It looks like the deal on my Seaward is dead. Two significant occurrences took place.

1. The small issue: The current owner informed me that he was keeping the anchor, docking lines, and bumpers because he needs them for his "next boat." It just seemed petty. I drove 8 hours to look at the boat, and felt that that would have been a good time to let me know which things I was inspecting weren't staying. More of a tell-tale, but no real big deal. However, when someone is handing you a check for your asking price of nearly $50K, is it then prudent to let the buyer know that you didn't mean to imply that the necessary hardware stays with the boat?

2. The big issue: the current owner wants me to pay off his loan on the boat and wait 2 weeks for the bank to clear the lien and produce the title. I'm not big on finance but it didn't feel right to be in limbo for 2 weeks. Can I sail the boat? Get it insured? Since I am essentially giving the current owner cash, I feel very vulnerable. I think he is an honest guy but too much can happen in two weeks, and I don't have the time or financial and legal expertise to make it work comfortably for me. I know it can be done, but the physical miles between us and the small details will surely become a burden.

Major bummer. Back to the Google Board! ****!

Scout

Scout, that's a drag. The Seaward was a boat I suggested to you, while
Doug bashed it. I was wondering why you decided Doug's comments had no
bearing on the purchase attempt.
For what it's worth, I work with several surveyors, 2 are sailboat
specialists (pretty much all they do) and all agree the Seaward is one
of the better built small cruising boats. We've had a few come through
here for work and they are damn solid.
Sorry it's not working out, but I think if you talk things over a bit,
you can save the deal. The owner keeping fenders and lines is not the
end of the world. The other aspects of the deal can be worked out
assuming you are certain his paperwork is real and not some sort of
scam. Every now and again someone sells a boat that isn't theirs.


RB
35s5
NY

Rob,
Thanks for your advice.

There are posters here I never see because they are in my ****-can
file. Others I read all the time, like you and Doug. I laugh a lot and
skim much of the trolling, but recognize that both you and Doug offer
much to this group. So - what I concluded was that the Seaward is a
superior boat, as you've stated, and I want one! However, upon close
inspection, I also noted some of the things that Doug was referring to.
For example, I noted that the supports for the shrouds, which are made
of very heavy stainless hardware, pass through the cabin via a hole
that appears to just be hacked through the fiberglass, and then
caulked. As a water tight cabin, that doesn't cut it. And as a result
of what appears to be an after-thought, the boat shows evidence of some
major leaks in the cabin, which travelled around, as water leaks do. I
also noted that the Captain's seat across the stern is an arch-shaped
piece of reinforced fiberglass, and it has been broken in two places.
The current owner is much lighter than I, so in the back of my mind I
was fabricating a new, hinged seat. I can deal with these issues, but
my point is that both you and Doug are making truthful and accurate
statements and I took both sets of advice to the inspection with me. It
was very helpful and I thank you both!

I'm also considering a new boat, although when I contacted Seaward to
ask for warranty information on the 2004, their agent wrote back to me
"don't take offense, but you didn't buy the Seaward from us, and we
don't have gobs of time to bring you up to speed on it. - if you have
questions, the seller will have to answer them." That's some factory
support, huh? That one statement made me feel like I wouldn't rush to
give them new business - it's the kind of off-handed remark that just
may have cost them a
$90K sale. For that kind of cash, Precision will build me a 28 model.

Back to the used boat: even though we're talking a fair sum of cash,
the current owner and I kept it rather informal and on a gentleman's
level. However, I realized as we came closer to making the transaction,
that all protection was in the current owner's favor. His bank (loan)
is taking care of their asses but I have no one but myself to cover me.
Hand me a title and I'll hand over the cash is what I had in mind. I
feel as though I'd need to hire an advisor to make this work now.

The lines and fenders are more of an indicator to me than a real
problem. Hell, I threw in life preservers, spare parts, grills, and
every other nicety I could in order to sweeten the deal when I sold.
This didn't kill the deal by itself, but it gave me a reference point
regarding the owner's mindset.
I know there are plenty of nice boats out there for a guy with cash and
a desire to sail, so I'm walking away unless the current owner calls
and fixes things. If it were me, I'd get a bridge loan, and with title
in hand, I'd make a deal.
Thanks again Rob
Scout

Capt. Rob wrote:
Scout, that's a drag. The Seaward was a boat I suggested to you, while
Doug bashed it. I was wondering why you decided Doug's comments had no
bearing on the purchase attempt.
For what it's worth, I work with several surveyors, 2 are sailboat
specialists (pretty much all they do) and all agree the Seaward is one
of the better built small cruising boats. We've had a few come through
here for work and they are damn solid.
Sorry it's not working out, but I think if you talk things over a bit,
you can save the deal. The owner keeping fenders and lines is not the
end of the world. The other aspects of the deal can be worked out
assuming you are certain his paperwork is real and not some sort of
scam. Every now and again someone sells a boat that isn't theirs.


RB
35s5
NY

Charlie Morgan wrote:
On Tue, 12 Sep 2006 06:32:01 -0400, "Scout"
wrote:

It looks like the deal on my Seaward is dead. Two significant occurrences took place.

1. The small issue: The current owner informed me that he was keeping the anchor, docking lines, and bumpers because he needs them for his "next boat." It just seemed petty. I drove 8 hours to look at the boat, and felt that that would have been a good time to let me know which things I was inspecting weren't staying. More of a tell-tale, but no real big deal. However, when someone is handing you a check for your asking price of nearly $50K, is it then prudent to let the buyer know that you didn't mean to imply that the necessary hardware stays with the boat?

2. The big issue: the current owner wants me to pay off his loan on the boat and wait 2 weeks for the bank to clear the lien and produce the title. I'm not big on finance but it didn't feel right to be in limbo for 2 weeks. Can I sail the boat? Get it insured? Since I am essentially giving the current owner cash, I feel very vulnerable. I think he is an honest guy but too much can happen in two weeks, and I don't have the time or financial and legal expertise to make it work comfortably for me. I know it can be done, but the physical miles between us and the small details will surely become a burden.

Major bummer. Back to the Google Board! ****!

Scout

Sorry to hear that Scout. I think you should go check out the Seaward
message board at Trailersailor.com immediately, as the seller has
taken the case public there, and hasn't exactly represented your side
of the story accurately.

CWM
Thanks Charlie,
Very interesting reading. The responders seem to feel I am somehow
planning something illegal or immoral by handing over cash (certified
check from Wachovia) and expecting a title. I also note that the seller
fails to explain that none of these things (the lien, and the items he
is keeping) were mentioned to me during the inspection, only later,
after I had made the deposit and wanted to arrange a swap date. I
believe the seller is an honest guy, as I am, but we are both
know-nothings with the legal stuff. In spite of his honest intentions,
if he messes up I don't want to pay for the mistake. I'd rather pay a
broker's fee, as I did with my last purchase, so everything is above
board and lega. It's fine to take the sell-it-yourself approach, but
the seller should be prepared to do it correctly, which begins with a
total and honest disclosure to the prospective buyer. I still believe
he means well, but we are both dabbling in an area where professional
help may be called for. Even if I felt safe with the deal, how many
times should I have to make the 8 hour drive to close this deal?
Scout

On Tue, 12 Sep 2006 06:32:01 -0400, "Scout"
wrote:

It looks like the deal on my Seaward is dead. Two significant occurrences took place.

1. The small issue: The current owner informed me that he was keeping the anchor, docking lines, and bumpers because he needs them for his "next boat." It just seemed petty. I drove 8 hours to look at the boat, and felt that that would have been a good time to let me know which things I was inspecting weren't staying. More of a tell-tale, but no real big deal. However, when someone is handing you a check for your asking price of nearly $50K, is it then prudent to let the buyer know that you didn't mean to imply that the necessary hardware stays with the boat?

2. The big issue: the current owner wants me to pay off his loan on the boat and wait 2 weeks for the bank to clear the lien and produce the title. I'm not big on finance but it didn't feel right to be in limbo for 2 weeks. Can I sail the boat? Get it insured? Since I am essentially giving the current owner cash, I feel very vulnerable. I think he is an honest guy but too much can happen in two weeks, and I don't have the time or financial and legal expertise to make it work comfortably for me. I know it can be done, but the physical miles between us and the small details will surely become a burden.

Major bummer. Back to the Google Board! ****!

Scout


Too bad Scout.

The '04 located in the panhandle is still listed on the Seaward
brokerage site. A far piece away from you, but available. Read in
post below where you were not knocked out by their customer service.
Tell you the truth, I emailed them asking for some clarification of
displacement info on the engine options, and they never returned my
email. But I made their database because they now email me every time
a boat comes in brokerage.

At any rate if it is still there in October, I will possibly drop by
and look at it as I'm going to be in the area. As mentioned, don't
think it is right for me, but if you still have interest, will give
you my impression if you haven't moved on.

The listed boat may be the one I saw in St. Joe's Bay last spring.
Looked great under sail.

Frank

Damn! That sucks.
Were those items listed in his advertisement? All the
articles on selling/buying a boat advise to make crystal
clear what goes and what stays.

Mmmm, I bet a broker could tell you about the bank issue.
Too bad there isn't a real one here.

Scotty




"Scout" wrote in message
...
It looks like the deal on my Seaward is dead. Two
significant occurrences took place.

1. The small issue: The current owner informed me that he
was keeping the anchor, docking lines, and bumpers because
he needs them for his "next boat." It just seemed petty. I
drove 8 hours to look at the boat, and felt that that would
have been a good time to let me know which things I was
inspecting weren't staying. More of a tell-tale, but no real
big deal. However, when someone is handing you a check for
your asking price of nearly $50K, is it then prudent to let
the buyer know that you didn't mean to imply that the
necessary hardware stays with the boat?

2. The big issue: the current owner wants me to pay off his
loan on the boat and wait 2 weeks for the bank to clear the
lien and produce the title. I'm not big on finance but it
didn't feel right to be in limbo for 2 weeks. Can I sail the
boat? Get it insured? Since I am essentially giving the
current owner cash, I feel very vulnerable. I think he is an
honest guy but too much can happen in two weeks, and I don't
have the time or financial and legal expertise to make it
work comfortably for me. I know it can be done, but the
physical miles between us and the small details will surely
become a burden.

Major bummer. Back to the Google Board! ****!

Scout

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
oups.com..
..

Scout, that's a drag. The Seaward was a boat I suggested
to you, while
Doug bashed it. I was wondering why you decided Doug's
comments had no
bearing on the purchase attempt.

That's real classy Bob, Scouts' heart is broken and you use
this to take a jab at Doug.

If it's mostly the time issue, you can have Wachovia
transfer the funds electronically.
I use , and like, their electronic transfer service to pay
bills.

SV

That's real classy Bob, Scouts' heart is broken and you use
this to take a jab at Doug.



Scotty, take a pill. I wanted to hear what Scout had found and he
honestly told us. Please don't turn every thread into a troll.

Scout, if you really like the boat, don't give up. I will add this
though: The response you got from Seaward is so awful and dumb, I'd
send it back to them and let them know you'd NEVER buy a new boat from
them. They should offer SOME support for thier boats no matter who the
owner is. When I bought the Beneteau they were very helpful in giving
me specs, part info and some history on my exact hull #.
Good luck...I hope it works out.


RB
35s5
NY

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
oups.com..
..

That's real classy Bob, Scouts' heart is broken and you
use
this to take a jab at Doug.



Scotty, take a pill. I wanted to hear what Scout had found
and he
honestly told us. Please don't turn every thread into a
troll.


too late, you swallowed the hook.

SV