I bought a 20k 1990 Benetau first 285 in great condition in 2014
sold it in 2017
winter. We had it on the market for 3 months on sailboatlisting.com and an online brokerage. The online brokerage cam up with 4 perspective buyers SBL.com got me in contact with 8 and ultimately the new owner.
While the vessel was in great shape when I took
ownership I also got it in showroom condition before and during the
sale. I think yes the year it was built, the general condition and the condition of certain things sell the
boat.
I am a believer that 1st time owners generally go in the 25-30 foot range, if they are looking at something in the 70s their
budget is small, baring the hinkley or the swan in the same size ratio. While I was selling my vessel their were several boats I would consider competition, non looked to be in great shape. When the perspective buys came I took them though the vessel and gave them the
history on each aspect as well as the positives and negatives on things like wing keels, fractional rig,
salt water heads,
single handing modifications, where to get
parts.
I believe all these things played a part in the rapid
sale which was important because at the time I was in the process of
buying a 2010
Jeanneau SO 44i and I needed the
money from the 285.
If you want a
boat to sit in a brokerage yard don’t do anything to it, if you want to sell it, fix it,
paint it, clean it, and walk them though the vessel with a narrative that you answer the questions before they are asked. Don’t leave it to the guy who lets you self guide your own tour while playing on his
phone. The vessel you are in now is still in that first time market.