Selling a 13-footer

[Jefecinco]

I'm seeking advice on selling my 1982 SPORT 13 with Mercury 30-HP on a nice trailer; I recently lowered the asking price to $6,500. I've heard a fair price will do the job, but I have had virtually no interest even after lowering the asking price. I'm considering posting on Craigslist--but one can get a lot of unwanted traffic there.

(See notice of for-sale in MARKETPLACE at

https://continuouswave.com/forum/viewto ... 635#p47234

for details.)

[jimh]

Sometimes you need to be patient, particularly if the boat is in turn-key condition, is well-equipped, and the price reflects its value. For a time I owned three Boston Whalers, and had two listed for sale. My SPORT 15 sold quickly. My REVENGE 20 W-T took over a year to find the right buyer.

You should add a few images to your post in MARKETPLACE. I can help you with that if you have problems uploading them. You can email the images and I will append them to your initial post.

[MisChief15]

I am trying to sell my Mischief, but there are no takers—yet. I think it's buyer market now.

[jimh]

I am trying to sell my Mischief, but there are no takers.

Your experience in offering your MISCHIEF 15 boat for sale is not directly transferrable to a seller offering a 13-footer. There are significant differences:

• the 13-foot hull is a much different boat than the 15-foot hull;
• the MISCHIEF is a very different model from all other 15-footer hulls, and the RED gel coat is just the start of the the major differences. Your RED gel coat MISCHIEF 15 boat will appeal to a much smaller group of prospective buyers than a classic 13-foot hull in Desert Tan gelcoat; and
• the classic 13-footer being offer by Jefecinco is really THE basic Boston Whaler boat, the one that started the company, and the number of these boats sold is probably far over 100,00-hulls, attesting to its universal popularity,

I think it's buyer market now.

I disagree. June is the start of boating season in the northern U.S.A, and boating should be in full-swing everywhere else. Right now is the best time to sell a boat.

Generally the asking price for a used boat will be the most influential factor is how many buyers will be interested, and the lower the asking price the faster the boat will sell.

A general problem when trying to sell a boat that is in really excellent condition, is equipped with a nice, modern engine, is on a trailer that is ready for the road and very well maintained, is the asking price will reflect all three of those elements of a trailerable outboard boat being in excellent condition and ready for use.

A lot of buyers may not understand the amount of work they will need to invest in buying a boat that is in a lower state of condition, with an engine that is not a modern engine that has not been properly maintained and probably needs repairs, and the huge benefit of a trailer that is ready to be towed on the highway for hundreds of miles without any problems.