Boat prices

[JemShaun]

Looking at coming back to the water after several years on land,  and we have been looking to buy a boat for us to live on.  I have been watching the usual brokerage sites, however what has happened to the prices? Some are so overpriced its actually any wonder they sell. Is this the norm now or are people just trying their luck?

 

Edited February 21, 2023 by JemShaun

[Machpoint005]

A boat is worth what somebody will pay for it. Always had been, always will be.

 

 

Never harms to make a cheeky offer, though.

 

 

[JemShaun]

That is very true, however my cheeky offer would be a total insult to the owner 😁

[mrsmelly]

Boats, as with houses have risen significantly in the past 3 or so years. Any boat or house or car or whatever, is worth precisely to the penny what any one person pays for it on any particular day. At the moment however, boats cannot realy be described as value for money in many cases. Thing is, waiting around until everything falls, in to perfect alignment financialy and you may well wake up dead before you do anything.

[matty40s]

Boat prices are only overpriced if the boat stays on sale for months on end. Well maintained and looked after boats are selling almost as soon as they hit the websites, some before(as people are waiting for such boats, and a good broker will have a list of potential buyers).

[David Mack]

The pandemic led to people who couldn't travel overseas on holiday buying boats, folk who no longer needed to go into the office every day found living (and working) afloat more appealing than renting in the city, and others just chose to redress the work-life balance by trading in a hectic work life for an easier (semi) retirement. All have pushed up the demand and prices over the last 3 years. And although post pandemic life is getting back closer to normal there hasn't (yet) been any substantial fall in boat prices.

[LadyG]

12 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

Boats, as with houses have risen significantly in the past 3 or so years. Any boat or house or car or whatever, is worth precisely to the penny what any one person pays for it on any particular day. At the moment however, boats cannot realy be described as value for money in many cases. Thing is, waiting around until everything falls, in to perfect alignment financialy and you may well wake up dead before you do anything.

When you say current prices are wrong, ie too high, I have to disagree, we know new prices have risen significantly, labour and steel being main reasons. This pulls up prices of older boats. It just does.

Edited February 21, 2023 by LadyG

[rusty69]

Whilst prices have undoubtedly risen (or the currency devalued), there appears to be quite a few sellers just trying it on imo. Silly asking prices for some boats.

[David Mack]

2 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

Whilst prices have undoubtedly risen (or the currency devalued), there appears to be quite a few sellers just trying it on imo. Silly asking prices for some boats.

Well if they sell, they are not silly prices. But maybe silly buyers!

[rusty69]

Just now, David Mack said:

Well if they sell, they are not silly prices. But maybe silly buyers!

IF, being the word.

[Machpoint005]

5 hours ago, JemShaun said:

That is very true, however my cheeky offer would be a total insult to the owner 😁

 

Well, make a cheeky offer rather than an insulting one?

 

Never forget ... if in doubt, walk away.

 

 

[MtB]

6 hours ago, JemShaun said:

Looking at coming back to the water after several years on land,  and we have been looking to buy a boat for us to live on.  I have been watching the usual brokerage sites, however what has happened to the prices? Some are so overpriced its actually any wonder they sell. Is this the norm now or are people just trying their luck?

 

 

Have a look at steel prices and new boat prices, then the second hand prices you are seeing will all make a lot more sense.

 

 

[PeterF]

New boat prices went up 20% or more 2020 to 2022.

[IanD]

13 hours ago, PeterF said:

New boat prices went up 20% or more 2020 to 2022.

Certainly did 2021 to 2023... 😞

[LadyG]

20 hours ago, matty40s said:

Boat prices are only overpriced if the boat stays on sale for months on end. Well maintained and looked after boats are selling almost as soon as they hit the websites, some before(as people are waiting for such boats, and a good broker will have a list of potential buyers).

If I was buying for myself I would keep the brokers up to scratch by phoning regularly and telling them I am a cash buyer, they must get so many dreamers and timewasters you need to be on the ball.

[ditchcrawler]

41 minutes ago, LadyG said:

If I was buying for myself I would keep the brokers up to scratch by phoning regularly and telling them I am a cash buyer, they must get so many dreamers and timewasters you need to be on the ball.

I would have thought that probably 95%+ are cash buyers

[LadyG]

4 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

I would have thought that probably 95%+ are cash buyers

I would think that probably 15% are dreamers and 12.5% are timewasters

[cuthound]

When my boat had its BSC last year, the examiner, who is also a surveyor suggested that the value of my boat has increased by 50% since I bought it in 2014.