Upgrade before selling or discount sale price?

[TacomaSailor]

We are thinking about selling our Caliber 40 in order to purchase a much larger boat. I have a question about what prospective purchasers of USED cruising boats look for when considering interiors, nav stations, electronics, and electrics. I would like to hear from all you looking to purchase a well equipped cruising boat or have done so in the last few years.

We purchased our boat new in early 1995 and installed every comfort and safety item then available. The boat has carried us over 12,000 NM from 55N to 18S during the last 17-years. I would be 100% confident sailing from our slip today and heading off to Hawaii or the South Pacific. Everything on the boat is 100% functional – but all old and obsolete.

Most of the electronics and electrics are over 20-years old, not shiny and new, and definitely not in color. I suspect new boat owners would be turned off by the “ancient” technology that has served us so well. So, what to do?

Would the prospective purchaser prefer to do all the upgrades while I discount the selling price?

Will more prospective purchasers look at the boat if I have already done the upgrades?

What are your thoughts about LOOKING at the boat and BUYING the boat with or without the upgrades?

Here are some details. The following equipment is at least 17-years old and all is obsolete, while still working perfectly:

- Freedom 20 battery charger/inverter
- Link 2000R controller for Freedom 20
- Trace C-40 controller for our 500-watts of solar panels
- Freedom Incharge voltage regulator
- Raymarine R20XX 4Kw monochrome radar with CRT display
- All electronics, instruments, radar, autopilot linked via SeaTalk
- ICOM VHF
- Two standalone GPS devices connected to autopilot and PC
- Raymarine ST60 wind instrument
- Raymarine ST50 depth sounder
- Raymarine ST50 knot meter and log
- ICOM 710RT Ham radio & AT140 antenna tuner
- Pactor III modem
- SONY 10 CD remote control player
- Jenson 25-watt stereo
- ADR stereo speakers

AND – there is no integrated chartplotter and no color displays

I can replace all the electronic and electrical equipment with new very good stuff without spending a fortune because I get professional discounts and I do all my own work. But, will the new owner want a different instrument system?

All 20 interior lights are old incandescent or Thinline Flourescent. The light fixtures all work but all look old and well used. All the upholstery is clean and neat but shows 15-years of live aboard usage. Lights and upholstery are a very personal choice so should I leave that choice to the new owner?

The navigation station is dated and looks messy with all the stuff I’ve added over the years. A friend is a wonderful marine woodworker and could create a new, and perfect instrument and electronic panel. But, would it be better to let the new owner create the panel of their desires?

We can afford to upgrade everything before listing it but is that the best tactic? Should I discount the price and let the new owners do what they want?

We've always spent the money and time to keep the boat in perfect operating condition. During the last three years we have replaced or updated the following:

- new mainsail (Quantum Hydranet 4-full length battens with battslides)
- rebuilt genoa (top of the line Spectra TX North that is still in great shape)
- replaced all running rigging
- inspected standing rigging and replaced items that showed wear
- New Raymarine SPX 30 autopilot and associated gear
- Rebuilt and upgraded Raymarine Linear drive to type 2
- Factory rebuild of Spectra 380c watermaker (16 GPH dual feedpump)
- All new raw and fresh water cooling system on Yanmar diesel
- New OEM starter, solenoid, and switch for Yanmar diesel
- New Yanmar heat exchanger and mixing elbow
- Recondition Maxprop
- New prop shaft and cutlass bearing
- New Isotherm waterheater
- New Shurflo pressure water pump
- New pump and plumbing for LaVac toilet

Should I continue the upgrade process or let the new owner pay for the upgrades with the discount I will offer on the sale price?

- Electronics?
- Electrics?
- Interior Lights?
- Nav station panel?
- Entertainment system?
- Cushions and Upholstery?