Dont Ever Buy A Boat

TaffZee

TaffZee

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Points
183
Location
Near Llangollen North Wales
Model of Z
Z4 3.0 SE
Trying to sell my boat at the moment, only used it three times last year, really don't have the time, placed it with a broker for £5,500, been offered the full amount, but then the crap starts. Faults found and need repairing before sale.
Alternator Noisy Bearing=£178 (two hours labour????)
Starter Motor=£178 (two hours to fit starter motor????)
Tilt pump bracket broken=£265 (3 Hours Labour????)
Fuel Filter=£23
New Winch=£45
Speedo not working=£67
Tilt limit switch=£163
Bilge Blower=£120
Electrical Master Switch=£90

Plus other bits and bobs.

So what am I left with £4,400. Never again, (I said that last time) next time I will just stand on the harbour wall, and throw my money in the sea...
 
Have you got it insured?
If so, take it out to sea and scuttle it .... ;)
 
TaffZee said:
Trying to sell my boat at the moment, only used it three times last year, really don't have the time, placed it with a broker for £5,500, been offered the full amount, but then the crap starts. Faults found and need repairing before sale.
Alternator Noisy Bearing=£178 (two hours labour????)
Starter Motor=£178 (two hours to fit starter motor????)
Tilt pump bracket broken=£265 (3 Hours Labour????)
Fuel Filter=£23
New Winch=£45
Speedo not working=£67
Tilt limit switch=£163
Bilge Blower=£120
Electrical Master Switch=£90

Plus other bits and bobs.

So what am I left with £4,400. Never again, (I said that last time) next time I will just stand on the harbour wall, and throw my money in the sea...
Click to expand...

Less dealers commission on the full selling price.
I do wonder if the dealer shows buyer faults looking for workshop revenue sometimes.
 
Commission is £400,,,,,
Managed to save £128 on the alternator, going to get it refurbed for £50 and fit myself, It was only supposed to be an engine check, but they have picked up on other things. Must be quite in the workshop..
 
other options was to decline the sale, or offer to cover half the bills.

"It is second hand, Sir!"
 
Did tinker with the idea of buying a boat, but chartering one of the fantastic boats available all around the country is so much
cheaper and easier.

(Sea fishing, that is)
 
Yes, a boat is a hole in the water into which you pour money:whistle:
 
comes under the "three F's rule"

if it flies, floats or *****, rent it!
 
We ran a similar boat for 4 years after I retired, if you actually converted the hours used into miles ,looked at total of all running costs,[Loss of Value-Insurance-service-fuel-Permit-etc]
it came to a lot more per mile than just about any car ever would.
A ex boss ran an ocean going yacht ,likened it to standing in force 10 throwing £10 notes in the air.
 
TaffZee said:
Trying to sell my boat at the moment, only used it three times last year, really don't have the time, placed it with a broker for £5,500, been offered the full amount, but then the crap starts. Faults found and need repairing before sale.
Alternator Noisy Bearing=£178 (two hours labour????)
Starter Motor=£178 (two hours to fit starter motor????)
Tilt pump bracket broken=£265 (3 Hours Labour????)
Fuel Filter=£23
New Winch=£45
Speedo not working=£67
Tilt limit switch=£163
Bilge Blower=£120
Electrical Master Switch=£90

Plus other bits and bobs.

So what am I left with £4,400. Never again, (I said that last time) next time I will just stand on the harbour wall, and throw my money in the sea...
Click to expand...
I try to listen to what you guys are saying everytime I think about buying a boat. Just sold 2 waverunners after not using them for 7 years. Hope you get your money out of it Jimmy. Get yourself a pint of Welsh Pride after the sale. Then you'll feel better............Frankie
 
I had a jetski. Watercraft are such an expensive hobby. Maintenance and running costs for the small amount of time you get on the water just is crazy.
 
Davyhoogy said:
I had a jetski. Watercraft are such an expensive hobby. Maintenance and running costs for the small amount of time you get on the water just is crazy.
Click to expand...

My sons Seadoo can easily consume a tank of top grade Shell in an afternoon.
 
My business is actually in the marine trade, I supply and fit marine electronics, radar, comms, navigation etc. About 50-60% of our business comes from leisure boats. I recognise all what you chaps are saying and I see it on a regular basis on all scales.

At the moment, existing owners are doing their annual "must have it ready for easter" routine and I'm working 6 days a week trying to make hat happen, even though the weather will be rubbish and few will use them!

Brokers and training establishments are unusually quiet at the moment due to the cold weather. For @TaffZee to sell his particular type of boat, now, I would suggest if rather unusual, small pre-owned boats tend to be bought on an impulse on warm, sunny weekends when viewings are conducted in tee shirts! It would have sold much easier in 2 months time.

Servicing costs, well, unlike a car, the chap invariably has to travel to the boat and drag everything to the end of a pontoon. On Monday I did a 90 mile round trip to a boat and it was then moored quarter of a mile from the car park. I did 1 hour on board, but was out of the office for just over 4 hours. Today I have a 50 mile round trip. Their boat isn't my hobby, so I can't/won't do it for nothing. The irony is, my hourly rate for working on a £0.5M Sunseeker is lower than what you'd pay a bloke to come out and fix your £400 washing machine, the difference being, you can't live without a washing machine!

What do people lose? 2014 I was involved in a yacht refit. Including the yacht the chap spent 1.5M euros. He's just sold it for about £700k, his new custom 80ft is due to be delivered in June at around £6M. That will probably cost him £4-500k per year to moor, crew and run.

Like you said, "boats, a hole in the sea you attempt to fill with tenners".
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tfp
smiffy said:
My business is actually in the marine trade, I supply and fit marine electronics, radar, comms, navigation etc. About 50-60% of our business comes from leisure boats. I recognise all what you chaps are saying and I see it on a regular basis on all scales.

At the moment, existing owners are doing their annual "must have it ready for easter" routine and I'm working 6 days a week trying to make hat happen, even though the weather will be rubbish and few will use them!

Brokers and training establishments are unusually quiet at the moment due to the cold weather. For @TaffZee to sell his particular type of boat, now, I would suggest if rather unusual, small pre-owned boats tend to be bought on an impulse on warm, sunny weekends when viewings are conducted in tee shirts! It would have sold much easier in 2 months time.

Servicing costs, well, unlike a car, the chap invariably has to travel to the boat and drag everything to the end of a pontoon. On Monday I did a 90 mile round trip to a boat and it was then moored quarter of a mile from the car park. I did 1 hour on board, but was out of the office for just over 4 hours. Today I have a 50 mile round trip. Their boat isn't my hobby, so I can't/won't do it for nothing. The irony is, my hourly rate for working on a £0.5M Sunseeker is lower than what you'd pay a bloke to come out and fix your £400 washing machine, the difference being, you can't live without a washing machine!

What do people lose? 2014 I was involved in a yacht refit. Including the yacht the chap spent 1.5M euros. He's just sold it for about £700k, his new custom 80ft is due to be delivered in June at around £6M. That will probably cost him £4-500k per year to moor, crew and run.

Like you said, "boats, a hole in the sea you attempt to fill with tenners".
Click to expand...

I agree smiffy, Trouble is when people buy these second hand boats for £5,500 they want it perfect, all the important stuff has been done New Riser,New Manifold, New Gimbal bearing, New Bellows. New Trailer..

But come on 2 hours to change a starter motor, 3 hours to change a trim pump motor bracket, they charge £49.50 per hour which is very good, but then make the money on charging you stupid hours for the job, I changed the starter motor on the boat last year its two bolts a small bracket at the rear, and a few electrical connectors I had it out and in in 45 minutes, I estimate the bracket to take no longer than a hour, its 4 bolts holding it to the deck and a bout a half dozen bolts holding the pump and solenoids to the bracket. Two hours to change a alternator what's all that about, its a half hour job, once the engine cover is up you have all the room in the world, Boat is in the workshop so no traveling..
 
Last edited:
Should never say never though, if I could get a pull on the lottery, this would be mine, harboured somewhere in the Greek islands. Just big enough to skipper myself. without the need for crew.

sunseeker-mystique-42-68262070141652484966664967484570x.webp
 
Fortunately people do buy boats or I wouldn't have a job, and they have to put them somewhere. I have 480 at Brixham and had some considerable damage with the Beast From The East!!! I've never known weather like it in 15 years and still haven't got the place put back together yet!!
Renewals are going well so people still buying, happy days:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top