Just sold a boat for quite a bit after several painful months and
bought a new used one at a good price. Here's the scoop, boats
devalue by average around 5% per year. Think about it, why on earth
would you pay more for a used boat than a new one? No one would, and
no one does.

First, narrow down exactly what you want and why. That will help
immeasurably. People don't mind showing off their boats, but they
don't like "potential buyers" showing up who can't decide between a
racing catamaran and a trawler (not making that one up unfortunately).

Then go to a place like www.yachtworld.com and look at the prices, that
will give you a good idea of the market and get a broker to give you
prices from a place like sold.com and find out what people are actually
spending for their boats.

Sellers assume someone will buy their boat at around 80 percent of the
asking price, regardless really of the asking price. They start with
their ideal world price, realize that people aren't buying and that
boat payments are starting to add up, and get more and more desperate.


Boat sellers want to give themselves room to negotiate down, and you
want to give yourself room to negotiate up.

Last, the boat market tends to follow the real estate market. The
real estate bubble is allowing people to take out ridiculously large
home equity loans on appreciated houses and spend lots for new boats.
When that bubble bursts, prices will fall accordingly in the used
market, and some new boat manufacturers will probably be found sunk.

So there you go, research your boat by seeing the selling price and the
asking price, god forbid you try to get it without a boat surveyor, you
absolutely need one. Call several brokers and let them know you are
looking for a particular model and they may help you find someone with
a good deal, but as a condition for having them keep an eye out for
you, ask for the price lists from their sources for sold boats so you
can have a realistic eye for value and price.

Last, be up front, make sure you have your finances lined up and ready
to go and keep your appointments to see boats. Nothing ****es people
off more then "buyers" taking up their time when they have no ability
to actually buy the boat and finally end up leaving you standing on a
boat launch waiting for them to show up.

Good luck, you are swimming with sharks,

Doug