I'll give in and let it go for a few hundred bucks or something. If I don't sell this boat it gets put in storage, and will eventually get moved to the new place, it will not get sold for less than I have in it, and certainly not for less than scrap weight or it's parts value. The trailer alone will sell for $1000. I already turned down an offer on the trailer but I won't sell the trailer without the boat going first. That just wouldn't make sense.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

"when was it last detailed?"

"how does it run?"

Come on, you are totally making that up RF!!!! No way. Man you get all types out your neck of the wood. Is it the water or what? Bio Hazard waste plant nearby or something?

Here, so you don't feel so alone dealing with these guys...

I posted up my boat seats on clist this weekend. Right away got a bunch of emails. Here is how one of them went...

bills rogin
to me
How much do you want for your boat?

Jason
Don't have a boat - do have boat seats though. Is that what you are looking for?

bills rogin
to me
yes give me details about it. and the actual last selling price that you will be willing to sell to me

Jason
Details in my ad

bills rogin
to me
Your last selling price that you will be willing to sell to me?

Jason
How about $10,000,000?

bills rogin
to me
Ohh that is too cost do you have the one of $500 or $600?

Jason
Well, I could go $1,000,000 on those. Does that work for you?

bills rogin
to me
you don't any boat that is less than that price of $1,000,000 ?

Jason
Yah, actually I do. It's made by WalMart, 3' long, and comes with a tandem axle trailer as the motor weighs nearly 2 tons. It's diesel. I'd let that go for $55,253.

bills rogin
to me
What are you talking about?

Jason
How you are on crack? What are you talking about?

bills rogin
to me
BOAT

Jason
Oh, the boat? Did you want it?

bills rogin
yes tell me the last price you will be selling it you are still having it.

Jason
How about $150K?

bills rogin
to me
what type of boat is that?

Jason
Super fast! Is that what you are looking for?

bills rogin
to me
wow yes can you get me the photo of the boat. and how many did you have?

Jason
Oh, prolly 5-600. Gosh, I'm tired. I'll need to get back with you. I'm going to go take a nap. Just make boat motor noises till I email you again.

bills rogin
to me
ok i will be waiting for the snap of the boat.

 

[starcraftkid]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

There's a difference between a crazy email and actually having one of those loons show up to look at something. I had a guy interested in a motor I listed, he actually left a deposit, then called the next day and told me he couldn't come get it for about 6 months or more, he was going to be out of the country for at least that long. When I asked if he was in the military, he says no, but wouldn't tell me why. That was a year ago, he never resurfaced, I still have his $500, I sold the motor a while back. The name he gave me was bogus, the cash was real, at least the bank said it was, and he never tried to take the motor, he owed me another $500. That's happened on a few items over the last few years. I had another idiot come look at a motor, which I had listed back in June, it was then the middle of January and about 16 degrees out side. He wanted me to unwinterize it, and start it up. I told the guy sorry but the water is off outside and my test tank is solid as a rock. He wanted me to just run it without water. I told the guy to pound sand, it wasn't going to happen. He then wanted me to write up a written guarantee saying that the motor would perform to his standards when he got it home. If the guy was willing to run it without water, there was no way I was guaranteeing anything, let alone on a used outboard I was selling for $400.
He got mad and left. The next guy that showed up bought it no questions asked a week later.
About 90% of the emails are scams on CL, another 9% are idiots it seems. IT's that 1 out of a hundred that has cash and just buys what is for sale or even just knows what their talking about.

I answered an ad for a boat last week, the ad had been up since last summer but the guy finally lowered the price to where I thought it may be worth a look. I emailed him several times, we agreed on when I would come see the boat, and that I'd call before I left. I go to call before I left and the guy won't talk, he hangs up and says he'll call back. An hour later still no call, so I call back, he hangs up again. The ad gets renewed fresh for the same price. I have a buddy call, he gets the same treatment. All if fine till he tries to go see the boat. I called back from work today, it sounded like a fight going on there, all sorts of screaming and he finally hung up on me.
I give up on that one.
There is a lot of Super fund sights here in NJ, and your never more than 50 miles from a nuke plant, maybe that's got something to do with it.
I just don't get the reasoning behind listing something that you won't show to a buyer or sell?

I went to look at a boat trailer last summer, the guy went on about how nice it was, I get there and it's in need of a lot of work, new tires, bearings, and lights, etc, we agree on a price, he goes inside to get the paperwork and comes back out and says he changed his mind and don't want to sell it now?????

 

[reelfishin]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

So far now after almost three weeks listed for sale, I've had only two people actually come and look at the boat who I felt were half serious, and about a dozen that were just wasting my time with junk offers. I had one guy who had emailed me for various pics of all sorts of angles in the boat only to come back with a $300 offer. That's just never going to happen. The trailer alone would bring what I'm asking for the boat to the right buyer. I've got a buddy that just bought what amounts to the equivalent trailer brand new for $2600 for his boat, I would expect at least half that price for my trailer alone. Its not rusted, it's not damaged, it's got new lights, wiring, and a new winch. I'm getting tired of people looking at the boat and complaining that it needs new seats or new carpet, do they expect a restored boat for $1500?

I've also had probably two dozen no shows since I've listed the ad for the boat, and at that I'm only counting those who actually called and told me they were coming over. Out of those who called, only 1 showed up, and that person wanted to swap me for a Jetski with no engine.

To be totally honest, I'd be up for a fair trade if someone had something I could use that was of value. A nice late model outboard in the 50 to 75hp range would be something that would get my attention but even at that I really don't need it, it would just be nice to have something newer for my other boat. I'd even consider a swap for a smaller open aluminum bass boat, but again I don't want junk and it would have to be something I like enough to deem worth hauling when I move.

I've been sort of keeping my eyes out for a nice modified V hull bass boat for a while now for pond and river fishing but it would have to be a wide hull model over 16' with a 20" transom.

At least part of the reason I'm even considering selling the Starchief is to lessen the total load when I move, if I take anything in trade, it really should be something that takes up less room than an 18' boat. I've also got an abundance of motors right now, I've probably got a hundred or more squirreled away, but most are smaller motors, 6 through 40hp. I generally run 25 and 50 hp motors with my 17' Duratech getting a 70hp on it when it's done. The heavy construction of the Duratech will no doubt need the larger motor.
I have had some luck selling off some of my larger motors over the winter, I've let go of about 15 of my V4 Evinrudes, I sold off any older than 1978. I kept one of each size from 90 to 140 hp that were in top shape. I also kept two late model Mercury 115 motors, and one 1995 115 that I had originally intended for the Starchief before I found the minty clean 110hp Evinrude that was on it.

As far as strange CL encounters, I've had more than one seller that either wouldn't sell or that could never be reached in person. I answered an ad last week for a 25hp motor, the guy was all gung ho ready to sell, we agreed on a price by phone and when I showed up, no one was home.
I called and got no answer from then on, he did the same to several others I sent over. That little game seems to be getting pretty common lately. I've read and heard the same story over and over again. I don't get why anyone would list something for sale and not be there to sell it when they have a buyer that wants it.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

I've also got an abundance of motors right now, I've probably got a hundred or more squirreled away, but most are smaller motors, 6 through 40hp.

Wow! 100ish ob's and a dozen or so boats! I'd bet that you have more on hand there than my three nearest marine tech/dealers combined. Better eat your Wheaties on moving day!

 

[dozerII]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

RF I will hand over the $1500 no questions asked, But you would have to meet me half way,

 

[jasoutside]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

Fuel up, road trip!

 

[reelfishin]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

Wow! 100ish ob's and a dozen or so boats! I'd bet that you have more on hand there than my three nearest marine tech/dealers combined. Better eat your Wheaties on moving day!

I bought a few for projects, and others came from freebie boats that ran good but weren't worth fixing. All are on rolling engine stands or racks in the garage, which is about 300' long.
Most are smaller motors and I've been slowly letting go of anything larger than a twin cylinder. I may have sold two of my Mercury motors today, both are 115hp late 90's motors, they should go tomorrow providing the buyer comes up with the other $1100 we agreed on.
The hardest things to move will be the big machines, things like the lathe and milling machines, and larger drill press will be a challenge to secure for the move. Then the tool boxes, welders, tire machine, engine cranes, and gantry cranes will all take up space and weight. I'll have to really take time and do the math so as not to overload each trailer as it's packed up too.
I do have a line on three road ready trailers which I'll buy and load up ahead of time when I move. I plan to buy them soon since I have a deal pending. The cost of the 53' trailers will no doubt be far cheaper than hiring a mover to do the job. The hardest part will be securing things like outboards for a long move.
No matter how far the move, since my current lease iwill soon be up on the building I'm in now.
Then on top of that I have the house and garage contents to move, plus my boats. I did lessen the count by one today buy selling a recently acquired Jupiter. That was basically a bare hull with no trailer and I had no problem getting $800 for it with no windshield and almost no remaining wood in the boat. I don't see why $1500 for a far nicer Starchief doesn't draw more attention.

dozerII, If I was looking to tow it, I'd be taking it with me.
A road trip like that would cost more than the boat is worth when you add in food, fuel, and motel bills.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

I figured I'd add an update to this post, after over three months listed, there's been not a single serious buyer after my Starchief, I have a dozen offers on the trailer but none on the boat. It seems I can sell the trailer for nearly as much as the boat and trailer. I'd have figured the opposite. I also have offers on bit of the boat, one guy wanted the cabin, another the fuel tanks, and another the custom made seat boxes that house the tanks. Another wanted the windshield.
I guess it gets parted out, warmer weather is near and I'll be able to spend more time outside so I guess the motor comes off, the tanks come out, and the cabin and windshields get sold separate. The rest will be sold for scrap I guess. In the end I'll make near double what I was asking for the boat at $1500.
I guess times are tougher than I thought, I never would have guessed that I couldn't get salvage value out of a boat that's only would have needed a motor. Two years ago I had people stopping and knocking on my door wanting to buy it, now I only get scam replies and tire kickers from CL.

As much as I hate to do it, if I don't do it now, the price of aluminum may drop and I'll be stuck. So it looks like this week will be the week.

I also would have never guessed that I'd sell off all my bare fiberglass hulls and parts motors long before I found a taker on the Starchief. I listed several bare hulls that needed basically everything and they sold in days. The one boat that could be used as it is don't get any serious takers.
The only offer I got was for $300, for that amount I'd chop it up and bury it first. I've got a guy nagging me for the trailer, if he comes through today with cash for the trailer, the boat meets the saw this week and gets sold as parts.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

I figured I'd add an update here.
I finally am rid of the Starchief.
I removed the engine, controls, steering, fuel tanks, electronics, and was in the process of removing the cabin and glass to get it ready for the scrap yard.
A guy from down the road stopped by and asked what I was doing, I told him I was removing the parts to use on another boat. He asked is I was selling the hull, I said sure, first $1000, gets it.
He said don't go anywhere, and went to get cash. He returned ten minutes later with $1000 cash and a trailer. I signed over the title and away it went. On his trailer, stripped bare other than the cabin and cabin rear wall. I kept the two fuel tanks, steering, outboard and controls, and the roller trailer with the new tires, lights and winch. That was Saturday, he came back today and asked what type of tanks did it have before? I showed him the two tanks I removed from the boat, he went shopping and came back later on asking if I'd take $250 for the two tanks. It seems they wanted $480 for two tanks at the marina. I said I'd take $300, he forked over the cash. I then told him I had a like new steering set up for the boat for $100, and he bought that too. So the total for the boat is now $1400, and I kept the trailer.

The funny part is this is the same guy that looked at the boat two months ago, when I was asking $1500 for the boat and trailer, not stripped, and only missing it's motor and controls.
If anyone would have offered me so much as $1200 it would have been gone on the trailer.
To top it off, I have a guy interested in the trailer for $900, but I really don't care if it sells or not right now. I can piggy back a few trailers for the move if needed.
After having the boat listed for all these months on CL, I got only two emails and had four people look at the boat, and only two seemed half serious. Yet I listed a beat up fiberglass boat with soft floors and a weak transom for $500 and it's gone in four hours for $300.

What surprised me most is that most of the CL buyers don't seem to try to haggle price, if you list it a bit high, they don't reply at all, if you list it for the least you will take, they want it for free.

After selling four of my boats, I'm down to the fewest boats I've owned in 10 years.
A 1973 Starcraft Capri 17 fiberglass,
Starcraft Voyager 15' fiberglass,
Grumman SS 15' V hull,
Duratech Aluminum Sportboat 17'
Duranautic 12' aluminum V hull
MFG Westfield 16' fiberglass
MFG Niagara 14' fiberglass
Steury 15' 415S fiberglass.

I'm down from 12 to 8 boats, the Steury, maybe the Starcraft Capri, and the Niagara may also go if I find a buyer. My two favorites are the Duratech and the Grumman SS, both aluminum hulls, then the MFG Westfield. All three are in super clean condition. The others all need work. I may also sell the Starcraft Voyager but I won't let it go too cheap as its got a new transom and new deck just last year. My problem with that boat is that the transom is only 15" tall limiting my motor choices somewhat.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

Glad the Starchief didn't go to the scrapper and you got some money for it. I am sorry, but your membership in the Starcraft Tin Can club has been terminated

 

[barato2]

Re: To sell or not to sell?

that is one funny window into human nature right there

EZ, i don't know if you can diss him that easily....he sounds like he's gotten as intimate with his SCs as anyone here, and still owns and recognizes the superiority of tin boats.