Is there really a buyer's shortage?

[Randyonr3]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

My guess is that for many years and perhaps still, the world of boat brokerage is largely unregulated, at least in the US. Capt Phil

Nope, its very regulated......to obtain a licence to sell boats, you have to have a broker sponcer you and go through lengthly testing. and its not that easy.. could have been due to shabby brokers in the past but its tightened up a good amount..
But if they are a broker for the boat, they are going by what the owner is telling them..
My advice to anyone, is to contact your own broker, and let them work out the details.. it wont cost you any more as the commission is split between the two sales people..
even then, a broker, or sales person is obliged to see the boat through its paces being the haulout and survey, in which the surveyer is of your choice..
My only suggestion about buying a boat is to insure that the owner has all his personal items off the boat befor the sea trial..
We purchased a Catalina 30 some years ago from "O'Neil" yachts in Santa Cruz California where we took the boat out on a sea trial, had it surveyed and agreed to a price only to have the owner come bach after the sale and remove all the brass decor from the inside of the boat.. we didnt have a leg to stand on when it was brought up as the items were not on the list of boat equeptment and were removed between the time we saw the boat and paid for it..
All you have to do to avoide this is write on the agreement papers, "if its on the boat durring a sea trial, IT STAYS ON THE BOAT...

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

I know it will sound ironic but I've always wanted to try my hand in a brokerage myself. I have built, sailed and maintained boats over 35 years (on and off). I know most makes and know a lemon when I see one. I hate to say it but I'm getting old enough know that I no longer want to crawl into tight spaces on a boat doing glass work. I never want to retire and grow fat under a Palm tree. I'd rather grow fat in a chair in a brokerage talking boats...

Personally I think it's a great idea and loved my time in the business. If I hadn't gotten burned out on living in south FL I would still be doing it. Khaki shorts and a polo shirt was just fine, no ties required, and my office looked out over the Intracoastal so when it got slow I could just sit back and watch the boats go by.

Met lots of nice and interesting people from stars to bums. Some customers had sold their house and spent every dime they had on a boat, others were spending small change on a toy.

One deal I sold an Amel owned by a French Rock and Roll star to a Bahamian that came into my office with a paper bag full of hundred dollar bills. He swore it was all legit and the seller was happy to get the money in cash. We did the required paperwork and heard nothing further but I always wondered. Never a dull moment.

[Randyonr3]

just got a dilevery of " Yachts For Sale" here at the shop for our display rack..
Good News for Us..
The price of boats is climbing back up.. a 1988 HC 33 priced at 135K and a 1975-40' Valiant a 120K.. and a 40' Panda from 1982 at 130K....
For our business, I'm liking these numbers..

[Richard Jordan]

Love the brokerage business. If you stay honest, it is rewarding. You meet many friends and learn more about yachts than you could imagine.

[barnakiel]

Sure thing. Why should boat brokers be any better or worse than any other pros?

b.

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by Randyonr3

just got a dilevery of " Yachts For Sale" here at the shop for our display rack..
Good News for Us..
The price of boats is climbing back up.. a 1988 HC 33 priced at 135K and a 1975-40' Valiant a 120K.. and a 40' Panda from 1982 at 130K....
For our business, I'm liking these numbers..

I'm skeptical. With prices all over the place and sales still flat maybe some sellers are setting the price higher knowing buyers expect at least 25% off.

[zeta]

Originally Posted by Randyonr3

just got a dilevery of " Yachts For Sale" here at the shop for our display rack..
Good News for Us..
The price of boats is climbing back up.. a 1988 HC 33 priced at 135K and a 1975-40' Valiant a 120K.. and a 40' Panda from 1982 at 130K....
For our business, I'm liking these numbers..

Let's us know when they sell for those prices......

Economy is in the shitter, really easy to figure out--there are more workers than jobs, wages are stagnant, and most available jobs are in the lower paying service industry. A huge correction is taking place, devaluation of real property, currency, and the time is near where a $10/hr job will be considered a very good wage (in many places it already is). College kids with $100k loans will soon be hit with reality. 30 yrs ago my parents earned over $100k/yr in manufacturing without college, allowing my folks to live a good life, boats for dad, new car for mom....those days are gone.

I am glad your business is doing well, just wish all were--maybe talk to a few Realtors, car salesmen, and new boat salesmen outside your local area. Even heard that Hunter is in trouble......If Hunter can't sell a boat, then the market is far from coming back. Again glad you are thriving

[Capt Phil]

I agree, zeta... boats are a luxury except for those few who choose a lifestyle to move away from land on a permanent basis cashing in most everything they have to cut the ties. I have a very unsettling feeling about the near and long term impact of the US economy on the boating industry. Not many of the established designers and manufacturers are going to be able to survive which will make the existing inventory of used boats retain more of their value, at least theoretically.
Unfortunately, there won't be many around that will have the cash to follow their dream for the resons you mentioned.
Glad I socked enough away to be comfortable and leave a little for my kids and grandkids who will definitely need it. Capt Phil

[ohdrinkboy]

The boat manufacturing business is likely in for a big correction. They build too many yachts. Even Gemini is seeing their prices go way up as they go more upscale. Moving away from what made them successful.

Growth is not always good. Sometimes small and profitable is where it's at.

[waterworldly]

Exceptional boats, old or new, in exceptional condition, get exceptional prices. If this exceptional boat also was equipt with exceptional upgrades of exceptional quality, it will get exceptionally high prices. Crap will be priced accordingly.

[Celestialsailor]

You mean priced like crap?

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Randyonr3

Nope, its very regulated...

In some places, yes. In other places, not so much.

Here in Florida, yes, the brokerage business is pretty tightly regulated. Probably also true throughout most of the U.S. I'm quite sure that is not the case in every country in the world, though.

By the way, good point--and thank you for mentioning it--that there should be a clause in the contract that says that "anything on the boat during the sea trial is part of the sale."

[Randyonr3]

Originally Posted by zeta

Let's us know when they sell for those prices......

Economy is in the shitter, really easy to figure out--there are more workers than jobs, wages are stagnant, and most available jobs are in the lower paying service industry. A huge correction is taking place, devaluation of real property, currency, and the time is near where a $10/hr job will be considered a very good wage (in many places it already is). College kids with $100k loans will soon be hit with reality. 30 yrs ago my parents earned over $100k/yr in manufacturing without college, allowing my folks to live a good life, boats for dad, new car for mom....those days are gone.

I am glad your business is doing well, just wish all were--maybe talk to a few Realtors, car salesmen, and new boat salesmen outside your local area. Even heard that Hunter is in trouble......If Hunter can't sell a boat, then the market is far from coming back. Again glad you are thriving

Its all a reality check.. 8 years ago I sold a house, 1000 square foot in an old neighborhood for 360K.. in reality it should have been 120K..
and my stocks, 10 years ago, were around 600K.. sure they dropped but we knew we were there for the distance and they have not only come back but we're above where we were..
The rise in the market place in the tech sector jumped out of hand about 10 to 12 years ago.. go back befor that and you can compare and you find we're not that bad off..
go back to the point befor the "Dot-Com" boom and you;ll see we are above that point in gain..
And there is nothing wrong with a 10 dollar per hour job, for that matter my wife is making less than that as a manager of the sewing dept of JoAnn Fabrics..
It is a correction, and it should be, we had offered a position here in the shop starting at 10.00 per hour to start and train someone.. had more than a few apply, but people are looking for a HAND OUT..
they want good wages, medical insurance and a guarantee they will make X amount a dollars each week, wether they are here or not..
Life has been, To Easy, To To Many, For To Long, and the new generation needs to learn they need to get off their ass and do some labor work.. and If they are good, and work long hours, and deticate themselves to the job at hand, they can move up in the company..

The days that some kid can walk in off the street and make 100K a year are over, and should be....
And as for schools loans, I took me 20 years of hard work to pay mine off.. why should the new generation be any different......

[travler37]

Nope,
I bought mine..
73 Pearson 35.
Monitor wind vane
Garmen plotter
Radar
Water Ac/heat
Main sail and 150 head sail need work....spiniker and working jib not even used.
electric anchor winch and 150ft of chain.....
List goes on........Survey was clean besides a few hoses on the engine and a nav light out.
Was listed at 38.......paid 24.
So there is no shortage.As long as the price is right
Mark

[savoir]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

In some places, yes. In other places, not so much.

Here in Florida, yes, the brokerage business is pretty tightly regulated. Probably also true throughout most of the U.S. I'm quite sure that is not the case in every country in the world, though.

By the way, good point--and thank you for mentioning it--that there should be a clause in the contract that says that "anything on the boat during the sea trial is part of the sale."

Careful what you wish for or you might wind up like this guy, who also now owns 10 Mount Gay hats.