Price Checking a 1987 22' Cruiser

Hey Everyone-

I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on a boat but I wanted to do a little price checking.

Here is the add from Craigslist:
22 feet C-Dory Cruiser, EZ-Load galvanized trailer with current tags, 90 hp Honda with about 200 hours; BRAND NEW gears and lower unit rebuilt (receipts available) by The Boat Shop in Fairbanks, 9.9 Johnson trolling motor, VHF, Garmin GPS, Fish/Depth, heater, stove, porta-jon. Wonderful boat, with many extras. This boat has no problems; meticulously maintained; Death in family forces sale. $28,000, or make an offer.

After talking with the seller and the mechanic, the engine is a 1997 rebuilt installed this spring. The mechanic/shop have been doing the maintenance on this boat for the last 10+ years.

Any best guesses on pricing from you knowledgable C-Brats out there???

The mechanic also does bank appraisals and without even prompting he said what he thought the boat was worth.

I've look at past "asking prices" in the C-Brats archives and this date range of boats (early Cruisers) have been in the $24K asking price (I'm sure the selling price is a little lower).

So, if the mechanic is saying he thinks it's worth Price "A" and past history for asking price is Price "B" and the real asking price is Price "C", how do you make an offer that ultimately a lot lower than the asking price without sounding like a jerk?

Thanks,
-Randy
 
If I were concerned about offering what might be a rediculously low price to the seller, I'd get my price in mind, then tell the seller that you are there to buy IF he'll give you a bottom dollar price that is within your reach...then wait for him to price it.
However, I have never had a problem making any offer that I was willing to pay...they can always say no.

The asking price seems a bit steep to me.

Just my .02
 
Does the engine have 200 hours since the rebuild or total. If its total thats not much and it sound's like they hit something. How many hours on the top end if not?? On the electronics, what model garman. They make a $300 unit and they make a $3000 unit. Have someone look at the transom core. Seems to be a lot of those early models with wet transoms popping up lately. Just a few thing to look at.
 
Good points from Thomas. I also thing that if you are an Alaska buyer and the boat is right where you intend to use it then the value when matched with other boats in the lower 48 needs some adjustment. Not saying it should be higher or lower, just that location is a factor.
In a slow market for instance a seller has a greater chance of getting their price in a larger market place if too many other boats are not up for sale.
As the buyer, you may be wise to pay more for a boat you would not need to transport and to have a boat that you will use near the dealer who is vouching for its condition.
I'm just say'n.
 
Hey Everyone-

Thanks for all the PM's, emails and posts, but the boat has been sold. :cry:

It was posted on Craigslist last night and I was the first one to call on it. The guy said it had been posted for only about 10 minutes. So, I spoke with him and got as much info as he had. This morning I called the mechanic that had serviced the boat for the last 10 years to fill in the blanks for me. Then I called my bank to get the final okay.

When I called back around noon today it had been sold, but I don't know for how much. By my estimation, it had been up for sale for about 10 hour when it sold. The mechanic, who is also a certified appraiser, said it was worth between $20K-$22K. I would have offered $22K and paid up to $24K.

Oh well. I guess I need to figure out a way to get "cash-in-hand" as I've missed out on 4 C-Dory's in as many weeks by having to get an appraisal and/or wait for the bank. It's starting to get a little frustrating.

Anyway, thanks everyone.
-Randy
 
Jim -

That is easy to say - but hard to do..... Not to mention very expensive to get the boat up here. But, I agree there is much more competition and far more boats.

T.R. Bauer
 
Back
Top