Best geographic USA area to purchase used trawler?

Hey Trawler fans,

I'm wondering if anyone knows or has an opinion on where in the country might be a good start to look for my first trawler. I currently live in Denver, CO so would like to have an idea of where to start my search.

Does it make sense that places particularly hard-hit financially (Great Lakes area, Gulf Coast areas) would likely have better deals/more motivated sellers than high cost-of-living areas such as southern Florida or most of the west coast (especially Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego)?

I'm a first time used trawler buyer who wants to live aboard it. I just don't want to start my search in the most expensive place in the country. I'd appreciate any geographical guidance. Thanks so much.

Boat prices seem to be fairly high everywhere right now. You will have to look where you find the boat that fits your needs. When I am looking for a boat I look all of the east coast and great lakes. Trying to find just what you want/need in a certain area probably will not work. But good luck in your search.

ALWAYS buy near where you will be doing your boating. However, Midwest boats generally have lighter use due to the short season.

Prices are strong everywhere right now though.

pete

I think Florida, only because its the land of many boats and dreams sometimes end here... Good deals can be found anywhere on the Loop..if you look long and hard enough. Have your cash or financing in order before you get serious. Don't look for a Fl boat if your boating are will be West coast or Alaska ,obviously.

Pete Meisinger said:

ALWAYS buy near where you will be doing your boating. However, Midwest boats generally have lighter use due to the short season.

Prices are strong everywhere right now though.

pete

Click to expand...

This! I might modify that if the cruise between where you bought it and where you will be doing your ongoing boating is on of your cruising objectives.

Well cared for midwest boats are worth a premium due to fresh water use and a relatively short season, especially boats that are put in heated covered storage off season.

Trawlers are not fungible. A boat setup for PNW will have diesel furnace, decent indoor space, maybe even a diesel stove. Boat in Florida will have AC and more or less an equal number of generator hours to engine hours. Gelcoat in Florida takes a beating. Add in that a newbie is unlikely to recognize and snatch a deal, and you're left with a frustrating experience. This doesn't even begin to account for costs to relocate a boat.

Figure out what you want to do and do as Pete M says - buy nearby.

To the OP. Why do you ask? What plan are you noodling? Cheap living space? Cruising? It makes a difference. If you think there is a market for distressed boats, there is, but they are bottom of the barrel orphan boats that need a lot of work and money. Right now, dye to pandemic, it's a sellers market. Lots of people with money didn't take a vacation this year and suddenly a boat or rv sounds like a great plan.

Peter

mvweebles said:

Boat in Florida will have AC and more or less an equal number of generator hours to engine hours. Peter

Click to expand...

I have seen Downeast boats in Key West that were originally from Massachusetts. So I understand your point but the statement is not always true. The owner brought the boat to KW because he ended up down there...

Find the boat(s) that best suit your musts & wants and a quick search will quickly identify prices & locations.
No point to looking for a bargain as the wrong boat at bargain price us still a bad deal.
Most places are sellers market and that won't change for awhile IMO

LovetoBoat said:

I have seen Downeast boats in Key West that were originally from Massachusetts. So I understand your point but the statement is not always true. The owner brought the boat to KW because he ended up down there...

Click to expand...

So what are the chances of a newbie from Denver finding such a deal?

Start with YachtWorld and follow your heart.

Yep, all depends on what you're shopping for. I watch eBay all the time just for kicks, for bigger boats, 40+. We bought our current boat that way. Pre-COVID you'd see, 20, 30 boats in that category at any given time -- now, two or three or four. From everything I can tell the market on boats in general really is red hot all over. Florida -- huge selection, maybe biggest in the country, but the sun and salt water beats the daylights out of boats. Our boat was on Narragansett Bay, salt water but pulled out every winter and very well maintained. I agree Midwestern boats are not as sun-burnt, but then you have shipping if you're on a coast. And then you've got quirks of geography -- for example, it's such a big project to ship a big boat to say -- South Dakota -- that as long as you find a buyer, dragging a big boat here automatically raises the resale value by some fraction just because the market is so limited. Our last two big(ger) boats came from Texas and Rhode Island. I'd say start national and see what works out. Let the shopping begin!

As other have said, its a sellers market, mostly due to C19 fallout.

My wife and I were considering purchasing an RV in 2020, but shelved the idea for a year or two. Very little inventory and top dollar pricing for used junk. The better rigs have over a 1 year wait for new builds. Only mentioning it as it relates to boating in regards to supply and demand.

I would think the Boat and RV market will improve for buyers at some point in Q3 or Q4, but my crystal ball has been malfunctioning lately.

Good luck with your search. This is a good place to ask questions.

Fletcher500 said:

I would think the Boat and RV market will improve for buyers at some point in Q3 or Q4, but my crystal ball has been malfunctioning lately.

Good luck with your search. This is a good place to ask questions.

Click to expand...

Same crystal ball that, back in March, predicted a massive crash in boat/RV/home prices due to people unable to make their slip payments? Lot of that type of chatter back then.....mine too. Boy, was I wrong.

Peter

Regarding Florida boats. It is true that there are a lot of boats for sale in Florida. Could be that a lot of older boaters end up giving up the sport and move aground in Florida. Could be other reasons also.

And, not all boats for sale in Florida are Florida boats. Many come from other places and end up being sold in Florida but remember... Salt waster ages boats a lot faster than fresh water. Even just a few years in Florida water and sunshine will add many years to the boats appearance.

pete

I'd purchase a boat at or near where I planned to boat/harbor.

I swore I wouldn't buy a Florida boat for several reasons. Didn't even look at them in my searches. But one snuck through and next thing I know I'm on a plane to Florida and I'm buying a boat.

Buy where you want to boat sounds great but I looked in the Great Lakes for 3 years and traveled several times without finding the right boat at the right price. Saw one real piece of garbage that the guy thought was worth gold because it was fresh water. Limit yourself to whichever side of the Rockies you're going to keep it on, and find the right one for you - wherever it is.

BD

LovetoBoat said:

I have seen Downeast boats in Key West that were originally from Massachusetts. So I understand your point but the statement is not always true. The owner brought the boat to KW because he ended up down there...

Click to expand...

And then maybe the original owner found out that his boat was not really suitable for FL.

Where to buy ???

This stage of looking for a boat may be more about you, how you want to use a boat, where you want to cruise, and what things are must / must not haves.
How much time can you give to boating? Time is often harder to find than money.
How often? Weekends or liveaboard?
How many people?
Can you do light maintenence? Moderate repairs? Paint, fiberglass, electrical, mechanical, etc?
Is headroom an issue? Wide / no side decks?
Walk around queen bed or are vee berths ok?
Look at lots of boats, online and in person as you define your needs. Once you know of a range of boats which could suit you, start looking for a fair deal. Unless you know why an owner is selling for a "right now" price, cheap could be very costly.
Find a good surveyor in the areas you might buy in, and an engine surveyor as well.
Make sure you can get slippage / mooring and insurance for the boat you want at a reasonable price.
Then, when you find the boat you want, and it surveys well, grab it.
Good luck with your search.
JohnS

Where to buy

Wow, thanks so much all of you for the wonderful insights. I, too, have been under the mistaken assumption that luxury items such as boats/rvs would really take a back seat to daily necessities when the world's financial markets take such a hit. Apparently, the exact opposite is true and people are buying boats in record numbers.

Since it sounds like we are currently in a red hot sellers market for boats, I'm guessing it's just a matter of time before some of these boat buyers realize they bit off more than they can chew and decide to put the boat on the market. Sounds like that's possibly a couple of years away and I can wait.

As for location, I grew up in San Francisco and am familiar with the West Coast. I have never been to FL or the Great Lakes or the Gulf. Many people mentioned how tough the sun and salt water are on boats in FL. Well, wouldn't it be just as tough on a boat in Southern California?

Since salt water is so tough on a boat, I am mulling over the idea of a Great Lakes boat to be lived aboard year round, but spending the warm months there and the cold months moving the boat somewhere warm but without hurricanes preferably. I just don't currently have a preference to WHERE I buy the boat and wanted to know if particular parts of the country were usually better places to buy than others.

Thanks again for all the great insights. Have a super day.

Since boats are moveable, they're not like real estate in that one part of the country is cheaper than another generally. It's mostly about condition. Some areas can tend to have boats in better condition because of fresh water and shorter season, but condition is driving the price because it's a national (and international) market. Figure out what you're willing to spend, and find the best, right boat for those dollars. Depending on the size you're looking at, the only limitation may be which coast, because if it can't be trucked it's a long cruise through the Panama Canal.
BD

RoostersReward said:

Wow, thanks so much all of you for the wonderful insights. I, too, have been under the mistaken assumption that luxury items such as boats/rvs would really take a back seat to daily necessities when the world's financial markets take such a hit. Apparently, the exact opposite is true and people are buying boats in record numbers.

Since it sounds like we are currently in a red hot sellers market for boats, I'm guessing it's just a matter of time before some of these boat buyers realize they bit off more than they can chew and decide to put the boat on the market. Sounds like that's possibly a couple of years away and I can wait.

As for location, I grew up in San Francisco and am familiar with the West Coast. I have never been to FL or the Great Lakes or the Gulf. Many people mentioned how tough the sun and salt water are on boats in FL. Well, wouldn't it be just as tough on a boat in Southern California?

Since salt water is so tough on a boat, I am mulling over the idea of a Great Lakes boat to be lived aboard year round, but spending the warm months there and the cold months moving the boat somewhere warm but without hurricanes preferably. I just don't currently have a preference to WHERE I buy the boat and wanted to know if particular parts of the country were usually better places to buy than others.

Thanks again for all the great insights. Have a super day.

Click to expand...

There were a ton of long threads predicting total collapse of the boat market, all citing 2008 as the template. Heck, a noted trawler broker Jeff Merrill even put out a video back on the April time frame saying sales so far had been okay, but he was bracing for the bottom to fall out. Never happened. Go figure.

I too am from San Francisco. Now live in St Pete FL. The sun and Temps in Florida are much more intense than even SoCal. Add in the humidity factor and you have a climate that's hard on boats in Florida. A 15 year old fiberglass boat in Florida will start looking hazy and chalky finish unless it's been professionally waxed regularly (annually). On the other end, a boat-house kept boat in PNW will still have shine after 30 years.

Nicer boats in the great lakes region are often stored in headed sheds during the winter months. These are often pristine examples when you can find them. Definitely worth a premium, especially if they have not had a lot of owner modifications over the years.

Buying a boat outside your immediate are is expensive, especially if it's not near the area you intend to keep it. Trips to view boats, then moving them will really add up. I know of a recent 36 footer purchased in Newport Beach CA and then trucked to PNW. Trucking was around $9k. Id guess yard fees were at least $1k on each end. The owner had been looking for this specific model for some time and thus the addl cost made sense to him.

In closing I'd say it's not about the boat, it's about whatever you decide to do with it. I've owned my boat for 22 years and I can honestly say I don't remember exactly what I paid for her. The purchase price, while important, is the least expensive part of ownership for most people - it costs the same to service a Ford Lehman 120 on a $50k PoS boat as it does a pristine $250k boat

Good luck, and welcome to TF.

Peter

IMO low price buyers usually don't get a good deal. Inthe end they pay a high price for a poor boat.
What you really want is a very well maintained boat.

Decent deals can be had on project boats but you really gotta know what you're doing and buy them right. A couple W36s have sold on the last year at very attractive prices. One had light hurricane damage, the other came out of an estate. You have to be a cash buyer and ready to make a very quick decision.

Otherwise, better spending a few extra bucks on a very nice example. Even in typical buyers markets, we'll maintained and upgraded boats sell more quickly than competitors, and always at a slight premium. Often, the premium is actually a very good deal - recently replaced tanks, replaced teak decks, replacement windows, etc.

To the OP: sounds like you're at the start of your journey. Good luck and listen to most of the advice you get here on boat purchase. Every mistake imaginable has been made before you and is freely shared. Battle scars and all.

Peter

mvweebles said:

...Buying a boat outside your immediate are is expensive, especially if it's not near the area you intend to keep it...

Click to expand...

In my opinion the only way it makes sense to buy a boat far away is if you get such a good deal (either price or condition or both) that the trouble and expense is worth it. Worked for us but we got very lucky both times.

Much appreciated all. Peter, I like your candor.

The gulf coast is hard on boats.

1)The hurricanes have thinned your choices some.
2) water is saltier in the gulf.
3) There is more to see and do, so boats tend to travel more.
4) boats being bought by first timers are seldom trawlers, usually cruisers.
5) figure out what you want, then need, then can afford
6) Due to weather, boats in the south are used year round.

RoostersReward said:

Hey Trawler fans,

I'm wondering if anyone knows or has an opinion on where in the country might be a good start to look for my first trawler. I currently live in Denver, CO so would like to have an idea of where to start my search.

Does it make sense that places particularly hard-hit financially (Great Lakes area, Gulf Coast areas) would likely have better deals/more motivated sellers than high cost-of-living areas such as southern Florida or most of the west coast (especially Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego)?

I'm a first time used trawler buyer who wants to live aboard it. I just don't want to start my search in the most expensive place in the country. I'd appreciate any geographical guidance. Thanks so much.

Click to expand...

l know I’m late to the party but a consideration is the cost or a slip and availability for livaboards. West coast slips can run from $300 in SF to 2,000 in So Cal. I pay 800 in Long Beach for my 37 footer. Non live aboard.

The Florida Mariner is online and has many for sale by owner boats .

These are usually lower cost vessels that need some cosmetics at least , that brokers refuse to list.

Compare prices with the far more expensive broker sites like Yachtworld and perhaps a trip to FL will be worth the effort.

The sun is hard on canvas and teak overlay decking , but many boats are sound and can be used/cruised with little effort , if you don't mind a rotten sun cover.

Caviat Emptar,

RoostersReward said:

Wow, thanks so much all of you for the wonderful insights. I, too, have been under the mistaken assumption that luxury items such as boats/rvs would really take a back seat to daily necessities when the world's financial markets take such a hit. Apparently, the exact opposite is true and people are buying boats in record numbers.

Since it sounds like we are currently in a red hot sellers market for boats, I'm guessing it's just a matter of time before some of these boat buyers realize they bit off more than they can chew and decide to put the boat on the market. Sounds like that's possibly a couple of years away and I can wait.

As for location, I grew up in San Francisco and am familiar with the West Coast. I have never been to FL or the Great Lakes or the Gulf. Many people mentioned how tough the sun and salt water are on boats in FL. Well, wouldn't it be just as tough on a boat in Southern California?

Since salt water is so tough on a boat, I am mulling over the idea of a Great Lakes boat to be lived aboard year round, but spending the warm months there and the cold months moving the boat somewhere warm but without hurricanes preferably. I just don't currently have a preference to WHERE I buy the boat and wanted to know if particular parts of the country were usually better places to buy than others.

Thanks again for all the great insights. Have a super day.

Click to expand...

I have noticed PRE COVID that boats in Florida tended to be a bit cheaper. Don’t know why because I never looked deeper than the for sale listings. That said, you’ve gotten some great advice here. The “cheap” boat can be MUCH more expensive in the long run because repairs and deferred maintenance costs a lot. In my case, I paid a little more but got a boat that had been maintained extremely well and had all systems brought up to the latest standards due to a desire by the owner to charter the boat which ended up never happening.

One final thing I’d like to mention is that as desirable as a fresh water boat is, well constructed boats suffer much less from salt water use and they’re out there.

Ken

Good points, but I am going to be a contrarian on one thing...

I'd spread a wide net, not just look in your own home waters. If it's a cruising boat, then cruise it home! Even if that's not possible, the money you spend on a delivery captain may be well worth getting the right boat at the right price. Admittedly I may be prejudiced on that, but the deliveries I've been involved with worked out very well for the owner.

I haven't been shopping in this current seller's market, but it seems to me that makes it even more important not to limit the scope of your search.