Potentially not the right area for
posting, but it is
Catamaran related after all......
I often read about alternative approaches to the
sale of boats, however I thought I followed the most logical and "normal"
route with this guy. Where did I go wrong? Do I really have an abrasive tone or is the comment at the end about the
dinghy more abrasive?
(Names used to protect the guilty)
Unfortunately I don't have the first
email, but most of it is in the reply below.
> Brad,
>
> Thank you for you interest in the 1996
Tobago "Twin" I have advertised on Cruiser's Forum.
>
> At the
price of the
Tobago in
Martinique, it sounds like a great deal; it's been on Yachtworld for quite awhile. Unfortunately, mine will not be selling that low.
>
> To answer your questions:
>
> Does yours have any
Osmosis, how much has it been in the
water since new or has it been on hard stand?
>
> No
osmosis that I've seen and none noted at the time of
survey one year ago. The
boat has spent most of it's life in the
water as far as I know; I am the second owner. It was taken out of the water in June of 12010 for
hurricane season.
>
> What else would I need to know about your vessel? Does it have a soft top
bimini with sides, fridge or
freezer?
>
> The top
bimini canvas and forward Eisenglas windshield
panels need replacing. The side and rear
panels are all in very good condition. The
canvas mainsail cover is also in need of replacement. It has an Adler Barber "Super Cold Machine" refrigerator/freezer with the water
cooling option for tropical climates.
>
> Do you have more photos, is there an
equipment list and is the
price negotible for a quick
sale? Will a
broker be handling the sale?
>
> I've attached several more photos and an
equipment list. No
broker; I don't believe there's an honest one on the planet. Though the price is not as low as the Tobago you are negotiating on, it is low for the US and especially so for a two
cabin two
head version.
>
> Gary
(note that the equipment list was very bare with very little detail - included at the end of this post)
From: "Brad"
To: "Gary"
Subject: Tobago
Very interesting thanks Gary, that
boat is a carbon copy of what I am looking at (elsewhere, but mine is a private seller not unlike yourself in situation.) It has green sail covers, Plasma TV, no bimini and a few small differences, but yet the engines have also been upgraded and are interestingly the same hours. I'll now make sure to do some additional
research to make sure I'm not being deceived (with a dodgey photo) as one would think this was the same boat as the descriptions are almost identical.
Either way, moreso than that one in
Martinique I'd probably prefer the
Antigua; whilst it's a couple of years older it's only slightly higher in price, but close enough to a couple of feet longer. I'm not certain on the differences between the models so I'm reviewing that at the moment.
If I can see some more photos to assist in determining the condition of your vessel that would assist with my thinking on this. The
Antigua is due back in 3 weeks so if yours is still around I'd be interested in possibly checking out both of them together.
If you are keen to sell and are able to suggest your lowest price I will be in a position to come and view it.
Did you have a
survey done when you bought the vessel?
Thanks,
Brad.
From: "Gary"
To: "Brad"
Subject: Tobago
Well Brad,
There may be quite a few "other" Tobagos on the market in the
Caribbean, but this certainly sounds like the boat you described...
Gary
From: "Brad"
To: "Gary"
Subject: Tobago
> Hi, this is a private vessel in Martinique so you won't have heard of
> it and I note there are quite a few Tobagos on the market there.
Brad
From: "Gary"
To: "Brad"
Subject: Tobago
> Brad,
>
> Were I in your position (info picked up about me on a forum), I would go after an Antigua. They are faster boats (narrower hulls and larger sailplan than the Tobago), and yes, the extra length would be appreciated. Another one to look for, and a bit better, is the
Fountaine Pajot Fidji; built the same time as the Antigua.
No boat that is in the age group and this price range that you find on the
used boat market is going to be ready, out of the gate, for a trans-Canal, trans-Pacific voyage. If you wanted to take your time, a Tobago could probably do it, but it would have to be set up for it and if using a
delivery crew (as you've mentioned on several posts), the boat will have been beaten up by the time it finally reaches Oz. Instead, you might want to consider sending a boat back as
deck cargo, just as Seawinds are sent to the
USA. Or a
commercial yacht carrier, Seven Star, will have much better rates than Dockwise.
>
> I'm going to take my Tobago out of your consideration.
>
> Gary
>
From: "Brad"
To: "Gary"
Subject: Tobago
You are a strange character to deal with Gary. Sounds like you don't really want to sell your boat at all.
The decision to buy should be mine and not yours.
The Tobago is more than capable of a trip to
Australia and they do it all the time. My
current plans would see me spending considerable time aboard the boat before bringing it home, slowly, so there are no issues there.
Good luck, you may struggle to sell it with your attitude.
From: "Gary"
To: "Brad"
Subject: Tobago
Y'know, prior to my last
email to you, I debated for a number of hours as to how to be nice, say no thanks to continuing
communications with you regarding the boat, and not say what I was really thinking. I'll still hold back...
But let's start with answering your most recent email:
I certainly would like to sell the boat, but I'm not desperate; I'd like it to go to a good home. Since the ads on various sites started yesterday, less than 24 hours ago, I've had nine responses (other than yours) asking for more info and photos, with two of those following up by actually picking up the telephone to talk. Not one of those has had the abrasive, pushy attitude that you've shown; just my opinion. But it's also my opinion that I can sell the boat to who I want, and not sell to who I don't. No my friend, I'm the one who decides who will buy this boat, not you.
Regarding the capability of a Tobago sailing to
Australia, I never said they couldn't. I said "probably" with the caveat that the boat be set up for it.
Going back to your previous emails:
"I would need know if your vessel was capable of a trip to Australia so sail condition would be appreciated."
That sail information was given in the details/equipment list; Did you even look at it?
"If you can advise what your lowest price may be right now I will potentially make firm commitments to look at it."
My lowest price right now? So that you can come in lower later? Sorry, but if that's how you wanted to play, the starting price to you would have gone up by $20,000.
"Also, does it have a dingy and
outboard?"
If it had a dink and
outboard it obviously would have been noted in the equipment list.
"Can you provide more photos, or
electronics, controls, living area,
deck areas, window clarity, aircon,
generator etc?"
I live in
California, the boat's in
Florida, so it wouldn't have been easy to get more photos just for you.
"I would appreciate an
electronics spec list like one would see on catamarans.com."
I gave you brand and model numbers of all the electronics onboard, and I have no idea what an electronics spec list like one would see from the
Catamaran Company even looks like. But if that's what you require, you really should be going through a broker.
(Specs attached from the first email received show the extent of the information provided)
1996
Fountaine Pajot Tobago 35 “Twin”
Very rare 1996 Tobago 35 two
cabin two
head owner’s version. Equipment highlights include radar/chart plotter,
air conditioning,
diesel generator,
watermaker,
autopilot,
solar panels, and
windlass. Extensive
refit in 2007/2008 included new standing and running
rigging, all new electronics, and two new saildrives. The forward crossbeam & seagull striker assembly was recently replaced, and the
bottom paint job done in December 2010. The
Yanmar 18 HP 2GM20FC diesels have under 1900 hours. At $120,000, this is the lowest priced Tobago in the
USA.