Jasper Windvane wrote:
Just a wondering ;;; is spring a bad time to be searching for a sailboat?
It seems as if the sellers will say anything to get a potential buyer to
drive to the boat. Buyer: "what is the condition of the boat" ?
Seller: "it is very clean, well maintained, ready to go"

The BOAT: 25 years of bottom paint, the topsides look like crap, the deck
is in need of a paint job, hardware has never been rebed, rigging is
original, standing rigging is original, sails are so old they are yellow,
the cushions are so old they have lost all their cush, the boat is dirty,
the bright work is awful, the galley is dirty and smelly, the engine is
beyond description as it looks like it may go at any time, the wiring is
original, the plumbing is original and smelly, the electronics consist of
loran ,,, and the boat is in need of everything. The PRICE IS ABOUT WHAT IT
WOULD BE IF THE BOAT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION.

Took a look at a couple of boat in the last two weeks.... long drive for the
above.

Is there a spring frenzy which drives the sellers to lie?

When does the ,, as in what date ,,, does the seller start to realize that
the old junk boat is just that .. JUNK.

Then, when is a good time to start looking for a boat? Wait till after
summer starts and then call the sellers?

Or put off the whole search and wait till the end of summer and fall.

There sure are a bunch of junk boats on the market.

Jasper ,,


You might pay a bit more in the spring...but you get an additional
summers use. I'd insist that the seller send me a number of photographs
of the boat before driving any distance. After all, hotels & gas aren't
cheap anymore. I'd also try to line up a couple more boats for sale in
the same general direction in the hope one was worthwhile.
I did this two years ago when I drove 4500 km round trip to buy my sailboat.