Jim wrote:
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 ,,


My advice is;
Keep track of how much money you can come up with, if the right deal
comes along. Be ready, but not in a hurry.

Walk around the marinas, look in Yachtworld, talk to people. When a
likely candidate comes along, have it surveyed, be there, learn what
the surveyor looks for. Don't buy that boat.

Keep looking. When the right boat comes along you will know it.

Don't be in a hurry. Looking for a boat is a lot of fun. And a great
reason to take a trip.

There is no "right time."

When I bought my trawler, there were three boats in the running, all
three were good value for the dollar. They all turned up at the same
time. But not when I started looking.

You could save yourself a lot of mileage by asking for photos (digital of
course) of various aspects of the boat. If the seller won't oblige, stay
clear!