Would you sell a boat to a friend?

[ryanr623]

Have had some problems with the boat, but should be all fixed now. HOWEVER, the boat is a 1982, there is no guarantee (even though the engine was rebuilt 2 years ago) that it won't blow up or trash the drive within the first 5 minutes on the water. Yes those are extreme, but you get the picture. Would you?

 

[iSteelHead]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

What makes you think the Engine will go tits up, You say it is fixed, so is it and what exactly was "Fixed" ? Questions I would definitely be asking my friend if he were telling me that. I just sold my old 12' boat to my Father in law, it is a 1964 aluminum Kalamath. I know it floats, but what says it won't leak, after he has it and uses it? I took the boat to the lake just to make sure it was in correct working condition. I wouldn't want to hear him say i screwed him later down the road and same goes with a friend.

 

[stackz]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

NO!

I never do business with family OR friends. They WILL come back to you when something goes wrong and expect you to help out with it regardless of whether they did it or not.

creates too much bad blood. Easy way out is to simply not do the business with them and sell to a stranger.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

never say never. depends on how sophisticated the friend is. Does he understand old boats and that they are always a problem?

The right deal, the right buyer, why not?

I would not, however, get into dickering over the price. Give him your best price, take it or leave it. But consider a discount for the fact that he is ready to go and you don't have to mess with advertising, showing, dealing with stranger's money, etc.

 

[iSteelHead]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

I guess it all comes down to, how it is let go. What the condition you sold it to them is/was, so I say again. Make sure they are well aware of the problems, what has been fixed, what needs to be fixed if anything. Make sure if you sell to a family, friend, and even a stranger. You let them know these things. People that try and screw other people out of money, sell items that are cobbled together and make it 10 feet and die. IMHO will fall victim to Karma. I am a believer that if you live positive and do positive things to others. Positive things will happen for you. You get what I am saying.

 

[ryanr623]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

What makes you think the Engine will go tits up, You say it is fixed, so is it and what exactly was "Fixed" ? Questions I would definitely be asking my friend if he were telling me that. I just sold my old 12' boat to my Father in law, it is a 1964 aluminum Kalamath. I know it floats, but what says it won't leak, after he has it and uses it? I took the boat to the lake just to make sure it was in correct working condition. I wouldn't want to hear him say i screwed him later down the road and same goes with a friend.

I dont exactly think it will go tits up, should last for a while.... but what if. See below.

NO!

I never do business with family OR friends. They WILL come back to you when something goes wrong and expect you to help out with it regardless of whether they did it or not.

creates too much bad blood. Easy way out is to simply not do the business with them and sell to a stranger.

This is what im afraid of. HOWEVER. The guy is a lawyer who owns his own firm. He has money. He wants a cheaper boat to fish on and go to the island on.

never say never. depends on how sophisticated the friend is. Does he understand old boats and that they are always a problem?

The right deal, the right buyer, why not?

I would not, however, get into dickering over the price. Give him your best price, take it or leave it. But consider a discount for the fact that he is ready to go and you don't have to mess with advertising, showing, dealing with stranger's money, etc.

Old boats are definitely not always a problem. Mine ran flawless all summer until the last time out, where a fuel delivery problem developed. Fuel was getting to the carb, but something in the carb wouldnt let it get to the engine. Had a shop rebuild the carb.... pumped fuel when stroking the pump.....should be good now, although i havent put it back on yet.

 

[stackz]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

This is what im afraid of. HOWEVER. The guy is a lawyer who owns his own firm. He has money. He wants a cheaper boat to fish on and go to the island on.

lol. however, he's a lawyer who knows how to use the system to get every dime out of you he can once something goes weird.

but again, I just dont deal with sales to friends/family so I dont get put in those types of situations.

people will swear up and down they wont do anything...but once the poo flies, all bets are off.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

I would .Put on the bill of sale AS IS & NO WARRANTY in big letters.

 

[eclark53520]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

I bought my boat from a good high school friend.

I understand that this boat comes with no warranty and know what i got myself into buying a '79 boat with a '77 engine.

So long as i knew the person i was selling it to won't come back around and try to screw me, i would sell them the boat.

 

[reel clownz]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

i sold my 89 islander 221 hardtop toa friend of mine. He wanted it since the day i got it. But anyways i had it for a few years. Then i upgraded told him i was ready to sell. Before he bought it i told him everything that i knew was wrong..nothing major other than broken windshield thanks to a truck carrying some stones down the highway...wow was i mad when that happenend. lol But anyways i put 2k into the boat and trailer..new wheels axles brakes, new seats in boat. new filters..new plugs..anyways he knew everything that was wrong or needed attention. He knew before he bought it from me what he was getting no surprises. I would rather see the boat get put to use and see some tlc than let it rot and be good to noone!!

 

[sasto]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

I've sold two boats to two different friends. A friend is a friend, and if he want's (or needs) something from me, he has it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

I would but I would probably discount it enough that if something did break, he could fix it easily with the difference.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

I have a 1988 v-hull with an OMC Outdrive sitting in the back of my garage that hasn't been run in eleven years. I would gladly sell it to my first wife's lawyer

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

There's no fine line between a friend and an acuaintance. If this person is a friend, and everything is understood between the two of you, regarding the sale, then there should be no problem. If he asks for help with a problem in the future, if he's your friend, then I'm sure you'll want to help him out in any way you can... Otherwise, what kind of friend are you? True friendships don't end... over anything. Problems can always be worked out between friends. If your looking to sell the boat, and a friend wants it, you've got the perfect buyer.

 

[sasto]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

There's no fine line between a friend and an acuaintance. If this person is a friend, and everything is understood between the two of you, regarding the sale, then there should be no problem. If he asks for help with a problem in the future, if he's your friend, then I'm sure you'll want to help him out in any way you can... Otherwise, what kind of friend are you? True friendships don't end... over anything. Problems can always be worked out between friends. If your looking to sell the boat, and a friend wants it, you've got the perfect buyer.

Well said!

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

it depends on the friend...but I would rather sell to a stranger...since you asked I think you smell trouble already...I have learned to not ignore small signals..i try to pick up on everyone in my life and know where they are coming from and going to. But I usually will not sell a car or boat to a friend..but I have a couple of friends that I would.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

Well said!

I was thinking the same thing about your post. I meant to comment on your understanding of friendship. I got called away and had to cut it short and finish up. Just got back and only have a couple minutes. Thank you for your comment, sasto. I've been a lot of places, and done a lot of things. I have acuaintances all over the world. Some are close acuaintances, some maybe even border on friendship, but I can count my friends on one hand and have a couple fingers left over. A friend is one for whom there is nothing you woudn't do... There are a few here on iboats who've had me thinking a lot about that recently. I sincerely hope I'll be rethinking that whole hand/finger thing. I'm pretty sure I will be. Thank you, sasto.

Didn't mean to jack the thread... Sorry...

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

I have a 1988 v-hull with an OMC Outdrive sitting in the back of my garage that hasn't been run in eleven years. I would gladly sell it to my first wife's lawyer

This is extremely funny!!!! and no I would absolutely not sell to a friend I liked

 

[ryanr623]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

This is extremely funny!!!! and no I would absolutely not sell to a friend I liked

Yeah, thats what i'm thinking. Even though boats that are maintained are very reliable, there's always that chance. Then they will think I sold them a pile of crap. Ahhhh well, craigslist it is.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Would you sell a boat to a friend?

I would not TRY to sell a boat [ or whatever ] to a friend But if a friend was PUSHING ME to sell it to them, it would be different then me, PUSHING THEM to buy it. I would make it clear to the friend that I dont like the idea, cuz I wouldnt want any hard feelings if problems arose, and if that was understood, I would sell it to them and point out anything that was wrong with it before hand. Then if something went wrong, you can say I TOLD you I didnt want to sell it to you, and this is why, but you insisted.....