Under Used Boats

psneeld · Apr 8, 2013

BaltimoreLurker said:
It's the supply & demand thing. I don't care if the boats are used or not. It's the 90% occupancy (as in leased) rate that drives the prices up. Or rather, I assume it does. If folks who never use their boats would not lease the limited slips I assume the rates will start to come down. But then again, I know next to nothing about the finances of running a marina.

Absolutely right....my very good friend who owns 2 marinas in Jersey says the same thing all the time. He is also in the boat salvage and disposal business so he's got a great handle on supply, demand and what can/can't be done with "unused boats".

Proof positive..every time a marina opens up or expands along the Jersey coast you see a freeze or dip in slip rentals for at least one season if not more.

Not that I wish anyone give up their boat if there's a future there...but often there's not.

beachbum29 · Apr 8, 2013

Marin said:
No argument there. That's why we like our marina so much. We get both.

Where we are, they give us washdowns, ice, fuel discount, free drink vouchers, etc..

Marin · Apr 8, 2013

The best thing about where we are is..... well, where we are.

(We get fuel discounts, too).

No drink vouchers, though.

Nsail · Apr 8, 2013

Tom.B said:
Interesting perspectives here.

I also often wonder about the back-stories of neglected boats. To me, I am with others by finding it kind of sad that these boats go unloved when they could add so much joy to someone Else's life.

I suppose that if I had issues with it, it would be that they effectively "pollute" the marina with "ugly" boats and gives the non-boating passer's-by a ringside seat to our not-so-attractive side. The marina we were in until just a couple of months ago was overlooked by a hotel and a public, heavily used walking park. Thousands of people waked the waterfront with these boats right under their nose, and some of them were in shameful condition. Not the best way, in my opinion, to bring more people into this wonderful lifestyle.

I suppose there is another downside... If ALL of these unused boats were used as much as ours is, the waterways, anchorages, and popular destinations would be overwhelmed, therefore, too busy to enjoy.

Tom-

I don't know this to be fact, but I've heard that the Pittsburg, CA. marina requires that your boat be washed periodically, or you're out a there. This would obviously mean no ugly boats, and therefore free up space.

Any other Northern Californians hear of this, or know if it's true or not?

markpierce · Apr 8, 2013

There is no "h" in Pittsburg CA. Still, it is a fine marina.

FlyWright · Apr 8, 2013

The boats in the Pittsburg Marina get a monthly boat wash allowance from PG&E (I believe) due to the soot from the electrical plant upwind. Ask Dswizzler for details.

markpierce · Apr 8, 2013

FlyWright said:
The boats in the Pittsburg Marina get a monthly boat wash allowance from PG&E (I believe) due to the soot from the electrical plant upwind. Ask Dswizzler for details.

The owner of Three Jeans said they don't receive that allowance. But then they are in a covered berth. Three Jeans, Nordic Tug 37:

CPseudonym · Apr 8, 2013

Nsail said:
I don't know this to be fact, but I've heard that the Pittsburgh, CA. marina requires that your boat be washed periodically, or you're out a there. This would obviously mean no ugly boats, and therefore free up space.

Any other Northern Californians hear of this, or know if it's true or not?

Not sure of that marina but my marina has cleared a lot of boats out. My harbor master wants no part of any lien sale. He has three right now and has contacted two of the owners and begged them to just come get their boats and take them away no payment required.

My marina owners prefer empty slips to eyesores and are actively trying to remove them.

FlyWright · Apr 8, 2013

My friend at Pittsburg has an open berth. Maybe that's the difference.

My marina supv told me last year it can take $10,000 to discard a 35-40 ft boat. All metal must be removed, toxic paints and surfaces safely separated, boat cut up and ground down. Lots of labor and lots of CA Enviro-rules involved.

Max Simmons · Apr 8, 2013

Before I bought Seasons Pass, I walked a lot of marinas looking at boats that I was interested in and, if there was an obvious lack of use, would contact the owner. I recall contacting maybe three fellows and none were interested in selling. One guy was rather indignant that I thought his boat looked abandoned.
One guy, an elderly gent, had a nice 40' Ocean Alexander Europa and lived out of state, I believe Arizona. Kept the boat under cover in Anacortes so he could fly up and take his grandkids out overnight maybe once a year. I told him for the right price we could write that into the deal. No dice.

Art · Apr 9, 2013

We're basically 2nd owners of our 1977 Tolly... by that I mean...

- 2005 orig owner was helped off the boat in his early 90's, after living on it for a few years. He’d become simply too old to continue

- Sold it to his marine mechanic of 13 years. A renowned marine technician and mechanic in the area

- Mechanic/technician spent couple years with Tolly berthed at his shop; refurbishing the boat’s interior, shining its exterior and rebuilding both engines as well as one transmission and servicing the genset... for he and wife to use

- Just before beginning to enjoy using their much refinished Tolly the mechanics wife unexpectedly told him to go fly a kite!

- Mechanic got pissed and decided to sell their (now just his) near perfect condition Tollycraft

- I watch it weekly decrease in price by leaps and bounds... he really was done with owning it

- After a sudden severe price cut I realized that if I didn’t jump right then it would be purchased by others... real, real soon

- That day I flashed cash, had my own contract in hand, settled on a price with him and put her under contract for diligence review. That week sea trial, survey, purchase – Just that simple!

I only needed to have 30 gal holding tank installed and Lectra San improved immediately after purchase. Full set of house and starter batteries after 1st year use. Fifth year of use now with only regular maintenances and Lots O’ Fun! :dance:

Good boats in good condition are available - Ya just gotts ta keep your eyes wide open!

Baker · Apr 11, 2013

AKDoug said:
It's a dream. I know about dreams, I shoe horses servicing dreams. No one dreams they will be too busy to use it, that it will cost so much to keep and use, or that their dreams will change over time. Next thing you know you have cut down all the trees for fences and barns and then you decide you like dogs better Hard to put back the trees, you have a lot invested, and you sit and look at your investment unwilling to admit it was a mistake. I bought a 15 year old boat with 46.5 hours on the original engine...

BINGO!!!!!

Simply put...it is when the dream and reality are too far apart!!

Under Used Boats

psneeld

Guru

beachbum29

Guru

Marin

Guru

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Nsail

Senior Member

markpierce

Master and Commander

FlyWright

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markpierce

Master and Commander

CPseudonym

Moderator Emeritus

FlyWright

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Max Simmons

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Art

Guru

Baker

TF Site Team/Forum Founder

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