what is my boat worth?

[1979checkmate]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to make the tough decision whether or not to put my boat up for sale. The boat is jointly owned between my brother and myself and i am moving in the spring, and he has no tow vehicle. It seams most logical to send it on its way and split the sale price between the two of us. Unfortunately, i have owned the boat for 5 years and have put alot of work in both money and time into it, so i am afraid i may not be able to give it an honest appraisal. I have attached a link to a photobucket album of pictures of the boat. It is a 1979 Checkmate Trimate II with a 1979 mercury 115 horsepower inline 6. The motor runs great, has a new stator and trigger, fresh paint and is mounted to a CMC PT-130 power tilt and trim. The boat has been painted black with red accents. The deck paint and paint above the waterline is in good shape, but there are a few locations under the waterline where the paint is bubbling and peeling due to being left in the water in a slip over a week on vacation (not anti-fouling). The boat had a new floor and stringers put in 4 years ago and the transom was checked in multiple locations (back drilled) and determined to be solid. New carpet was also installed at this time and the seats were replaced. Trailer also had a new axle installed with new wheels and tires. This boat will not win any shows, but it's a nice classic looking boat that is a joy to operate. Anyway take a look at the pictures and let me know what you would expect a good value to be. Be honest, you will not be hurting my feelings.

Boat Photos by alex97pgt | Photobucket

I appreciate it,
Alex

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: what is my boat worth?

Alot of it depends on the market in your area, if you aren't in a hurry for a sale I would start at $3,000 and work down from there.

 

[1979checkmate]

Re: what is my boat worth?

Alot of it depends on the market in your area, if you aren't in a hurry for a sale I would start at $3,000 and work down from there.

Thanks alot - this is actually where i had originally planned on listing it. I am currently in northern Missouri, i will likely post just after the boat show in a few weeks when there is a crowd with boat fever, and thin if i don't have any luck - i will try again in the spring.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: what is my boat worth?

The best time to post is when people get their income tax refund checks.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: what is my boat worth?

Ask your brother to buy you out. You will regret selling it.

 

[1979checkmate]

Re: what is my boat worth?

Ask your brother to buy you out. You will regret selling it.

If anything, i would buy my brother out - and that is the other option i am considering. My brother does not have a tow vehicle and has a young family, so he would rather have the extra cash than the boat. I am moving to southern Oklahoma, so i am considering selling and purchasing a larger, newer craft (maybe even a sailboat?!?) to be more comfortable on large lakes like Texoma. At the same time - it's not like it is worth a huge amount of cash so if i have a place to store it reasonably when i move, hanging onto it would not be a problem either.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: what is my boat worth?

I agree that $3k is a good starting point, and if it get's warm enough to boat, you might just get it. The boat looks like it's been cared for, so it shows well IMO. If you know the boat, it may make sense to just keep her, going through a used boat is always a gamble to some degree. Good luck on your move and the boat stuff,.

 

[southkogs]

Re: what is my boat worth?

Ask your brother to buy you out. You will regret selling it.

^^^^ I'm with Bob. You did a nice job on that boat, and it looks like a nice lake cruiser. I'd say if either of you can pull it off, buy the other out and keep it in the fam. If you can take it with you, that'd be my first suggestion.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: what is my boat worth?

check,,, $3K is a good start... unless you just cant let it go.......... let it go!!!..... enjoy the hunt on your next boat.

you mentioned maybe a larger boat for larger body of water...been there, done that.. I concur with your thoughts on that,, a larger boat= comfort..... have fun looking! (if you go that route)

 

[jkust]

Re: what is my boat worth?

Tough to say...here, old boats are a dime a dozen and that one is in the 70's not a year newer in the 80's. It looks like it has some amateurish looking refinishing such as the upholstery (a huge pet peeve of mine) and your mention of the paint issues...but nice for it's age overall inasmuch as I can see. I bet it is really fast...maybe that can be a good selling point as well. Does it top 55 on GPS? I would put at most a 2k tag on it in the peak of the boat sales season and that to me is on the high end. For 5k you can get something a lot newer so to me pricing at 3k just makes me think what can I get for a bit more.

 

[1979checkmate]

Re: what is my boat worth?

Tough to say...here, old boats are a dime a dozen and that one is in the 70's not a year newer in the 80's. It looks like it has some amateurish looking refinishing such as the upholstery (a huge pet peeve of mine) and your mention of the paint issues...but nice for it's age overall inasmuch as I can see. I bet it is really fast...maybe that can be a good selling point as well. Does it top 55 on GPS? I would put at most a 2k tag on it in the peak of the boat sales season and that to me is on the high end. For 5k you can get something a lot newer so to me pricing at 3k just makes me think what can I get for a bit more.

Yep, im pickin up what you're putting down. A far as the amateur interior, you are correct. I think i did pretty good for my first time though! In seriousness, yes i did the interior myself for the exact reason you are getting at - getting it done professionally would add little to nothing in value for this old of a craft. Thanks for the input! I bought this boat as a junior in high school in poor shape and have put countless hours in it. I am well aware that it is not worth even close to the amount i have in it. I look at it as a learning experience though, it sure was cheaper than the 4 years of engineering school i am finishing up!

EDIT: I have only had gps with me once in the lake, i was alone but had full fuel and got 52 mph

 

[jkust]

Re: what is my boat worth?

Yep, im pickin up what you're putting down. A far as the amateur interior, you are correct. I think i did pretty good for my first time though! In seriousness, yes i did the interior myself for the exact reason you are getting at - getting it done professionally would add little to nothing in value for this old of a craft. Thanks for the input! I bought this boat as a junior in high school in poor shape and have put countless hours in it. I am well aware that it is not worth even close to the amount i have in it. I look at it as a learning experience though, it sure was cheaper than the 4 years of engineering school i am finishing up!

EDIT: I have only had gps with me once in the lake, i was alone but had full fuel and got 52 mph

Yeah, upholstery is an art and not cheap to have done. Not digging on it...I realize how hard it is to make anything upholstered with corners look really good. I get the love of making something your own...I built my first boat in middle school from scratch which was a hydroplane. So for me and probably the slightly younger version of me, seeing 52mph would be attractive and I bet it's a solid 55mph dialed in with a lighter load. I say use what you got...A flater bottom boat that was originally meant for a bit of speed with no rot, redone to an attractive look. As for your engineering school, there is a shortage of engineers because it takes actual intelligence to become one and you can't just breeze through. Good choice I say. My school was a hundred thousand dollars back in the 1990's so can empathize.

 

[V153]

Re: what is my boat worth?

The problem with boats in general is your blood sweat and tears, sentiments and memories. Ain't worth doodly squat to the potential buyer. He'll supply his own.

I hope someday mebbe there'll be a viable market for boats like yours & mine but I ain't holdin my breath. On the brighter side a buddy in Oklahoma just sold a cherry Glastron/Carlson Scimitar to a dude in New Zealand. He's been somewhat tight lipped about revealing the selling price. Frankly I can't get him to stop laughing ... So there is hope?

Imo you might could get a couple grand mebbe $2500 for it as it sits. No offense! And then ya gotta split that with yer bro.

I get the feeling yer gonna miss it big time. I'd try to hang onto it if I could.

 

[mr 88]

Re: what is my boat worth?

The reason your bottom is bubbling and peeling is the prep work before you painted it,not because you left it in the water for a weekend. Paint does not adhere to gel-coat and unless it was prepped correctly[sanding all the gel-coat off] that is what you will get. I would not be surprised to see more of the paint lift as time goes on.3G is a decent starting point and the offers will start out at 1500,the motor and J-plate are worth 1200 all day long,more if it was a short shaft.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: what is my boat worth?

No idea what it will bring in MO. Location is key. Might get it on the ICW in the off season but not much use for a boat like that in my location. If priced right people will drive for a look and sea trial. She does look good for her age and the condition is very good as stated. She should be named 'Cougar'.

 

[64osby]

Re: what is my boat worth?

I would buy your brother out. Take the boat with you.

Settle in and start looking at the local market. Look for your new (er) boat and get a feel for the where your boat fits the local market.

I would hate to be without a boat during the soft water season.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: what is my boat worth?

2000 around here for a 35 year old boat is about it.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: what is my boat worth?

motor w/o ptt $500 max ( I bought a running 75 merc 115 for $75)
cmc ptt unit $275 (that's what I sold one for on ebay)
Single axle trailer no fenders $250- $350 (I got $275 for one like it WITH fenders and brand new lights n jack
Hull with peeling paint and home brew seats... $250-$400 (if you can find a buyer)
Whole package ready for the water $1200-$1500 ... MAYBE $1800

To get $3000 - $3500 it needs stripped, sanded, n repainted... better seats, fenders on the trailer n whatever else is amiss and the 70's outboard will still make it hard to sell.

Offer your brother $750 (or more if you want) for his share and keep it

Moral of the story, it's worth more to you than it is to someone else....

 

[limitout]

Re: what is my boat worth?

If anything, i would buy my brother out - and that is the other option i am considering. My brother does not have a tow vehicle and has a young family, so he would rather have the extra cash than the boat. I am moving to southern Oklahoma, so i am considering selling and purchasing a larger, newer craft (maybe even a sailboat?!?) to be more comfortable on large lakes like Texoma. At the same time - it's not like it is worth a huge amount of cash so if i have a place to store it reasonably when i move, hanging onto it would not be a problem either.

that is your answer then, buy him out.

to sell it you will have to let it go for as lot less then YOU value the boat at and unless YOU need to sell it then keeping it is the best solution.

find the value of it by comparing other boats similar to yours and average the prices out and that "should" give you a good idea of fair value. you don't want to give him half of your idea of what the value is but rather half of the market value if you sold it so you don't overpay him for his half.

as others mentioned you will be sorry you sold it unless you have to leave it out in the weather to rot so consider if you have sheltered storage for it as well.

 

[1979checkmate]

Re: what is my boat worth?

Thanks so much for all the input. My plan now is to at least wait until i have a place to live where i am moving, and assess the storage situation there. If i have to pay additional rent for a storage space for the boat, then i will have to decide if it is worth paying a monthly fee for a 35 yr old boat.