Quote:
Originally Posted by Lttl
Thank you! Actually, I do not need to sail it back to DR, somehow I thought it is cheaper here. I was going to get it here and go east (including BVI). Would you recommend a good site(s)
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Yes, check out
BVI Yacht Sales, and the Moorings Brokerage site. If you are interested in a
catamaran, you could call Voyage Yacht Sales in West End and talk to them.
If you see a
boat on the Moorings listings, ignore the asking
price altogether, and play the priceline
game. Offer them something stupidly low on a
boat, and if it is refused, make essentially the same offer plus a few bucks on an identical boat. It is a buyer's market. Never feel like you have to own any specific boat. There are plenty of them out there
for sale.
Make any offer subject to sea trial,
inspection, buyer's acceptance, and
survey. Ignore any
survey the
broker provides to you that you did not pay for. And never accept a survey from a company that is regularly recommended by a
boat broker. Those surveyors will never bite the hand of the
broker that recommends them. Get a different
surveyor, maybe even from off island to inspect the boat. Then before accepting the boat, take a
mechanic with you and inspect it yourself with a fine tune comb and make them fix anything you don't like. Then, after that you might have a reasonably priced
Beneteau in reasonably good shape that has come out of
charter. If that is what you want.
If you prefer a more traditional sailboat,
classic cruiser, etc., I would recommend you focus on BVI Yacht Sales in Nanny Cay Tortola as the best broker to start with. I have bought and
sold a lot of sailboats in my lifetime. In my opinion the easiest thing a person can do when
buying a boat is just not write a check. If you have 99 reasons you like a boat, and one you don't, make them fix it, or don't write a check. If the boat is pretty solid, but has any defect of significance in standing
rigging,
hull condition, possible
repairs from grounding, etc, don't buy it. When looking at a boat, say nothing good about the boat to the broker, and make it clear if you don't get what you want, there are a lot of boats and brokers out there who will provide it.
Also, if you have a number in mind. Tell the broker that is it. Don't get the seller to counter with any higher offers. You don't intend to pay more. Take it or leave it. Then be prepared to walk away. Moreover, don't feel bad about walking away. Just keep looking. Eventually, you will find the best boat you can get at the lowest price. What I am saying might sound mean, but life is tough, boats are plentiful, and you are only trying to get the best deal.