Would you buy a boat this time of year?
 

I know the general feeling for the average boater north of FL is they don't want to buy and have it sit for months before it can be used. But what about the folks here on OSO? Do you think this way? I had a buyer for my boat a couple months ago but before I could close the deal it ended up being a week before Labor Day. So the guy decided to wait til spring. I'm wanting to move up so I'm looking too and would rather buy now so I can have time to put my personnel touches, so to speek, on it over the winter. Is this so strange?

If you know what you want, you find it and your life is stable (job, kids, significant other, blah, blah, blah....), I don't see why not. However, I wouldn't settle for anything other than what really turns your crank.

Depends on the person and boat. For me I just bought my boat as a winter project so its ready for spring time next year. The winter gives me time to have my boat down while not loosing any of the season.

If it's what you want, price is right and you have the ability, Buy it.

I always buy in the winter , better deals plus u can get it straight before spring .

sure would! if only I could settle on what I want!:drink:

In my area we were always told that Fall is the best time to buy. If someone knows that they are going to sell, then they would rather not have to deal with the BS of winterizing everything. It's easier to just let someone else deal with it.

Ditto! The last few boats that I have bought have been past Labor Day.

Me too.

My first boat i bought in Feb 1990,The second boat,The Hustler, Lake Cumberland (Randy)and the guy tradeing it in DICKED around, I bought it april 13th 2002.


I would say your buyer is A

Vindicator, I am currently in the market for a boat and I'm hoping to come across something before winter hits here. I'd rather have it now and that way I can go into next year's boating season ready to roll and not be screwing around still trying to buy a boat. Like others have said, people are wanting to dump them now before the cold hits and not having to deal with winterizing and everything else. From what I've gathered, NOW is the time to buy/sell a boat.

yes I bought my 1st boat 1990 in nov saved 10 grand, second boat I bought in oct 09 but my motor wasn't ready for it until june 2010. so go for it:coolcowboy:

Not strange at all. There are some good deals to be had in the Fall. People will sometimes sell cheaper so they don't have to make 6 months of payments over the winter, not to mention the boat becomes a year older. I have bought a boat in November and it went staright into storage. I also sold a boat in February.

Funny, I just bought an '02 Cigarette Mystique on Monday. Could of waited 'til spring but decided to go for it now!:drink:

I think it's the best time to buy a boat. You have plenty of time to do your homework and get things done right. There is always a bigger supply of boats for sale. Then you will have time to go through everything after the purchase and make sure it's ready to be trouble free next season.

I'm a big fan of fall/winter boat buying. You can often knock 10-40% off the summer cost if you know what too look for. Bargin shopping! :drink:

If the deal is right on what you want you should go for it whatever the day month or year.

In 2007 I agreed to buy my Donzi at the end of September, signed the deal in October, picked it up the first week of November, ran the Sarasota Poker Run, winterized it, and trailered it home!

It was a long winter of waiting to use it!:drink:

If it's a hard to find boat you might not have a choice.

I've owned 3 boats, bought 2 in Nov, and 1 in Feb.

Just bought a 27' cruiser for my fiance yesterday, she might get surprised if someone doesn't mind buying in the winter though! everything is for sale!

I think you'll find a lot of the serious boaters would rather buy a boat in the fall because they can 1) buy it at a lower price and 2) make upgrades over the winter.

I bought my apache in November. Have a guy wanting to buy it now so he can work on it all winter. Of course if your looking for a brand new boat it makes no sense to buy now.

I know what I want but I'm not able to make a move till I get rid of mine. Having two boats just isn't an option right now.

Sounds like from all the responses I'm not that far out of the box in my thinking. That's always nice to know. Hopefully the boat I like is still there after I get rid of mine.

Bought my current boat between Christmas and New Years in Florida and towed it back to Michigan into storage for another 3 months.

ed

If the deals right, buy anytime, the last Lambo I got I drove home in the snow. LOL.

Now would be ideal time for me and even better if it was on the east coast, use it for key west poker run and leave it in miami until april, then bring it back to west coast for Desert Storm poker run in Havasu

H*ll yeah.

I would if I was in the market and my finances were right. I wouldn't buy a boat just to buy one. Better deals can be had this time of year but not always. A lot of people want to get rid of them because they do not want pay to store it or the hassle. Spring I find is a good time as well because people are buying new boats. Fall isn't the best time some guys arent going to give it away just so they dont have to store it.

every boat i purchased has been in January... for no particular reason but time of year would never sway me from purchasing the right boat at the right price.

Your boat was certainly the right boat at the right price. Great buy. I tried to buy it, but the owner wouldn't come down.........until just after I bought my apache.

Has anyone from the north had good luck selling in Florida during the winter? Still tossing around the idea of dragging the Powerplay down to FL for worlds then leaving it with a broker for the winter....

Would give you all winter to do any repairs/maintenance. Have her cleaned up and ready for an early spring

Best time to buy your boat! I have bought boats in Dead winter and at the end of the summer gives me time to do what I want to do. But I do live in Fl so I still can use it all winter long.

I bought the Ocean Express last October and since that has not work out I am looking at another boat now.