News from the sales front...

B

Bearh

New member
Brothers and sisters,
This is a market which demands careful pricing and patience. The other day, I posted as follows about the process of selling our '92 CD 16 Angler (we put it on the market about two months or so ago):
"....So, by February 22 I had several inquiries, one couple had come to see the boat, and one person had made an offer around $7000 sight unseen. One fella had asked if $7500 would be accepted, then tried again with $8000, but it was hard to tell if he was serious enough to put serious money down if an offer was accepted. All these folks came in response to the Craigslist Baltimore ad about the boat. Then, it is as if the lights went out--no calls, no email inquiries, nada this past week or so. In the meantime, more ads here for similar older boats, at much higher initial prices. Interesting. Clearly the desirability of a newer model four stroke engine is a big part of the issue. I had considered repowering, then selling, but it's hard to see that working either to my advantage or a prospective seller's. Perhaps being very honest about "nicks and dings" was not a good idea, but I'm talking about minor repairs little nicks and chips much smaller than a dime, and not many of them, not gouges and structural cracks. We're talking about a good clean, sound boat. This is so much different a response than when I sold Snowdon, I'm going to guess it has to do with the times."
I believe the next step is to indicate the price is indeed negotiable, and encourage reasonable offers, no? How best to do so? Thinking, thinking...suggestions accepted, oh yes. Best, Bruce
 
Hi Bruce,

You might want to expand your advertising beyond Craigslist. You might try posting at the bulletin boards at your local west marine stores and place an ad in Boat Trader. You might also find a boat dealer that would sell your boat on consignment for a nominal commission.

On Seattle Craigslist there is a 1986 16' angler for sale with an E-Z loader trailer, 1988 Suzuki 40 hp motor (2 stroke w/ oil injection), an old Johnson 6 hp kicker, depth finder and one down rigger. The seller is asking $7900.

Spring is around the corner, and you might be just a tad bit early with selling your boat.

Leo
 
I agree that this is still "early" in the year. Also localized Craig's list is too limited. Another possibility is Boat Trader--which does cost, but has high exposure. Consider "Boat owner's World" and other sites--also "The Hull Truth," has a widely read for sale forum.

Agree, that it would not pay to put on a new engine. One of the "problems" is that most people do not appreciate the resale value of the C Dory.

Also consider fixing the dings--and really making the boat look like new.

As I have noted before, I think that the boating market is in for a tough time. But--with fuel costs and recessionary pressures, the small cabin boat which is very effecient is going to sell well.
 
for me, the market is stagnant. i've had a 2001 trophy, in spotless condition, less than 100 hours, 24' walk around, priced right, new epoxy and bottom paint, 5.7 i/o, shore power, fish finder, electric flush head, never fished, covered slip, for sale during the past year and half.
now don't misunderstand the point of this post. it is not to market my boat, it is however to state what i've experienced while trying to sell a good, used boat, in today's market. you can see the condition at www.plapps.com go to showroom, used inventory, it's the second advertised boat. fortunately, i do not have a lien. maybe it's the trophy model or just an indication of tuff times.
 
Bob brought up a good point. Craig's list can be too limiting if you only list locally.
I had that problem selling a Camper shell and lumber rack. Finally listed in bigger market, (Sacramento) and sold both items quickly to people who had no problem driving up to buy.
You may want to list in expanded areas if you have not already.


JT :D
 
Hey Bruce: Your photos show a well-kept boat, and to me your "nicks and dings" disclosure would be an indication of honesty rather than a turn-off. Maybe put that part later in your ad, though, so it doesn't become the initial focus, or just tell callers verbally when describing the boat to them. Remove and re-paint the prop and wax the motor, and include photos of the engine with cowling removed: turn that motor into an asset rather than a liability. Include some close-up photos showing the hull and motor beading water. Add descriptions about how fuel efficient this boat is compared to other models. Use words like "cozy cabin", "salty", "seaworthy", "sips gas", "easy to trailer and launch", etc. Decide for yourself what price works for you and market at close to that price; the $7,500.00 price point has a lot more buyers than the $9,500.00 price point. When the weather warms up you should have no problem selling this boat. Good Luck! Mike.
 
Thanks a million for the suggestions. I'm firmly convinced that if I posted with a question about how to convert a C-Dory into a time machine, there'd be a bunch of folks here with direct experience with time travel, willing to offer that knowledge to the cause. (That doesn't sound right, does it? Honest, I'm just trying to compliment the depth and breadth of know-how and the generosity of the folks here--but since I brought it up, how would you turn a '92 CD 16 Angler into a time machine capable of going back, say fifty--100 years? I can't seem to break the 25 year barrier, no matter how hard I try, and my tin foil helmet almost melted on me the last time :amgry ...)
Seriously, all good observations and ideas--going to work on them now. But the more I buff up this little baby, the tougher it will be to let it go. Best, Bruce
 
JT":1mbjrg5w said:
Bob brought up a good point. Craig's list can be too limiting if you only list locally.
Click to expand...

When I sold my 16 Angler - sold in two weeks, I listed it on the C-Brat site and on the local Craigs List for Seattle. The buyer - saw it on Craigs list and drove up from San Francisco to purchase it. So, in this case a local ad - got responce from a non-local buyer - he was searching Craigs list all up and down the west coast.

Tom
 
So, a few days after my last post, one evening last week I got a call from a fellow who had seen the ad on C-Brats, and has been doing his homework on C-Dories for a while, and knows his way around boats. He came out the next morning, went over the boat on the trailer carefully, and put down a deposit on an offer that made both of us happy. He left after about an hour. Subsequently, we set up a sea trial for this morning.
He showed up, we checked lights and radio at the dock (did a radio check with a portable VHF), and we ran out from Annapolis up the Severn River about 10-12 miles round trip. Motor didn't miss a beat, and life was good up and down the way. He's way happy, I'm good, and the money's coming.
Most of the responses to the boat in the past seven weeks since it went on the market have been from Craigslist, but the actual buyer saw the ad on C-Brats. Score another for this site! I paid for one week's ad a few weeks ago in the local Annapolis paper, and got 0 responses from that.
So far, the moral of the story is: price the boat right, clean it up well, and make sure everything important works well (I'd put some money into the motor a couple weeks ago, replacing the water pump because it was piddling at idle, and getting the lower end lubed. The motor was tuned at the same time, and I could tell people compression had been checked and was 125 lbs psi all four cylinders. That plus how the engine actually worked seemed to be helpful to the cause.)
Also, there does seem to be a fairly widespread bias against C-Dories and other boats which are balsa-cored, so it may also help to do your homework as a seller so you can address exaggerated concerns about balsa coring. For the concerns I've heard expressed, it does occur to me that I've not heard any reports from C-Dory owners about water migrating more that a couple inches or so at most in a balsa core that has been compromised, and the fixes have been reported as relatively minor and doable by most owners on their own. As noted above in another post, the transoms have plywood in them, and while water damage to a transom is potentially serious, due care will tend to detect it fairly readily.
Bottom line, after selling two of these babies, and several other unique and interesting boats over the years (a Drascombe Lugger, and a Bolger-designed Black Skimmer as examples)--it helps to have a good boat with a good reputation, of specific interest to people who tend to know how to look for quality in design, construction, and aesthetic appeal. It also helps to have a community of people generous with well-reasoned opinions and experience with what you are selling. Y'all are great! Thanks, and please reach behind you and pat yourselves on the back for being who y'are.
 
Bruce: Congrats on your sale. I may have missed why you were selling to start with. Hope you are not getting out of boating.

Yes, I too have found with the sale of two other C-Dory boats I have owned .....I only used our site. Folks around here on most boat sales sites just do not get how our older C-Dory boats hold up in life...and in dollars. And....I did not get 100+ calls from folks wanting to beat me out of my boats either, but rather C-Brats who had been looking and wanting a C-Dory. It worked out for all of us.

On one...I simply made mention I was traveling to pick up another C-Dory and had a guy who had been on my boat on a short river run one afternoon was then in my driveway in less than 24 hours from my post....not to sell the boat....but that I was simply going to get another one. That was sweet...he got a great boat thousands less than a new one, and in as good as, or more than likely better shape than a new one....cause I had used and fixed many of the little things that we all track and watch on these boats.

Byrdman
 
Byrdman: get out of boating? Man, I'm not dead yet, and the only way they'll get my hands off a tiller is to pry them off of one when that happens.
It would be great to be able to get to Lankford Creek this June. I've missed the other get-togethers when we had C-Dories because I was humping on a skipjack or out in the field with FEMA. Let's all hope that this June, we make it for old times sake--but like the old John Denver song, "...the line down south can't stand the strain" and with early tornados, and unusually heavy snowpack in the Rockies waiting to melt with spring, my guess is I may not make it this year either.
But...if we CAN come, it will be with Jane's kayak and our newest "unusual" boat: a way cool Hobie Adventure Island kayak/trimaran that flat flies under sail, pedals fast enough to almost leave a little rooster tail, and is steady enuf to stand up in. For major grins, go to Youtube and search for Hobie Adventure Island videos. (I'm not too enthusiastic, am I?) You could strap one of these things up on a C-Dory and have the dream combo of the century, IMHO. Now all I have to do is learn to cook fish underway safely in a rotomolded plastic boat without melting things, and I'm headed for Portugal...well, :smilep maybe Chestertown first.
Best to you all, Bruce
 
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