Launch Fee, Buyer or Seller?

[VBsail]

I am looking a boat that is for sale on the hard. Its been there more than 6 months and the launch credit has expired per yard policy. Launch is $500 ($15 per ft). Is there a standard practice if the seller should provide the boat clear of yard fees, or if the launch fee becomes the new owners responsibility?

[Mike OReilly]

In general, it is the buyer's responsibility. Anything is negotiable, but if you're the buyer looking for a sea trial, then typically the costs of getting the boat in the water are yours. Of course, once you own the boat, all costs are your responsibility.

But it would certainly be possible to attempt to negotiate a different arragement.

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by VBsail

Launch is $500 ($15 per ft). Is there a standard practice if the seller should provide the boat clear of yard fees, …

The fee to launch isn’t a yard fee in that you are free to truck her off the yard should you choose after purchase. Launching is a service they offer.

[Kettlewell]

Typically, the buyer would pay the fee if there is to be an in-water survey. Once the sale is made the buyer might have to assume responsibility for any unpaid fees, so watch out to make sure there aren't unpaid storage fees and such. Make sure the contract states that the boat is free and clear of all fees. Once you own her you will have to pay to launch her, and some yard contracts even specify that a new owner has to pay for the launch even if the old owner previously paid for that. Happened to me once.

[SailingHarmonie]

In the life of any boat that size $500 is chump change. If that kills the deal, then it likely should not happen.

[two-rocks]

The boat is usually sold “as is where is”.
You want a survey (yes!) you pay for the launch (and haul back out if needed).
Everything is negotiable.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by two-rocks

You want a survey (yes!) you pay for the launch (and haul back out if needed).

It is not my experience that the buyer pays to haul the boat out if the deal tanks.


Usually the way it works, the buyer wants to inspect the boat on the hard and have a sea trial with it in the water. One way or another this means that there's the cost of either hauling the boat or launching it, and ordinarily this is on the buyer.


If the deal goes through, the buyer gets the boat wherever it ended up -- if it was in the water at the start of negotiations then the boat will end up on the hard at purchase because it was hauled for survey and if it was on the hard at negotiations it will be in the water because it was launched for sea trial. If that isn't seasonally appropriate or what the buyer wants then it's up to the buyer to pay the fees after the deal closes.


But if the deal falls apart, the seller retains possession of the boat wherever it has ended up, and if the seller doesn't like the spot it's in, the seller will have to pay to haul it or launch it, as the case may be.

[grantmc]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

The fee to launch isn’t a yard fee in that you are free to truck her off the yard should you choose after purchase. Launching is a service they offer.

It's only a 33 ft (10 mtr) boat. Hardly a super yacht and I'd be reluctant too, to shell out $500 for a boat I might not end up buying. So I feel that comment is a tad harsh Illusion.

And I assume that's a two way lift, ie. in to the water and back out once the trial has been performed. So if you do go ahead with a purchase then there'll be another splash charge.

In my own limited experience I've always paid for this on boats I've been (seriously) interested in buying, plus a surveying cost. Although I've only bought boats in the water and needed to lift to see the undersides.

Any outstanding yard fees become the responsibility of the new owner. Yards typically won't let boats leave without charges being cleared.

So I'd first also talk to the Yard Manager and
1. try to negotiate a lower splash charge
2. determine if there are other hard stand charges that will need to be cleared.
It's in the yard's interest to see the boat sold, especially if there are overdues.

[5BTM]

I think the buyer would like to have the boat in the water more than the seller.