Conference vicki::boats

    Sounds like a lot for not much to me. Not knowing much about sea
    ray except they have a good reputation. No Electronic's on this boat?
    
    This time of year there are tons of used boats around. figure any
    thing you buy now you cannot use till the spring. Most dealers want
    to get rid of boats now instead of carry them over. Keeping looking
    and get educated, then you will know a good deal when you see one.
    Check offshore mag, plenty of adds in there.
    
    Bruce

    Thanks,
    
    Actually I have checked the magazines.  Prices seem to be a bit higher
    than this.  I figure the "low" price reflects its condition and lack of
    electronics (previous owner took them with him).  I've seen better
    boats, but they've all been smaller, in the 22' to 23' range.  I
    thought that for $14,000 I'd be getting a big boat that needs some
    work, or a smaller boat that didn't.  But I didn't really know, hence
    the note.
    
    Living in Maynard it is hard to get to a lot of dealers, and the
    ones I've been to on the Cape don't have anything better it seems.
    
    john

    
    John,
    If you're looking for a used boat with no salt water damage, take
    a day trip up to Lake Winnipesaukee. As you travel around the lake
    you will pass dozens of marinas with lots of used fresh water boats.
    By this method you can look at dozens of boats in one day, rather
    than travelling several miles just to look at one boat.
    
    At this time of year the dealers are looking at the possibility of
    having to store the trade-ins and keep them on the books 'til next
    Spring. Keeping this in mind and with enough money in hand for a
    small deposit you'll be in a good position to do some real bargaining.
         
    That is how I bought my first boat from Thurston's in Laconia. It
    was December, and I had looked at the boat the previous week.  When
    I went back I told them I wanted the boat put in the water so I
    could hear it run.  The salesman didn't take me seriously (he told
    me to come back in the spring!) until I showed him that I had a bank
    check for *almost* the asking price of the boat.  He changed his
    tune in a hurry!  I ended up bringing the boat home with me that day.
        
    
    Rick W.

    
    Re .0
    
       I don't have any information regarding that particular model
    Sea Ray, nor can I tell you whether the price seems reasonable or
    not. I suggest if you're serious about buying a used boat that you
    find a competent marine surveyor who will take an in-depth look
    at the boat and form a professional opinion as to its worth.
    
       I'm sure there are other notes in this conference which list
    names of surveyors in your area. If not, maybe a new topic should
    be started to list surveyor recommendations.
    
    
    Frank
    

    RE: .0
    
     Amen to getting a marine surveyor- $15,000 is a lot of money- and
    a poorly maintained boat can be a floating money pit. A surveyor's
    report can also give you some negoiating room if he comes up with
    an assesment thatis lower than the asking price. A lot of dealers
    will kive you the old"you can fix all thise litlle things for a
    couple of hundred $" , and you find out that it's more like several
    thousand.
                        
     Over the years, I've picked up several boats that were seaworthy
    and sound mechanically, but needed a lot of cosmetics, which I did
    myself or farmed out at a reasonable cost- picked up some real
    bargains.
    
     Right now I have a 74 22' North American Offshore with a 225HP
    Omc-vhf/CB/depth finder- With a totally rebuilt outdrive,new Engine
    all new uphostery, and my investment(not counting my labor was
    under$6500.00
    
    
     Boat was appraised at $10,000 + when I got done
    
    I did my own surveying, having been around boats for eons, and giving
    the owner( I brouht from a private party) a detailed list of what
    was wrong and cost of repairs- He dropped his price $2k.
    
     I made sure that I negotiated on a wet/cold/miserable rainy day
    in October and also knew that he had purchased a new boat and needed
    to get this one off his hands.
    
     I've found in used boats that private deals are a lot better than
    the dealers-especially in the late fall/winter
    
     my suggestion is to look at private deals- especially someone that
    is moving ,lost storasge,or bought a new boat. look at the time
    of year when boating is the last thing on somebody's mind, and get
    a marine surveyor to give you a good assesment and evaluation of
    what's right,what's wrong, and what it's going to take to put you
    in the water reliably and "Bristol Fashion".
    
     DONT- get the "fever" look at it as a Business decision- there
    arte some real bargains out there- look until you find something
    you like aand get a surveyor
    
    Just my thoughts- good luck in joining the ranks of those who throw
    money at that "hole in the water"
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Thanks for the suggestion of a surveyor, I did plan on that.  I
    was hoping that someone might say:
    
    "$14,000 for a 1981 26' Sea Ray is a good price even considering
    the cosmetics, at worst it's a fair price that reflects the condition
    of an otherwise sound boat."
    
    or
    
    "$14,000 for a 1981 26' Sea Ray in any condition?  Who's the pirate?
    Keep looking beacuse you can buy that same boat in better condition
    for less elsewhere."
    
    With the first answer I'd spend the $200; is that what someone said it
    cost?, and find out what I am getting into.  With the second I'd hang
    onto my $200 for the next boat.
    
    john

    John,
    
    My opinion is that the 14K for a 26' Sea Ray is a good deal if the
    only problem is cosmetic!  I had a friend in Ithaca that had a 24'
    Sea Ray with a 260 Mercruiser I/O and it was a great boat. I think
    it was an '80. He sold it last year for 18K. Granted, it was in
    super shape in all aspects and had only seen fresh water.
    If it were me, I'd go for 14K and a lot of labor to bring it back
    to "beautiful". My guess is you could make a bit of money on the
    deal.
    
    Rots-O-Ruck
    
    Don

    Thank you Don, what I really meant to say in .6 was that I see this
    as an opportunity to pick up a larger boat for the price of a smaller,
    albeit cosmetically better, boat.  The way I figure is that ocean
    doesn't know from faded upholstry and teak, it does know the difference
    between a 26' hull and a 22' or 23' hull when the going gets rough.
    
    To make sure that it is only cosmetic the surveyor would be called in.
    
    john 

    When you mention cosmetic, you better understand that this stuff
    
    costs some big bucks. That why there is a price of 14k. Hardware
    
    is awfully expensive, unless you buy the same stuff thats there.
    
    The current boat i own is my 4th, this time, i went looking
    
    for one in dam good condition, and was willing to pay a tad more,
    
    in the long run its much less expensive. Oh by the way, if you want
    
    to sell it, it will move quicker. I can go on with stories of
    
    friends who have gone for the good deal, and the attitude 
    
    "its only cosmetic" and i'll work on it, they soon get frustrated,
    
    for one reason or another, and somehow it takes foreveer to get
    
    done. Stretch a little bit and get one in better condition.
    
    jim.
    
    

    I am quite embrassed that I didn't finish this story and let all that
    were so helpful in with their suggestions (I hadn't been in the file
    for a long time due to a silly node spec error) know the final outcome.
    
    The surveyor recommended that the boat wasn't a sound investment
    primarily motor problems, at any price that they'd likely accept (and
    it turns out that they wouldn't take less than $14,000), so I looked
    around more and didn't find anything like it for the price I could afford. 
     
    Though I was seeking a largish boat for comfort, the harbormaster in
    the Harwich told me that there wasn't any place in town that I could
    keep a boat that big without going through a 10 year waiting list, and
    others with vacation homes told me that they very seldom really used
    all the extra space below decks, they simply go home. Then we bought
    something practical, a new car, that took a big bite out of funds for
    making payments on a boat. Hence I've lowered my expectations as far as
    boats go. 
    
    Thanks again, and maybe you can help with the next Sea Ray in question.
    
    john