pilothouse king
Guru
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2013
- Messages
- 525
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Make
- 15' Hobie Power Skiff w/90hp Yamaha-owned 28 years. Also a 2001 Bayliner 3788 that I took in trade
This subject has been bandied about on several different threads, so thought I would make a new one from my point of view. I'm a broker. When you individuals buy and sell a boat, it's usually just that one time for that one boat, but the way I think about it is "this person is going to want me to eventually sell that boat for them"- so I'm thinking further down the road. It's not unusual for me to sell the same boat 3 times. My record is 5 times on a 1978 48' Soverel before it finally sailed across the horizon, and has yet to return. So knowing this I want to make damn sure my client is buying a good boat, one that I can easily resell, so I'm looking way past closing the first deal. I want a GOOD survey too. Of course I only offer boats I've pre-surveyed myself so this saves a lot of surprises down the road.
Now, if a buyer comes to me and he (as they sometimes smugly do) say's "I've got my surveyor"-that's all and good, and I don't say a word, but many a time their surveyor sucked, and missed the most obvious things. MANY a time though, their surveyors were EXCELLENT, and I add those guys to my list of surveyors I recommend and would use myself. Those guys I will recommend when I'm asked. If a surveyor has done one type of boat many of times, they can save much time by going directly to the potential trouble area's. Those surveyors make sure my client is buying a good boat. (after 29 years of experience there's marques I just don't mess with and will refer buyers to brokers who do. Interestingly enough those operations are usually fictitious corporations and nobody will remember the brokers name if they sell you a turd. Heck, most people couldn't even tell you who the actual owners of the Corporations are IF they have a complaint). When they get "spanked" hard when caught selling garbage, they just start a new company with another fictitious name and it's business as usual.
So I DO recommend Surveyors if asked, and I like it when I am, because then I know I can happily sell that boat over and over as the years pass, which leads to repeat business and REFERRALS from happy clients.
With the collapse of the American economy starting in 06, the lion's share of boats have been going oversea's and most of the buyers don't even come here to see the boats at all. They trust their broker and the surveyor to find them the right boats, which they first see when the ship finally arrives. I haven't yet had one unhappy client.
Which leads to another thing American buyers should know- while your "thinking about it" and NIT PICKING (making outrageous demands to a seller) perfectly good boats, other buyers will buy these boats right out from under you, then they are loaded onto ships and will never be seen again on this side of the planet. So pickings are getting slimmer and slimmer. What's out there is what's out there, and time and accidents take their toll.
They aren't making anymore used boats, so what's out there is what's out there, and the latent defects of all these boats are already well known by educated brokers and surveyors. Most would be happy to tell you upfront what they are if you call either and inquire. If you don't see "new, new, new, and replaced, replaced, replaced" in listings- then YOU will be the person having to do it. Brokers don't forget to list the good stuff, and have LOT'S of photos to prove it.
I was at the Krupp Classic Car Auction this weekend in Ft. Lauderdale, and there was lots of nice cars, and lot's of bad one's polished up to look good, (you don't get to drive them) but what really caught my attention- was this young girl walking around holding a puppy (which is a odd place for either!) as if to say "why would you want a old dog, when a new one you can train yourself is available?" I was wondering if her dad was a new car dealer or something, but that was the subliminal message I received. The reason I specialize in the boats I do? Because they always pass surveys with flying colors!
Now, if a buyer comes to me and he (as they sometimes smugly do) say's "I've got my surveyor"-that's all and good, and I don't say a word, but many a time their surveyor sucked, and missed the most obvious things. MANY a time though, their surveyors were EXCELLENT, and I add those guys to my list of surveyors I recommend and would use myself. Those guys I will recommend when I'm asked. If a surveyor has done one type of boat many of times, they can save much time by going directly to the potential trouble area's. Those surveyors make sure my client is buying a good boat. (after 29 years of experience there's marques I just don't mess with and will refer buyers to brokers who do. Interestingly enough those operations are usually fictitious corporations and nobody will remember the brokers name if they sell you a turd. Heck, most people couldn't even tell you who the actual owners of the Corporations are IF they have a complaint). When they get "spanked" hard when caught selling garbage, they just start a new company with another fictitious name and it's business as usual.
So I DO recommend Surveyors if asked, and I like it when I am, because then I know I can happily sell that boat over and over as the years pass, which leads to repeat business and REFERRALS from happy clients.
With the collapse of the American economy starting in 06, the lion's share of boats have been going oversea's and most of the buyers don't even come here to see the boats at all. They trust their broker and the surveyor to find them the right boats, which they first see when the ship finally arrives. I haven't yet had one unhappy client.
Which leads to another thing American buyers should know- while your "thinking about it" and NIT PICKING (making outrageous demands to a seller) perfectly good boats, other buyers will buy these boats right out from under you, then they are loaded onto ships and will never be seen again on this side of the planet. So pickings are getting slimmer and slimmer. What's out there is what's out there, and time and accidents take their toll.
They aren't making anymore used boats, so what's out there is what's out there, and the latent defects of all these boats are already well known by educated brokers and surveyors. Most would be happy to tell you upfront what they are if you call either and inquire. If you don't see "new, new, new, and replaced, replaced, replaced" in listings- then YOU will be the person having to do it. Brokers don't forget to list the good stuff, and have LOT'S of photos to prove it.
I was at the Krupp Classic Car Auction this weekend in Ft. Lauderdale, and there was lots of nice cars, and lot's of bad one's polished up to look good, (you don't get to drive them) but what really caught my attention- was this young girl walking around holding a puppy (which is a odd place for either!) as if to say "why would you want a old dog, when a new one you can train yourself is available?" I was wondering if her dad was a new car dealer or something, but that was the subliminal message I received. The reason I specialize in the boats I do? Because they always pass surveys with flying colors!
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