Greetings / Hans Christian / Asking Price V Actual Price

[Kenomac]

Thanks Phil

Ken

[akprb]

Boatman gave you answer number one. Here is a follow up idea for you. Full disclosure I am a former broker, 30 years recovered :-)

If your budget is limited that is a reality. When you find the 33 that you want get to know the owner. At some point lay your cards on the table. “This is what I have, your boat is worth more but this really is all I have with x amount sat aside for initial odds and ends.”

Then shut up.

If he says, “ok, if we close quickly without a bunch of nitpicking I’ll taje it” you e done well.

If he says “can’t do it” thank him kindly, wish him the best and leave. Check back in every 6 weeks or so until you get the answer in the previous paragraph:-)

If the boat is a hot commodity and priced to sell well it will sell. Know the market.

Side note, I ran a 43’ HC back in the 80’s. That cured my admiration of teak.

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Apr 5, 2017 · Currently there are four Hans Christian 33s offered for sale in the U.S. at asking prices ranging from $95,000 to $120,000, and nine boats have been reported sold within the last year at an average selling price of $89,100.

To the OP, this is about as good as you’re going to get as far as detailed pricing information goes.

Hans Christians were essentially semi-custom, so there could be a wide disparity in the fitout of the boat’s that have sold. Those that sold at the higher end of the range have likely been repowered as well, given that it’s a +$15k project. Other updates or added equipment can significantly impact value as well.

There is no commonly accepted threshold below which an offer is considered insulting. It’s a matter of the owner’s pricing strategy and expectations. Some owners put a boat on the market while still actively using it and may not feel any pressure to sell or price the boat to sell. Others may have reasons to sell the boat quickly and the asking might be soft.

It’s not at all like selling or buying a car. Looking at it that way is unproductive.

Your best strategy is to follow the market for awhile and personally inspect as many candidate boats as possible. You’ll build your own context for what constitutes value and a fair offer.

Be careful. Pictures always make a boat look better than it is and descriptions are usually optimistic.

[hamburking]

Older boats, from the 60's and 70's are almost impossible to assign a "value". They are worth what someone is willing to pay, on the day it is sold. They are the boats you can consider offering half the asking price.

Many old boats, you really are paying for the engine, and it comes wrapped in a sailboat.

Having said that, there are a lot of older boats for sale. And there are lots asking very little money. I don't think there are many people who are interested in buying an older boat, it takes a certain kind of person.

If you are looking for a deep discount, the brokers will not help you. It is in their best interest for prices to be high. A new listing at a high price will help sell their existing listings. The price can always be lowered later once the seller has been sufficiently disappointed and frustrated. Many brokers I've met know little about boats, and lots about psychology. Same as real estate agents.

FWIW, I've bought and sold 8 sailboats. Some I paid full asking price. I paid $100 for one of them. Another cost more than my house. I never used a broker or a lawyer. My personal rule of thumb is 50% of the asking price, always offered with respect and honesty. Its okay to offer low...its not okay to be a dink about it. If I offer on a boat, its THEIR choice to accept or not...I cannot make that decision for them, but I won't deny them the choice. I don't lead them on, and I don't waste their time either. Sometimes selling a boat is not about the money. On the other hand, "estates" usually greatly overestimate the value of a boat, and underestimate the cost and effort of the delay in selling a boat.

Buying a sailboat is a difficult job. Its not like buying a house or a car. Best of luck to you.

[YachtBroker]

Here is a list of all Hans sold since Jan 2018. I use all sizes because some brokers over state the LOA on the 33 to 38'.
This may not cut and paste very well, but the first price/date is the asking.
The second is the selling. I will tell you based on past experience, any Hans 33 at any age can be worth 50K or 100K depending upon the condition. Mast step base was steel in a lot of these and rots out over time (it's under that pretty wood or brass compression post. Tanks also can be suspect especially black iron fuel tanks.

TOTAL NUMBER OF SOLD BOATS: 738,336


Selected Search Criteria:
Mfgr/Model : hans christian (686)
Sold: Since Jan 01, 2018 (40210)
Length: Longer than 33 ft (338869)
Total records found: 22
Click on one boat to view the full listing, or view full listings for all the boats on this page.

Revise Search


Items: 1 - 22 of 22 Page 1

Length Boats Year Listed US$ Sold US$ Location YachtWorld Member
* 48' Hans Christian 48T 1987 217,500 (10/17) 211,500 (01/18) MD, USA Annapolis Yacht Sales
* 43' Hans Christian 43 1984 119,333 (09/11) 107,968 (11/18) Portugal Siroco Nautica SA
* 43' Hans Christian 43 1981 129,000 (01/17) 100,000 (01/19) Malaysia Yacht Brokerage and Charters
* 43' Hans Christian 43 1978 74,900 (04/16) 50,000 (02/19) MD, USA The Annapolis Sailyard
* 43' Hans Christian 43 Telstar 1987 124,000 (09/16) 100,000 (05/18) CA, USA Rubicon Yachts
* 41' Hans Christian 33T 1986 94,089 (02/18) 74,459 (09/18) New Zealand Gulf Group Marine Brokers Limited
* 41' Hans Christian 41 Moliki 1987 159,900 (09/18) 150,000 (01/19) CA, USA Seacoast Yachts
* 41' Hans Christian 41 molokai 1987 89,000 (01/18) 81,000 (12/18) WA, USA Seacraft Yacht Sales, Inc
* 39' Hans Christian 39 PH 1983 149,900 (04/18) 149,900 (04/18) CA, USA Kensington Yacht & Ship Brokers
* 39' Hans Christian Pilot House 1983 149,900 (04/17) 149,000 (05/18) WA, USA NW Yachtnet
* 38' Hans Christian 38 1980 52,000 (10/18) 45,000 (12/18) OR, USA W S Yacht Brokers
* 38' Hans Christian 38 MKII 1981 49,500 (06/18) 40,000 (11/18) TX, USA Sea Lake Yachts LLC
* 38' Hans Christian 38T 1978 127,882 (04/18) 124,099 (10/18) BC, Can Calibre Yacht Sales
* 38' Hans Christian HC 38T Bristol! 2009 Engine! 1985 169,000 (10/16) 145,000 (01/18) SC, USA Adventure Yachts
* 34' Hans Christian 33/34 1976 69,500 (08/16) 60,000 (03/18) WA, USA Seattle Yachts
* 34' Hans Christian 34 1978 42,500 (06/18) 30,000 (12/18) Mexico Seacoast Yachts
* 34' Hans Christian 34 1977 24,900 (10/18) 18,500 (01/19) CA, USA Infinity Yacht Sales
* 33' Hans Christian 33 1986 49,495 (05/17) 48,000 (02/18) Netherlands Antilles (NL) Dauvillier Yachting
* 33' Hans Christian 33 1984 88,788 (03/17) 74,582 (01/19) Australia DBY Boat Sales
* 33' Hans Christian 33 Cutter 1984 69,900 (02/18) 41,500 (06/18) FL, USA Whiteaker Yacht Sales
* 33' Hans Christian 33 Traditional 1985 52,893 (08/18) 35,868 (12/18) ON, Can North South Nautical Group
* 33' Hans Christian 33T 1984 99,000 (06/17) 95,000 (02/18) CA, USA Rubicon Yachts

[canyonbat]

Originally Posted by YachtBroker

Here is a list of all Hans sold since Jan 2018. I use all sizes because some brokers over state the LOA on the 33 to 38'.
This may not cut and paste very well, but the first price/date is the asking.
The second is the selling. I will tell you based on past experience, any Hans 33 at any age can be worth 50K or 100K depending upon the condition. Mast step base was steel in a lot of these and rots out over time (it's under that pretty wood or brass compression post. Tanks also can be suspect especially black iron fuel tanks.

TOTAL NUMBER OF SOLD BOATS: 738,336


Selected Search Criteria:
Mfgr/Model : hans christian (686)
Sold: Since Jan 01, 2018 (40210)
Length: Longer than 33 ft (338869)
Total records found: 22
Click on one boat to view the full listing, or view full listings for all the boats on this page.

Revise Search


Items: 1 - 22 of 22 Page 1

Length Boats Year Listed US$ Sold US$ Location YachtWorld Member
* 48' Hans Christian 48T 1987 217,500 (10/17) 211,500 (01/18) MD, USA Annapolis Yacht Sales
* 43' Hans Christian 43 1984 119,333 (09/11) 107,968 (11/18) Portugal Siroco Nautica SA
* 43' Hans Christian 43 1981 129,000 (01/17) 100,000 (01/19) Malaysia Yacht Brokerage and Charters
* 43' Hans Christian 43 1978 74,900 (04/16) 50,000 (02/19) MD, USA The Annapolis Sailyard
* 43' Hans Christian 43 Telstar 1987 124,000 (09/16) 100,000 (05/18) CA, USA Rubicon Yachts
* 41' Hans Christian 33T 1986 94,089 (02/18) 74,459 (09/18) New Zealand Gulf Group Marine Brokers Limited
* 41' Hans Christian 41 Moliki 1987 159,900 (09/18) 150,000 (01/19) CA, USA Seacoast Yachts
* 41' Hans Christian 41 molokai 1987 89,000 (01/18) 81,000 (12/18) WA, USA Seacraft Yacht Sales, Inc
* 39' Hans Christian 39 PH 1983 149,900 (04/18) 149,900 (04/18) CA, USA Kensington Yacht & Ship Brokers
* 39' Hans Christian Pilot House 1983 149,900 (04/17) 149,000 (05/18) WA, USA NW Yachtnet
* 38' Hans Christian 38 1980 52,000 (10/18) 45,000 (12/18) OR, USA W S Yacht Brokers
* 38' Hans Christian 38 MKII 1981 49,500 (06/18) 40,000 (11/18) TX, USA Sea Lake Yachts LLC
* 38' Hans Christian 38T 1978 127,882 (04/18) 124,099 (10/18) BC, Can Calibre Yacht Sales
* 38' Hans Christian HC 38T Bristol! 2009 Engine! 1985 169,000 (10/16) 145,000 (01/18) SC, USA Adventure Yachts
* 34' Hans Christian 33/34 1976 69,500 (08/16) 60,000 (03/18) WA, USA Seattle Yachts
* 34' Hans Christian 34 1978 42,500 (06/18) 30,000 (12/18) Mexico Seacoast Yachts
* 34' Hans Christian 34 1977 24,900 (10/18) 18,500 (01/19) CA, USA Infinity Yacht Sales
* 33' Hans Christian 33 1986 49,495 (05/17) 48,000 (02/18) Netherlands Antilles (NL) Dauvillier Yachting
* 33' Hans Christian 33 1984 88,788 (03/17) 74,582 (01/19) Australia DBY Boat Sales
* 33' Hans Christian 33 Cutter 1984 69,900 (02/18) 41,500 (06/18) FL, USA Whiteaker Yacht Sales
* 33' Hans Christian 33 Traditional 1985 52,893 (08/18) 35,868 (12/18) ON, Can North South Nautical Group
* 33' Hans Christian 33T 1984 99,000 (06/17) 95,000 (02/18) CA, USA Rubicon Yachts

One of the best responses I have ever seen on here!

[Cheechako]

I had a HC 38. It had many upgrades and no issues, as well as being loaded with gear. All the ones on the market were listed at about $138k at the time. East and West coast. I listed at that price in FLorida based on the Broker's input. 1.5 years later I sold it at $90k as no one was buying it, and it was just costing me money in maintenance and trips East a coast away.
So that's about 35% lower than asking. The HC33 is a bit more scarce and a bit more popular though. But I would not be afrraid to offer 40% less than asking and go from there. Sell "why" you are offering that to the Broker, dont just offer and be silent. New sellers may get miffed. A year later they wont.

Ignore any figures regarding HC boats like the 34, they are very different boats than the 33, 38, 43 etc.

[Tillsbury]

What you can offer inoffensively depends upon how offensively it’s priced. Some boats come on to the market ridiculously overpriced. Maybe the seller paid too much, maybe they’re dreaming, maybe they already have their next boat and have no need to sell quickly, maybe (as happened to me with one boat I was looking at) the guy was deliberately overpricing it to make sure it didn’t sell and he didn’t then have to give half to his ex-wife (but he could continue to sail it indefinitely while it was “for sale”)

At some point these sellers usually end up finally listening to their local broker, and then the price comes down to something more sensible. After that, you can probably negotiate another 10-20%, but not 40. But your final buy price could be 30-40% less than it’s original list price, certainly.

If you try a low price on a very desirable boat then there might be no room to move at all. I placed an offer on a boat in excellent condition which at the end was only 2% or so less than their original list price. They held firm, and sure enough they got what they wanted from the next buyer. Very few boats manage that though.

You can see from the amazing selling price information shown above that the value of a HC33 is anything from 18,500 to 95,000. Only you can decide whether the price reflects the condition of the one you’re looking at.

[CapnBazza]

Originally Posted by happyaslarry

Alas, I don't know a broker and the one that I did just contact seemed reluctant to share. In addition to that, would they not be inclined to inflate prices on their list to both make them look good, and also give me a false sense of what to pay? Am I right to think of brokers as the used car dealers of the water? Is that too uncharitable?

There are realistic boat sellers and there are dreamers. There are honest brokers and there are con men (and women). There are also realistic boat buyers and there are those looking for the wronged wife selling the husband’s chattels - you know, the $1 Mercedes, the $M yacht for a slab of beer.