Where Have All the Boats Gone?

[markpj23]

Soooo... I'm back here after completing the move to sunny FL. Now it looks like the planets have aligned once again and we're starting another boat search. Heaven help us this time....

The first thing that struck me was that there is a dearth of listings in the Southeast!! At least, compared to our last search 4 years ago that is.

So what's going on?
- Are finance $$ so tight that people have stopped trying to sell?
- Did the price of diesel drive everyone to sailboats? And if so, that would mean that the only sailboats left on the market are all dogs... ?
- Is it truly "the economy, stupid?"

So what gives?

[SilentOption]

I work in Marathon in the middle keys and every boat yard there has several boats with for sale signs prominently displayed.
It could be your search criteria.
What are you looking for?

Size?
Price?
Builder?
What do you intend to use the boat for?
There are several, what I would consider "cruising" vessels for sale in the 30 foot plus range.
It all depends on what you want to do with the boat.
Race, Day sail, over night or cruise?

[AnchorageGuy]

mark, don't know where you are looking but there are a gazillion boats out there for sale.

[nautical62]

I'm also curious as to what you are looking for. I've been looking at boats in Florida and it seems like quite the buyer's market to me.

I'll admit one model I'm particularly interested isn't on the market at all, but that's often the case when buying less common boats.

I've found most of the boats that interest me on Yachworld, a few on boattrader and a few more by just doing google searches.

[markpj23]

Some examples...

Gozzard
Bristol
Endeavour 42

Just seem kinda scarce to me compared to the last time I looked.

Maybe I'm mistaken.....

[forsailbyowner]

good friend of mine has this one on ebay, not on your list but hes got two boats now and put no reserve with 2k starting bid. Its down at salt creek boatworks in st pete on stands


eBay Motors: 1979 29.9 Seidelmann Sailboat (item 260335335603 end time Dec-26-08 20:33:18 PST)

[DeepFrz]

Check out this broker

http://www.roguewaveyachtsales.com/

[Amgine]

People who have high-quality boats, boat's they spend an reasonably high percentage of purchase price on in maintenance and continuous upgrades, are looking at the current market, shaking their heads, and taking their marbles home.

It doesn't make sense to sell a really good boat for a sizeable discount on its real value unless you have some other reason for getting rid of the boat. So you're going to have look for a divorce special, or a boat on mortgage, or the guy who was over-boated to begin with (and probably hasn't been able to maintain it the way it should have been pampered.) There are quite a few of them out there.

But not a whole lot of Hinckleys.

Geez! I typed that and then went to look, and found 9 pages including this gorgeous doll whose owner is willing to finance... nevermind me. Clearly I'm an idiot. (But I would never dump a $.75 mil boat for half the price and offer it on CfD.)

[Whoosh]

Mark, since you're in the Tampa/St. Pete area I'd suggest you look up Kent Dudley and visit his JACK IRON if a Corbin 39 cutter would be a suitable choice for you. Kent bought & prepped her for an Atlantic Circle, had a two-year drama-free cruise in the Med, and has now put her up for sale. Because of the market, I think he's priced her at the low end for Corbins but I don't think she shows that way at all.

Tartan C&C Yacht Sales (Fairport Harbor,, OH)

JACK IRON is based in the Demen's Landing portion of the St. Pete Municipal Marina.

Jack

[markpj23]

Thanks Jack - she might be worth a look...

[markpj23]

I wonder if part of the issue is Broker dissatisfaction with Yachtworld? Is there an issue (or a revolt) over listing fees or something? Lots more boats showing up on other sites I see....

[captjcook]

csy44 on miamicraigslist for 75k silentoption would be a great reference, I like the amgine's "little doll" but don't have the budget. I really don't like ambiguous threads like this where everybody has to guess what the thread starter is looking for or how much, and then never answers anyones q's
Jim

[gonesail]

the good boats are not so easy to find and it is not a buyer's market for them. but that's just one man's opinion

[bobfnbw]

I have my boat now but still subcribe to Yachworld.com notices of new boats that I was interested in and have seen a real decline in the boats available there that I was interested in.
Not sure at all why. Found it interesting.

[nautical62]

Endeavour 42 Ketch in Titusville for 60K
1980 Endeavour Center Cockpit Ketch Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Endeavour 43 in Vero Beach
1980 Endeavour Endeavour Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Endeavour 43 in Jupiter, FL:
1979 Endeavour Ketch Center CP Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Endeavour 42 in Beaufort, NC,1989 Endeavour Center Cockpit Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Bristol 41 in SC
1980 Bristol 41.1 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Bristol 40 in SC 1978 Bristol 40 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Bristol 40 in Key Largo, FLhttp://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1972/Bristol-Ketch-1817038/Key-Largo/FL/United-States

Bristol 40 in SC
1982 Bristol Sloop Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Bristol 40 in Fort Lauderdale, FL
1975 Bristol Sloop Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Bristol 40 in St Augustine, FL:1975 Bristol Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Bristol 40 in St. Petersburg, 40:1977 Bristol Yawl Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Bristol 38, SChttp://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1995/Bristol-Sloop-1705337/Hilton-Head/SC/United-States

Gozzard 36, Fort Lauderdale, FL:1997 GOZZARD Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Gozzard 36, Port Charolette, FL:1986 Gozzard 36 Classic Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Also listed on Yachworld in Florida:

2 Irwin 43

4 Allied 42 priced 55K to 99K

2 Cheoy Lee 42 at 95K

11 Morgan OI 41

1 Pearson 41 for $42,500

1 Endeavour 36

3 Perason 36

1 Seafearer 36

a few Westerly Corsairs.

Other boats listed at www.iboats.com
and
http://www.sailboattraderonline.com/

I've also found several boats not listed elsewhere on craigslist by doing a google search with "craigslist" the boat make and state.

If you have a specific model in mind, also see if there is an owner's group. Often boats are listed there that are not listed on the above sites.


Hope that helps you out.