Is my boat price to high?

I have spent my life selling things, both professionally and as constant pass time.

I have sold quite a few boats and interestingly have learned that January is a great (for me the best) time to sell a boat (Christmas is over, also that is the time of year that large organised boat shows are happening in this part of the country), people are out shopping for boats.

Later in the spring, when everyone thinks it’s then time to sell their boat, all of a sudden there are hundreds of boats for sale, the competition can be tough.

Also, I’ve notice on many/most boats, that the owner/seller always places a higher value on the accessories (they remember buying them new), much more than the buyer does (now buying them used).

We can dance around answering the question, but if something is not selling over some period of time the price is probably too high.

Regards,

Ron Fisher
 
Yikes! I didn't know that so many people didnt like the rack. I was working on the 16 today ceremoniously removing its name and other stickers and marveled at the rack and how useful it is. Strangely, everyone who has stopped to see the boat has seen its purposes as well.

A 16 is a 16. Can't change that. And storage is crucial. I found the rack useful for that. Need to tinker with the engine or prop on the water in a mild or rough chop, there's a rack for that. Want to to a boat and keep the rope away from the engine, there's a rack for that. Ever had another boat too close to to the stern, there's a rack for that.

To be quite honest, only 3 other brats have personally seen my boat and they had 22's. The rack is not a necessity with a 22 or larger boat. There's mor storage and deck space for most people. I've often thought that if I lived in the PNW with the rest of you, most would see the rack up close and better understand its many uses. And I would probably be taking orders for others.

If you fish more than cruise, the camperback is the biggest obstacle there. Heck, the entire rack and it's mounting hardware weigh only 25 pounds. To only has about around 18 square inches of wind resistance going forward. Not gonna slow you much there.

As for the electronics, there was nearly $9000 in the Garmin and VHF. Even after 3 seasons of use, adding maybe $4500 to the bottom line would not help sell the boat. In the end it still was a 16 foot boat. I'm very picky about my electronics. Every boat that I've ever owned was gutted of the electronics. Just because it says VHF or fish finder, doesn't mean it's good. I have boxes of old boat parts in my basement of what other people thought was the cats meow.

If $18000 or best sounds too high with no electronics, how does $17500 firm with brand new Garmin and VHF sound? You get what pay for.
 
seabeagle":321fgu1l said:
Yikes! I didn't know that so many people didnt like the rack.
Click to expand...

Seabeagle, I wouldn't jump to any conclusions on the rack. Quite frankly, I can see that it would be quite useful and offers some protection for your engine as well. Having had a 16' Cruiser before, we cruised with three of us and found storage (obviously) difficult (but doable) to enable us to cruise together. (We would camp on land, which meant bringing additional gear that we no longer have to bring with us now that we have a 22'). The rack that you built looks to be well built and is attractive. In all of the pictures however, there are none that actually demonstrate the rack being used for anything. Perhaps, displaying how you utilize it would help. Heck some guys would consider perching a bikini clad babe on top sunbathing..... :shock:

(As Ron stated in a previous posting, "if something is not selling over some period of time the price is probably too high"). However, unless you are in a real rush, I would hang tough for a while, post pictures of the rack "in use" and see what happens.
 
I don't mean to sound upset at anyone. I'm just a little moody after casting off the old boat name. It kinda hurt actually. My wife and I adore this boat. If Oldgrowth lived nearby, I might commission him to give it the stretch limo treatment.
 
I think you have a nice boat. And I still think quality sells. Yep, there is cheaper. Sure one can buy something old as hell and get "more". Ironically, the very same folks that are saying this are gladly paying 40,000 bucks for a Prius, or a Tundra, when they could have settled for something used a bit more (or lots more) for way less. Interesting, isn't it????? I would not listen to that crap....
 
I sold my 2003 22 with 1200 hours on the twin 40's for around $28k and you'll notice that it sold again (recently) for about the same amount. I see some other 16's in the market place reference at around what you're asking but my guess is that they actually sold for $2-3k less than the listing price.

It's a tough market right now and if your boat isn't selling, it either isn't marketed well enough or is over priced for the current market (or a little of each). If you're not in a hurry, hold out. But if you need to sell, I have a feeling you're going to need to drop the price a 2-3 $k in the final deal. What it's worth to you unfortunately isn't related to what it's worth to a buyer. That's not to say there's anything wrong with the boat, you or your beliefs. Sometimes it's hard to sell anything and now is one of those times. If you don't need to sell, enjoy it for another season or two and come back to selling when the market is better.
 
rogerbum":2zrr2i7g said:
I sold my 2003 22 with 1200 hours on the twin 40's for around $28k and you'll notice that it sold again (recently) for about the same amount. I see some other 16's in the market place reference at around what you're asking but my guess is that they actually sold for $2-3k less than the listing price.
Click to expand...

Roger,
You make a very important point here in pointing out that after taking the initial depreciation hit in selling your CD 22, the value of that boat has maintained rather steady, which is all the more remarkable in this difficult financial climate. That's why an investment in a used C-Dory is a wise one.

When my wife and I looked into boats, we had two C-Dory choices: 1) 2006 model year, new C-Dory 22 cruiser with Walas stove and other factory accessories for $42,000 (which we would have added $5,000 in accessories such as kicker, bracket and electronics,) and 2) 2006 model year, new C-Dory cruiser for $20,500. We chose the latter, and after adding a kicker ($1,100), kicker bracket ($500 w/labor), electronics ($1,500) and bulkhead canvas ($700), the total came to approximately $24,500. So performing a little algebra, and assuming the cost of your new CD 22 was $45,000 (with a kicker and electronics,) the approximate selling price of a used CD 16 in similar condition would be (($28,000*$24,500)/$45,000)= $15,244. That would seem reasonable for a boat that is 5 year's old. Again, the great thing about C-Dory's is that after the depreciation hit, the boat maintains its value. My guess is that our Marinaut 215 will hold a similar value in the marketplace due to its high quality components and construction.

Another factor: I've been told by several sources in the boating industry that undercoating a boat reduces its resale value by as much as 15 percent. My CD 16 was undercoated and had no trailer, so I let it go for a lower price. Also, my boat was constantly in the sun. I used the best polish I could buy, but the sun was rough on the gelcoat -- particularly on the windshield overhang, which was red, and as everyone knows, that's the worst color for a boat with respect to UV light damage. So my wife and I decided to keep our new Marinaut in an enclosed boat rack, it will not be bottom coated, and it will maintain a high level of finish over the years, because it will be mostly out of the sun. When I do sell it, which God-willing I hope will be many years into the future, our boat should command a higher resale price over lesser-maintained boats. However, we would still expect to take a sizable depreciation hit.

I hope this helps,

Rich
 
When its all said and done, it's price that counts.

Incicentally, in the grocery stores you will never find any prices at an even number. Always, $.59 cents or some other combo ending in .95 or .99.

It is a marketing thing that relailers strongly believe in. How about $17,995 or $17.950. Not really much less but seems so mentally. Perhaps it is a game ,but that is what you are engaged in while dancing with buyers.
 
Seabeagle, Just a thought. 2 years ago I had a custom trailer built in Southwest MI. I left my old trailer at the manufacturer for a year and a half with only 1 inquiry, even though I was assured the price was a deal for the condition it was in. I finally despaired of ever selling it, drove around the lake, picked it up and parked it along US Highway 41 near my home. I raised the price 20 percent in hopes of getting my fuel money back and the trailer sold in 2 days. So I guess what I'm saying is maybe 'Location' could be a bigger issue at this point than your price. Maybe you should try Chicago or Buffalo Craigslist (maybe even Boat Trader) and offer to deliver it. Best of luck to you!
 
dotnmarty":m6ukej0x said:
While Roger's analysis is spot on, here in the PNW that boat, as advertised, would sell at the asking price.
MartyP
Click to expand...

Marty,
In the Northeast, there is no way that one could sell a CD 16 Cruiser that is 5 year's old for $18,000, but upon reflection, you might very well be right about the PNW. In the Northeast, we have much better weather and warmer waters for boating. People have a vast array of low cost boats to choose from, and with the glut of used, inexpensive boats available in the Northeast, C-Dory's are generally viewed as being overly expensive niche boats. In the PNW, pilothouse boats are a necessity, and people in your area realize the importance of safe and well-built boats, particularly given the fact that your water is so cold that an unsafe boat could be a major threat to one's life. So I can see where you are coming from, and when it comes time to sell, perhaps people would be better transporting their boat to the PNW in order to sell it, provided an inexpensive way was found to keep the transport costs down?

Rich
 
Rich-When we moved out her we towed an 18 footer out behind a Penske truck and sold it for significantly more than it would bring in NJ. The difference more than paid for the moving.
 
At the risk of sounding offensive, that is not my intention, I would like to add my opinion as well as ask for other's feedback.

Although I am not looking for a 16' C-Dory, I am glad this conversation came up. I am looking for a 22 cruiser, but I have noticed something over the last couple months of searching: maybe it is the time of year, or the economy, etc, but I have noticed that there seems to be a lot of high priced C-Dory's, from the '05 to present models, that are not selling very quickly, including some in the PNW where I am located. I am wondering if this is because these boats are priced too high, or if there are not a lot of buyers around at the moment? I just see this as a bit of a contradiction when there is so much talk of these boats maintaining high resale value, but I do not see this translated in current sales. After all, is the market not determined by what buyers are willing to pay, rather than vice versa? I ask these questions not to sound rude, but as a potential investor in the C-Dory brand I would like to make a more informed decision when it comes to buying a boat. Are these boats really selling for close to their asking price?

Any suggestions?
 
Thank you BC, finally, someone got to the point.

I have purchased three CD, none in the PNW, one in Houston (listed on ebay), one in Idaho Falls (listed on C-Brats) that no one else was willing to travel there and the last one in south west Arizona (a long way from no where) 3600 miles round trip for us.

I just purchased this absolutely perfect 2004, 19’ w/low hours, 90 Honda, 4 stroke for $11,000.00 less than the 2005 now listed and $8500.00 less than the one in St Louis.

I’m sure these other boats are wonderful and may have navigation gear that we don’t have, but we will buy what we want “new” with warranties.

The 19’ was listed through another boat sales web site and not on c-brats.com.

My idea is when you are buying a used boat, everything is used and used electronics once it’s taken off the boat, typically is really not worth much.

There are many other C-Dory’s out there that are not listed on C-Brats, but require searching, communication and travel.

In my mind, many if not most boats on c-brats.com are “really” not for sale (or they would sell), it looks like the prices are set, hoping that a “dumb one” will come by and pay the asking price.

So if the owner sets on his CD for a year or two or three, so what, eventually the price will be dropped and the boat will sell or a cash offer comes in that is well timed.

The best advise I ever received was from my Great Uncle Kelly who told me, “life is like buying cattle, if you don’t buy in right, you can’t come out right”.

Also, my advise to everyone, make the buying and selling transaction as non emotional as possible, it is what it is and nothing more, buying and selling.

Regards,

Ron Fisher

PS: Spent a year or so as a youngster in Penticton, BC, in the Okanagan valley hunting for Okopogo when not in school.
 
Connie Fisher":2i2imfvp said:
Also make the buying and selling as non emotional as possible, it is what it is and nothing more, buying and selling.

.
Click to expand...

That's a great point, one I thought about earlier but hesitated to raise.I've told this story here before--I have always loved Volvo cars and have spent, and wasted, lots of money on them. Anyway, after I retired I got a wonderful job, working at the largest Volvo dealer on the east coast. I was in heaven. One day, one of the owners and I were driving out to an auto auction in Pennsyvania. We were in a beautiful Lexus which we would leave there and drive home in two used Volvos. Along the way I asked him if he had any emotional ties to any particular Volvo model. (They even had a Volvo limo in their private stable). He looked at me quizzically and said "as far as I'm concerned if it sells it could be a three legged horse". The point is you're out to sell the boat, period.
 
Thanks Ron, that is very interesting to hear.

I was starting to get a little discouraged because I had made a couple cash offers on high priced boats- within the range of 20 percent below asking price (negotiations have to start somewhere) and so far the feedback that I received was that I am being crazy and rude by offering such a low amount and wasting their time. In my opinion there is nothing rude about offering a SELLER cash for something they want to sell.

So I switched tactics. Now, I ask sellers where they stand on their price (obviously, as any buyer would, I want to get the most for my money - is that wrong?). What I have been noticing is that most of the buyers with high asking prices say, "If I can't get what I am asking, I'm not going to sell it." So it sounds to me, like Ron you are right. A lot of these boats really aren't for sale.

Is this making any sense?

Simon
 
If it were just a boat, there would be no need for C-Brats. If it were just a car, there would be no Mustang clubs. In my experience, the people who treated objects and people in that manner, abused them horribly or had too much money on their hands. Ever thought about buying a jet ski or a sport car from a 19 year old?

On another note, since I removed the line about stupid emails from my Craigslist ad, the stupid emails are pouring in. Almost 10 since noon today. No I don't want to reply to AlyssaXXX@hotbabe.com because she's wondering if my unit is still up for grabs. :crook
 
prosimedia":ivt3wwxu said:
... so far the feedback that I received was that I am being crazy and rude by offering such a low amount and wasting their time. In my opinion there is nothing rude about offering a SELLER cash for something they want to sell.
Click to expand...

When I sell things I don't get offended by lowball offers -- I often won't reply to emails if I think the offer is so low that it doesn't seem realistic. Sometimes I will sell significantly below what something is worth (based on recent ebay *completed* transactions) just to get it over with.

The problem I see is when somebody takes an hour or two looking over something like a boat, maybe even gets a ride in it, takes it to a mechanic, and then without even having an issue with the item offers significantly below the advertised price. If we're going to take hours of my time and some of my trust, I'd appreciate it if a buyer was up front with the price they are considering offering.
 
Hello again Simon,

Every boat that I have ever purchased, including C-Dory’s, was from sellers that wanted to sell their boats.

Sounds simple, but it is that simple.

I spend time on the phone with the seller and soon know their position/s before wasting my time on “I want all my money back” sellers.

Stick in there and remember “the journey is the reward”.

Regards,

Ron Fisher


“Why join the navy if you can be a pirate?” (Steve Jobs)
 
Back
Top