2nd Hand Boat Show

[StevieN]

As someone looking to buy a 2nd hand narrowboat (maybe widebeam, the jury's out atm) there seems precious few boat shows where one can view several second hand boats in one location. 

The main boat shows seem to concentrate on new builds or those with very, very deep pockets.

 

The only alternative is, of course, to go traipsing round the country.

 

Surely it would be more convenient to have a dedicated show where several could be showcased together?

Or does such an event already take place and I'm not aware of it?

[MtB]

5 minutes ago, StevieN said:

As someone looking to buy a 2nd hand narrowboat (maybe widebeam, the jury's out atm) there seems precious few boat shows where one can view several second hand boats in one location. 

The main boat shows seem to concentrate on new builds or those with very, very deep pockets.

 

The only alternative is, of course, to go traipsing round the country.

 

Surely it would be more convenient to have a dedicated show where several could be showcased together?

Or does such an event already take place and I'm not aware of it?

 

Or just visit a few of the many marinas that have a dozen or three boats for sale all in the same place?

[StevieN]

25 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Or just visit a few of the many marinas that have a dozen or three boats for sale all in the same place?

Like I said, the alternative is travelling and making several journeys.

 

The point I'm trying to make is asking why there's no second hand dedicated boat show with everything in one place.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

18 minutes ago, StevieN said:

Like I said, the alternative is travelling and making several journeys.

 

The point I'm trying to make is asking why there's no second hand dedicated boat show with everything in one place.

How would such a show pay for itself? When you are travelling round to different vendors, you are paying for the travel. If the vendors are travelling to a show, then they are paying for the boats and their people to attend. Each boat requires an HGV and specialist crane to move. Thousands of pounds to do. Why would a vendor want to do that?

With new boats, the builders are selling their skills with a demonstration boat showcasing their work. Worth their while for many to attend Crick. With secondhand boats, each one is unique and shows their builders skills and their previous owners upkeep. Each is different and has little to do with the vendor, other than show what they are prepared to accept for sale.

[mrsmelly]

40 minutes ago, StevieN said:

Like I said, the alternative is travelling and making several journeys.

 

The point I'm trying to make is asking why there's no second hand dedicated boat show with everything in one place.

Boats are not so easily moved about, many are several days travel apart, the logistics and costs involved would be horrendous which is why there are many brokerages about for you to visit. Think of it more like buying a house that you travel to look at.

[M_JG]

52 minutes ago, StevieN said:

Like I said, the alternative is travelling and making several journeys.

 

The point I'm trying to make is asking why there's no second hand dedicated boat show with everything in one place.

 

As others have said. There is absolutely no incentive to gather a load of used boats together - it would be a logistical and expensive PITA.

 

The best you can get is t'internet, visiting one of the larger brokers or at Crick the brokers who do attend normally have details of the boats on their books on display, but not the actual boats unfortunately.

[cuthound]

2 hours ago, StevieN said:

As someone looking to buy a 2nd hand narrowboat (maybe widebeam, the jury's out atm) there seems precious few boat shows where one can view several second hand boats in one location. 

The main boat shows seem to concentrate on new builds or those with very, very deep pockets.

 

The only alternative is, of course, to go traipsing round the country.

 

Surely it would be more convenient to have a dedicated show where several could be showcased together?

Or does such an event already take place and I'm not aware of it?

 

More convenient for whom, you or the hundreds of boaters who would have to take their boats to these shows?

 

Your best bet is to visit the Northamptonshire area where several brokers are within a few minutes drive of each other.

[MtB]

27 minutes ago, cuthound said:

More convenient for whom, you or the hundreds of boaters who would have to take their boats to these shows?

 

 

And probably pay through the nose to join the show, then suffer hoards of members of the public tramping through their boat and criticising it while trying to stop them nicking any of your personal possessions....

 

It is a moment's thought to realise just how unrealistic the proposal is, for other reasons too.

[StevieN]

1 hour ago, mrsmelly said:

Boats are not so easily moved about, many are several days travel apart, the logistics and costs involved would be horrendous which is why there are many brokerages about for you to visit. Think of it more like buying a house that you travel to look at.

If a sales event was set up in a few locations on the network - Coventry Basin/Llangollen Basin, those kinds of places, it would be fairly easy to cruise to those locations. I'm thinking of people that don't want to pay brokerage costs but rather sell direct. 

Costs of mooring and some cost to advertise. It's not against the will of man for someone with a bit of nous to organise.

[cuthound]

4 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

And probably pay through the nose to join the show, then suffer hoards of members of the public tramping through their boat and criticising it while trying to stop them nicking any of your personal possessions....

 

It is a moment's thought to realise just how unrealistic the proposal is, for other reasons too.

 

Indeed, when I was first looking for a boat I took Mrs Hound to Whilton Marine, where they allow you to visit the boats unsupervised, so that  could show her many different boat styles and the difference between quality boat builders and cheaper ones. I was amazed at the number of boats with missing fitments such as drawer knobs, presumably by boat owners who had found it difficult to source older items for their own boat.

[StevieN]

38 minutes ago, cuthound said:

 

More convenient for whom, you or the hundreds of boaters who would have to take their boats to these shows?

 

 

For the people with money who want to buy!

If you've something to sell no matter what it is, it is *you* that should be making the effort to bring the customers to you.

[cuthound]

2 minutes ago, StevieN said:

 

For the people with money who want to buy!

If you've something to sell no matter what it is, it is *you* that should be making the effort to bring the customers to you.

 

THat is why brokers and Apollo Duck exist. 

 

When buying a car would you expect private owners to bring their cars around to your gaff to show you?

 

 

[MtB]

3 minutes ago, StevieN said:

 

If you've something to sell no matter what it is, it is *you* that should be making the effort to bring the customers to you.

 

 

How quaint that you think that!

 

Welcome to the 1950's standard of customer service that exists throughout the world of canal boating.

 

You're going to have to get used to it or you're in for a whole world of disappointment and frustration.

 

 

[mrsmelly]

10 minutes ago, StevieN said:

 

For the people with money who want to buy!

If you've something to sell no matter what it is, it is *you* that should be making the effort to bring the customers to you.

It looks like you have come up with a unique idea!! Why not set it up and make yourself a fortune?

[MtB]

8 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

It looks like you have come up with a unique idea!! Why not set it up and make yourself a fortune?

 

 

Great idea. I'd definitely come along for a nice day out and a look at some boats.

 

Entry would be free, right? 

 

 

 

 

 

[MrsM]

16 minutes ago, cuthound said:

 

THat is why brokers and Apollo Duck exist. 

 

When buying a car would you expect private owners to bring their cars around to your gaff to show you?

 

 

Exactly what I was going to say. 

[cuthound]

14 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

 

How quaint that you think that!

 

Welcome to the 1950's standard of customer service that exists throughout the world of canal boating.

 

You're going to have to get used to it or you're in for a whole world of disappointment and frustration.

 

 

 

If the OP is finding the boat buying process inconvenient, then I doubt that he is sufficiently resilient to cope with the trials of boat ownership, unless he has very deep pockets.

[M_JG]

23 minutes ago, StevieN said:

 

For the people with money who want to buy!

If you've something to sell no matter what it is, it is *you* that should be making the effort to bring the customers to you.

 

If it's such a great idea and easy to do and coordinate just ask yourself why it doesn't happen.?

[Annie cariad]

Typical non boating knob heed post Wake up dude it's no different to buying a used Anything...,. Travel to ,few, buy or walk away...

[Tony Brooks]

1 minute ago, Annie cariad said:

Typical non boating knob heed post Wake up dude it's no different to buying a used Anything...,. Travel to ,few, buy or walk away...

 

I am not sure whether that is fair. For a non-boater with little idea, I think it would be easy to think that there must be a boating equivalent of the likes of Car Giant, who advertise hundreds of cars on show in large sites. He may well think that getting a boat to a show is just like driving a car to a destination, with no thoughts of the costs for cranes & lorries, let alone manpower time and the actual seed boats can travel on canals. However, it may suggest the OP needs to o far more research before he parts with money for a boat.

[Annie cariad]

Only wish I had one to sell ....LOL

 

[M_JG]

20 minutes ago, Annie cariad said:

Typical non boating knob heed post Wake up dude it's no different to buying a used Anything...,. Travel to ,few, buy or walk away...

 

Did you ask the charm school for a refund?

[David Mack]

2 hours ago, StevieN said:

If a sales event was set up in a few locations on the network - Coventry Basin/Llangollen Basin, those kinds of places, it would be fairly easy to cruise to those locations. I'm thinking of people that don't want to pay brokerage costs but rather sell direct. 

Costs of mooring and some cost to advertise. It's not against the will of man for someone with a bit of nous to organise.

Boats are for sale at all times of the year. Events like Crick mostly happen once a year. So whenever your event is to take place it could only ever attract a small proportion of the boats which are going to be up for sale that year.

[Tony Brooks]

3 hours ago, StevieN said:

If a sales event was set up in a few locations on the network - Coventry Basin/Llangollen Basin, those kinds of places, it would be fairly easy to cruise to those locations. I'm thinking of people that don't want to pay brokerage costs but rather sell direct. 

Costs of mooring and some cost to advertise. It's not against the will of man for someone with a bit of nous to organise.

 

You have no idea, but if you are so sure, then make yourself some money by organising such events. Roughly speaking, on a narrow canal (you name narrow canals) you would be lucky to do 3 to 4 lock miles per hour. Now, get your self a canal map, mark where the brokerages are and then calculate how long it would take to get the boats there. Each brokerage would need a fair number of crews of two, so now work out how much it would cost at say a labour rate of £30 to £40 an hour plus insurance. That assumes the brokerages could find enough causal labour competent in boat moving. 

 

As for private vendors, many simply have to work and won't have the time to move the boats, and why should they when the brokerages and the internet do the job.

[Sea Dog]

Fantastic idea! However, this is a tiny market compared to, say, the car market, it so it would be silly to try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it should just follow the model of the "Second Hand Car Show". Obvious really - I mean, can you imagine having to traipse around dealers to buy a second hand car? Bonkers!