Boat Sales and Brokers

[ishmael]

Yes, I planning on selling 'Plato'

Don't get over excited, I am planning on buying another boat.

What I need is some advice. Last time I sold a boat you more or less had to go to a broker for advertising etc. Now we have the Internet ... so that gives you some idea as to how long I have owned 'Plato'. Well I rang a number of brokers and was somewhat staggered at the rate that was being asked, 8% plus Vat.

On the Internet there are various 'Free' advertising sites, 'Apollo Duck' and 'Boats and Outboards' appear to be the best. Do these sites produce results, or is it better to employ the services of a broker and accept that you've got to hand over best part of 10% . Are brokers worth their money?

I'm in no hurry to sell. So what's your experience? Private adverts on the Internet or brokers? How did you buy and sell your boat? What works and what doesn't.

Regards

Ishmael

[Deleted]

Could try boatshed we bought one of ours through them with no probs .At least they are no sale no fee. So it would cost nothing . If you end up selling via one of the others

[Habso]

As I would like to buy a sailing boat at some point in the future, I have started looking into what size, type, make etc may be most suitable for my needs and have then been doing internet searches to see if there is anything within my anticipated price range... Many of the results are on 'Boats and Outboards' and when I am ready to buy I will be just as happy to buy via that as any broker.

I would suggest that you work carefully on your description - do some searches as if you are trying to buy a boat to get the gist of the best layout and wording - take loads of photos and then select the maximum number you are permitted to upload, then pop your advert onto one or both of those you mentioned.

All the brokers advertise their boats for sale on the internet - there is a reason for this.

Why pay someone that amount of money for something you can easily do yourself?

Good luck

[ishtar]

I advertised my engine on Boats and Outboards last Monday. I sold it (deposit paid) on Thursday. The advert was small, but it does allow links, so I put some video and pictures on another web page and linked that to the ad.

6 replies. 2 agreed to buy the engine, first to pay deposit (PayPal) got it.

So, yes, I'm happy.

[allan]

I advertised my previous boat on both Boats & Outboard and Apollo Duck. Both produced responses, Apollo Duck seems to be popular in Ireland, although both give world-wide coverage. The response that resulted in a sale came though Boats and Outboards, although it was from fellow CYC members! I bought my present boat after reading an advert on the Westerly owners club website. I would recommend adding Owners club sites to your list of free/cheap ways to sell.
If you have lots of money and no time, use a broker!
Allan
PS, Don't forget the For Sale part of this forum.

[Deleted]

Sold my last boat through a free ad (Apollo Duck, I think).

Beware the scam replies though; along the lines of " I like your boat but I'm too busy to view it. Just send your details so I can arrange immediate transfer of funds" or this one, sent twice with slightly different wording at 03:00hrs, " I want to buy your boat. Please reply immediately"

No one serious buys a boat without asking lots of questions/viewing/sailing/surveying.

[allan]

I think it is funny that the two posts above are about the same boat!
Allan

[Cardiff Yacht Club]

I should point out thet both the For Sale and Wanted sections of this forum are limited to CYC members. Non members can not view them. In the light of this thread, I will review that with the powers that be.

Admin

[duncanhall]

I purchased my current boat using the net. Eventually I found the owners association site the best. I also find
uk.yachtworld.com useful.

Am looking again this time for a Westerly but find that in that case the owners association is best.

The only problem I find with boatsandoutboards ia that the ads are usualy out of date and referr to boats already sold!

[Camelot]

I sold my last boat by advertising for free on boatshop24.com and boats and outboards for free and adding a web link to a website I produced myself - I needn't have bothered with the website though as the boat sold through another free ad on Apollo Duck (which doesn't allow website links).

I'd agree with the comment above about the nuissance emails - suggest you set up a new email address just for the sale, to prevent these jokers latching onto your main email.

[Xanadu]

I sold my Vago via Apollo Duck recently.

Have to agree with the scam/spam potential in putting your main email address on the ad though. Go with Camelot and set up a temporary one, and look out for too good to be true replies.

[Cardiff Yacht Club]

A lot of email scams are avoided if you put an image of your email rather than a text version. Various 'bots' can read websites, extracting text emails for scamming. If you use an image file, with your email embedded in it, they can't read it.

[allan]

Another good resource when buying is www.yachtsnet.co.uk. They archive the details of yachts they have sold.
Allan

[Fred]

Sept 27, 2010 17:48:46 GMT Cardiff Yacht Club said:

I should point out thet both the For Sale and Wanted sections of this forum are limited to CYC members. Non members can not view them. In the light of this thread, I will review that with the powers that be.

Admin

I sold my last boat on CBYC Notice board open to all
Fred

[allan]

Sept 27, 2010 17:48:46 GMT Cardiff Yacht Club said:

I should point out thet both the For Sale and Wanted sections of this forum are limited to CYC members. Non members can not view them. In the light of this thread, I will review that with the powers that be. Admin

I have always wondered why these sections were not available to non-members. It would, in my opinion, be better for member to be able to sell to anyone who looks at the forum.
Allan