I've always had a personal rule that applied to all transactions and dealings. " I'd rather buy an excellant boat at a fair price, than a poor boat at a great price". You can substitute the word boat in this quote for almost anything. ie. cars,stocks, bikes, houses, etc.

HEAR HEAR


Well said.......there are boats in new condition (used) and then there are used boats (really used) and then there are new boats that look like there used......................AND then there are new boats that are new.

2 boats ago, I wanted one that was in Florida....now Floridians look at boats differently that me. They leave them sit outside, uncovered, opened to the world....hatches, motors, electronics and all. NEW boats and when you look at them, they are filled with water (from the rain and what not) dirty and all. They just say...it will dry and wash up.

Me, I'm anal...it if isn't right...I make it right or have someone make it right. a great majority of the time, when I sell something......it's better than when I bought!

I here ya, I'm the same way. When I sold my last boat, I gave the new buyer all the nitty gritty details of the boats history. Nothing bad, but I want to be honest and he really appreciated it.

I look until I find one that looks like new. Won't consider one that needs work more than a good buffing. When we went to look at my last boat, it was kept in a heated garage, on CARPETING and the interior had sheets all over it. While we were looking at it, my wife and the owner were sitting in the cabin, when the owner mentioned that was the 1st time she ever sat in there without sheets. We bought it right then and there! An older couple, anal as can be. That's who I like to buy from.

They're out there, just got find them.

He likes anal!!! J/K couldn't resist

[QUOTE=enticer;2326489]HEAR HEAR



2 boats ago, I wanted one that was in Florida....now Floridians look at boats differently that me. They leave them sit outside, uncovered, opened to the world....hatches, motors, electronics and all. NEW boats and when you look at them, they are filled with water (from the rain and what not) dirty and all. They just say...it will dry and wash up.

wow,gross generalization,my boat sits indoors on a rack that cost more than the boat.

I follow the same rule that works with cars. Figure out a budget and look at as many you can find within that budget. Then buy the best one (mechanical and appearance) within that budget. The one time I did not follow this was the only Porsche I've bought that did not sell for more then I paid (slightly over 20). That includes service/repair bills paid out.

A used boat is just that, used. All that means is chit is gonna happen and its gonna cost money. Period.

I bought a one year old cat, 5 hrs later i bought a drive rebuild. Thats the way it goes. No one KNEW the drive would toss its teeth in 5 hours. It wasn't new so I sure couldn't expect warranty. Thats just the way it goes.

I bought a new cat and in 4 years put 8 drives in it....it's the nature of the beast and how it is driven. (A new drive each time)...rebuilds don't last long on a cat....they don't like being IN water

Lets not forget that some owners just want to get out from under the boat. It does not mean someone is stealing the boat. I might low ball you because of my budget,gas prices and insurance all you have to do is say NO, or counter. Just because a guy asks 50k does not mean he wont take 40. Sometimes just moving on is cheaper then waiting for top dollar. Now if you owe money on the boat then thats pretty much your bottom line. Considering where gas prices are now I would think sellers with guzzlers know to expect low offers now. When I purchase used I just ask that everything works when I take delivery so there are no surprises when I take something broke only to find out this is going to be alot more involved then I thought($$$$).