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We're considering selling our boat and would like some advice or opinions related to various methods. My gut tells me that now is a bad time to sell, so what can anyone with experience recommend. Should I go with one of the advertised web sites like Boattrader or Usedboats.com? Haven't had much luck with the local rags selling similar items and property, and would like to also consider THT site. What do I need to do?
Thanks,
CUZ
I sold my boat last October and I too thought it was the very worst time to sell, certainly a buyer's market end of season. Granted, my boat was pretty "marketable", a 24' Albemarle, but I did nothing but bought a wheel and advertised it right here on THT. I had at least a dozen interested parties and ended up selling it in less than 2 weeks. I think a lot depends on the boat more than anything......is it something people desire?
In my opinion, you're going to reach a very broad base of prospective buyers right here and the price cannot be beat. It'll stay on there for a long time, you have an open dialogue with interested parties and you can add photos to your ad at any time. I'd say give that a couple weeks, if it doesn't pan out here, try some other avenues?
I sold my 2004 Whaler 190 Nantucket by placing ads here on THT, Continuouswave, and a local rag called the Salty Dog on the Jersey Shore. The biggest suggestion I will make is to take many nice high-quality pictures, from various angles, and lay out the pictures nice (perhaps in a webpage? Maybe you have a .mac account?)
I feel I did a fair job truthfully representing my boat, and a fine gentleman stepped up and bought it. I think that, of the three sources I advertised though, the special exposure the moderator of Continuouswave gave my boat's ad, and the pictures of the boat here on THT, made the sale happen. The guy who bought actually told me he lurks on both sites.
As for the Salty Dog? Six months after I sold my boat a few guys called, each time at 11:00pm, and asked if she was still for sale.
If you have a Whaler you should be on CW and THT. If any other boat make, I say boattraderonline.com and THT. Good pictures a must regardless!
I just sold a 2000 grady white marlin for a friend. Got several hits from Craig's List! Finally sold from boat trader online or the local paper, not sure which yet. No interest from THT 'cause there aren't many of us up here in the frozen North!LOL
thom
1. CLEAN your boat !!!A clean boat that looks good will sell faster. I cant tell you how many boats I looked at when selling my boat that looked like crap. Needless to say I didnt spend much time on these boats.
2. Make a list of all the specs on your boat top speed, cruise speed, gph burn etc. These seem to be the most asked questions.
3. Detailed description of all the upgrades and electronics on the boat.
4. List if you have a trailer with the boat and if it will be sold with the boat. If it is on a trailer you might offer to deliver within a radius of where you live for free.
5. Good pictures nothing sells a boat like good pics.
Try selling it here I had alot of response to my add here. If it is priced right it will sell.Good Luck.....Mark
Tried to sell my boat early spring and got just a few inquiries and pullled it off the market so i could use it over the summer. Put it back on Boattrader online in August and had many inquiries and sold it immediately. Did not put it on this site because I see too many people chiming in with negative comments about a boat for sale. Most of the time it is hearsay like "I have heard its a bad boat ..... or a friend told me they constructed badly" etc.
Still a good time to sell it so don't wait.
Good luck!
Wow, thanks to all of the great advice. Looks like I'll go ahead and gather the info. and put it on THT, even though I may get some bad rap from some, I can deal with that. If I don't get any response, then may try boat trader. Used it once before and it didn't seem to be all that great, maybe it was the boat, a Seaswirl Striper 2150. The boat we have now and will be selling is a '91 Grady Gulfstream w/twin counter rotating 150's. Oh yeah, I guess I'll need to buy a "wheel" and could someone please enlighten my technologically challenged mind about this continuous wave thing?
Selling our Boat 
