Price? Asking vs paying

[Sunapee Sailing]

So, being new to SunCats....how do I know what's a good price?
Are there universal guidelines for a let's say 2002 SunCat in decent/ good shape on a trailer with outboard?
A 2003? And on and on.

How do I know what's a fair price for both the buyer and the seller?

Thanks, Susan

[Bilgemaster]

For what it's worth, NADA guides, long a staple for collectible and used car folks, now has a Boat Values Guide.  Their 2002 Compac/Hutchins listings can be found at http://www.nadaguides.com/Boats/2002/Com-Pac-Hutchins.  For best results you'll need to wade through a long checklist of options for boat & trailer, or you can just skip them all and get a "low ballpark figure."

When I was first looking, I also found Sailing Texas' Classifieds useful for getting a general idea of the lay of the land, especially its historical price listings section, which go back about a decade.  You'll find its Com-Pac listings at http://www.sailingtexas.com/cboats99compac.html...Oh, and despite the website's moniker, the ads are not just for boats in Texas.

Then, of course, there's Yachtworld's Classifieds, with its Com-Pac listings found here.

Happy hunting!

[rbh1515]

Susan,
The best way to figure out price is to look at previous sales if you can find them.  Never worry about a good price for the seller.  The bottom line is that the market for used sailboats is not great, unless the boat is one that is highly sought after.  Always come in with a low offer.  You can always come up in your offer.  A friend years ago said he always offers 1/2 the asking price....that's probably a bit extreme!
Years ago I had a Colgate 26.  I decided to sell it, and buy a brand new Catalina 28.  I worked out a deal with the Catalina dealer.  We both listed the boat for sale, but had to agree on the same selling price.  Based on previous sales, we both came up with the exact same sales price.  He found a buyer first, and sold the boat within 1k of the listing price.  The guy wanted a fresh water boat.  Consider that in your offer...fresh water boats are worth considerably more than boats sailed in salt water.
My advise, make a low offer, and if they don't take it, wait a week or two if they don't take it.
Rob

[Sunapee Sailing]

Wow, these are both great responses.
Thank you!

[Bilgemaster]

Wow, these are both great responses.
Thank you!

You're very welcome, and I wish you the very best of luck in your search for your boat, though some would claim that the boat, having something like a soul, often finds the right owner. That certainly seems to have been the case with my little "Foundling".  Still, you have to keep your eyes open to spot it beckoning.

I would only point out what may already be obvious to you: that boats, just like motorcycles or surf boards or anything else "summery," are better bought in Winter.  That's when the real bargains are to be found and those insane lowball offers accepted, not when the daffodils are a-bloomin'.

[rbh1515]

Great deals are out there at all times.  Sometimes the seller has already bought a boat, or has found their next boat.  They don't want to be stuck with two!  They may be especially desperate if they put the boat up for sale in the fall, it never sold, and now it's spring!
One thing about buying a boat now is that it's easier to check out...you may even get a test sail!
Rob

[rbh1515]

Check this SC out...a 2012.  Looks practically new, and is a fresh water boat.  It's out in my neck of the woods.  We have our vacation home in Door County.  All you would need to do is have it transported.
Rob

[Sunapee Sailing]

Do you have a link, Rob?

[rbh1515]

Oops, thought I had put in the link:

http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/58462

I could check the boat out for you...we are going up there at the end of the month.  It looks very nice, and was put up for sale June 2016 according to the sitie.  The seller says he can help arrange transportation.
Rob

[DanM]

 Also check out the classifieds section on the Catboat Association website, sometimes there are Suncats there. Two years ago,  we were about to drive from Albany, NY to Youngstown, OH to check out a Suncat, when a new listing on the CA site came up for one right on our lake! It was a few thousand $ more than we had planned to spend, but it was a pristine fresh-water boat only about 4 years old. The PO had ordered it new with almost every available option and then added every piece of rigging discussed on this forum. Also it is a white hull which I like because it's easier to do an inconspicuous repair to dings in the gelcoat. He was getting out of sailing and so he later threw in two carloads of stuff- PFD's, docklines and other gear, motor dolly, complete back issues of Small Craft Advisor, mooring gear, maintenance materials, and on and on. He even gifted us his late wife's Tilley hat! We consider ourselves to have been super-lucky even though it cost more. You'll remember the joy of your boat long after you've forgotten about the dough.
The point is that price is subjective to both the seller and buyer, there is no absolute value. Just factor in your time to travel to the seller and to make improvements you may want to do. Also consider that the further you travel to check the boat out, the more committed you may feel (less likely to walk away or at least make a show of doing so), which may cloud your judgement and affect your negotiations. Also consider, for better or worse, changes in the model over time- cabin panelling, mid-boom vs. end-boom sheeting, etc.
  I hope you have good luck, too.

[Sunapee Sailing]

I was wondering how to factor in travel time.
Thanks DanM for your thoughts