Weird sale deal- what should I do?

[DreaminFred]

OK Captains-

I've had my boat for sale on sailboatlistings.com for a good price for a couple weeks, lots of calls, several folk have looked at the boat, one is serious and putting together a purchase and sale offer.

Now the weird part. This old guy called me a couple weeks ago about the boat and bent my ear for an hour about a variety of things not many of which pertained to buying a boat. I figured it was an old guy with not a lot of folk to talk to so, OK. This morning he calls (early) and says he wants to buy the boat. He wants to know how to send the money. Full price. The boat's on jackstands and I have my foot in a cast so I can't go get the boat into the water. I tell him we can finish the deal Labor Day. He says he wants to do it now- can't I have someone at the marina get it into the water and ready to go? Hmm, I guess so ...

I few minutes later I get a call from his bank. Really, I checked the bank and the employee's name- real bank, real employee, real phone number.

I've sold a lot of stuff in my years, some for a lot more money than this, but this is weird. I'm picturing this guy (I think he's 80) buying my boat, gunning the engine and going out in a blaze of glory. What should I do? How should I make it a clean break so there would be no blowback on me if he did something crazy or harmful after buying the boat?

Scratching my head.

And

Dreamin

Fred

[Byrdman]

Give the old guy his dream! It's his money and it will probably piss of a few family members. Looks like a win/win situation to me

[GreenWave]

Sell it but draw up a contract and make sure title is transferred. If he sends you a solid bank check that's all you need.

[Bill O]

Make sure the check clears before handing over the title.

[Sand crab]

I also listed my boat on SL and then sold it sight unseen to a person 6000 miles away. They wired the funds. I signed over the title when they got here a few months later. It does happen. Take the money and then get the boat in the water.

[ohdrinkboy]

close the sale. put in the contract that he is responsible for having the boat put in the water. have a conference call with him and the marina to get it arranged. He has to pay you before the boat goes in the water.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Bill O

Make sure the check clears before handing over the title.

Yeah, just get a boat document/escrow person to handle it. maybe $500? They will ensure you have title, the buyer gets clean title, and the boat isn't released to the buyer until funds are clear.

If it's not an expensive boat, meet the guy at the bank and/or state title/registration place and get it done like selling a car.

[valhalla360]

Good to be leery but once you confirm with your bank that the check has cleared and there is no way for them to claw back the cash...it's his boat.

Do download an as-is sales agreement from the internet and clearly indicate what is and is not included.

After that, it's no longer your problem.

[barnakiel]

DE-REGISTER.


Make sure once you have sold the boat is de-registered from your name.


b.

[Stewie12]

Someone up there is looking down on you kindly. Take the money before he changes his mind.

[introverted]

Originally Posted by DreaminFred

OK Captains-
What should I do? How should I make it a clean break so there would be no blowback on me if he did something crazy or harmful after buying the boat?
Fred

This doesn't make any sense. sell the boat to him. Even if he did what you think he could do, which I think is preposterous to assume, why would you get any blowback?

[DreaminFred]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

DE-REGISTER.


Make sure once you have sold the boat is de-registered from your name.


b.

I've never heard of deregistering- its a federal documented vessel, would sending in the form be sufficient?

F

[mfascuba]

Originally Posted by DreaminFred

I've never heard of deregistering- its a federal documented vessel, would sending in the form be sufficient?

F

I'm in Florida and have done this when selling a motor vehicle. It gets your name off the title in case he doesn't register it and does something that would trace back to the owner. I did it at the county tax office, where you pay the registration fees. There is a more official name for it, but that's what you need to do.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

DE-REGISTER.


Make sure once you have sold the boat is de-registered from your name.


b.

YES. If the new owner does not change the title, it may technically leave you responsible for any liability.
Happened to me with a car I sold once. A guy bought it, I signed the title, he didn't change the title and was driving around 3 years with me liable. I found out when I got a court order for like 70 tickets! Took a while but I got out of it.

[Sandydog]

You must be very careful. I was almost scammed twice. A cashier's check/bank check is not safe. They are easily faked. Even if the check "clears" there can still be fraud. The only safe way is to meet the buyer at his band and watch the check being made there. You can also use your own lawyer to put in escrow. Of course cash is always best.