Calculating the Value of a boat?

[Lou4444]

Hi there

My husband and I have done 2 years of research and are now buying our first Liveaboard narrowboat. Is there any 'formula' for the value of a boat, do you immediately take the VAT off and then is there a depreciation per year? We are looking at a boat that was bought new in 2009 for £105 000. The owner is now asking £85 000.00 for it. She has been well maintained, serviced, blacked but the interior fitout was cheapish and it is showing it now. Also it has had the same anodes from new ( which worries me).

This may be a really dumb question as boats vary soooo much.

Thank you very much

 

[Grace and Favour]

Hi Lou,

 

Umm - - no - there's no particular formula . . . there are so very many variables, (including the builder, the internal fit-out standard, how it's been looked after and mechanical maintenance, as well as how attractive it is to a particular buyer!

 

My very first reaction is that £85K sounds expensive for a 2009 boat unless it is really exceptional..

 

Is this boat being sold through a broker, or is it private?

 

If you've a link to any web advertisements for it, forum members will doubtless give you their thoughts and comments on it.

[PaulG]

Hi there

My husband and I have done 2 years of research and are now buying our first Liveaboard narrowboat. Is there any 'formula' for the value of a boat, do you immediately take the VAT off and then is there a depreciation per year? We are looking at a boat that was bought new in 2009 for £105 000. The owner is now asking £85 000.00 for it. She has been well maintained, serviced, blacked but the interior fitout was cheapish and it is showing it now. Also it has had the same anodes from new ( which worries me).

This may be a really dumb question as boats vary soooo much.

Thank you very much

 

A boat is worth what a buyer is prepared to pay for it.

If you don't believe that this boat is worth what the buyer is asking, then make a lower offer, and see what they say.

Anodes from 2009 are probably not a problem, AFAIK the erosion rate varies widely.

Personally I would get a survey before buying, which would confirm the condition of hull and anodes and might provide some ammunition to get further price reductions!

[Paul's Nulife4-2]

Hi ya, & Welcome to the Fourm.

Ultimately, A Boat is only worth to you, how much you would actually pay for it !. Most people will buy with there eyes & gut feelings, But There are SO many other contributing factors as to the value not least-

Pedigree of Boat Builder

Capabilities of Boat

Build Material

Market supply and demand for that particular Make and Model

Boats use since launched interesting trips/cruises made ect

All thease may alter the true value. And thats before we even get on to the Mechanics, Systems or Fitout specifications.

 

So I think it's very difficult to have an exact formula for true worth of a boat in my opinion,

 

As you say,you have done some digging in to this, have a look on past pages of the For Sale section in this forum for NB that have been sold, it may help as yet another guide for you.

Edited April 15, 2014 by Paul's Nulife4-2

[MtB]

For a Liverpool Boat to have been £105k new I'd say this is a widebeam.

 

If an ordinary narrowboat I'd say this is so grossly overpriced as to be laughable. Liverpool Boats where the Skodas of the boatbuilding world whilst they were around. Every expense spared in their construction, shall we say. So be careful and get a survey.

 

MtB

[Woodstock]

For a Liverpool Boat to have been £105k new I'd say this is a widebeam.

 

If an ordinary narrowboat I'd say this is so grossly overpriced as to be laughable. Liverpool Boats where the Skodas of the boatbuilding world whilst they were around. Every expense spared in their construction, shall we say. So be careful and get a survey.

 

MtB

Where does it say Liverpool boat

[cotswoldsman]

For a Liverpool Boat to have been £105k new I'd say this is a widebeam.

 

If an ordinary narrowboat I'd say this is so grossly overpriced as to be laughable. Liverpool Boats where the Skodas of the boatbuilding world whilst they were around. Every expense spared in their construction, shall we say. So be careful and get a survey.

 

MtB

That sounds like a bit of a generalisation I told the shells were better than many. I have a friend who bought a LB shell and then spent £90k having it fitted out to include only Oak and Mahogony wood I have been on many boats but have yet to see such luxury including a bed that folds away at the press of a button. I have a LB it was not fitted out by LB

[Tuscan]

If you are serious about this boat , sounds a bit expensive to me if the fit out is tired, get a survey and be there with the surveyor, he should be able to give you an idea of value as well. There is no substitute for looking at as many as possible.

[Chalky]

Liverpool Boats where the Skodas of the boatbuilding world whilst they were around. Every expense spared in their construction, shall we say. So be careful and get a survey.

 

MtB

 

More of a Ford Escort than a Skoda (although the latest Skodas, VWs and Audis are the same car...). Liverpool produced lots of boats off a process that was more stable than many bespoke builders. They also had some very good (and very poor) design features / quirks.

[Lady Muck]

There is no substitute for looking at as many as possible.

Agreed, we looked for over a year before we bought, it's the only way to get a feel for prices. Before we even went to view any, I looked online most nights. The best way of understanding overpricing/hard to sell boats is when you notice the same boats on brokerage for the same price for months on end. There are some that have been advertised online for one, even two years.

 

And anodes are relatively cheap to replace - redoing a fit out could be pricey as could a repaint.

Edited April 15, 2014 by Lady Muck

[Athy]

Mr. Boiler, did you perhaps read "Liveaboard" as "Liverpool"?

 

 

To the OP: if the owner was daft enough to pay a six-figure sum in 2009 for a boat with a low-grade fit-out he's probably daft enough to think he'll get 85 grand for it now. When he finds that he can't, he may well listen to your lower offer (if he's not too daft).

[Paul's Nulife4-2]

Mr. Boiler, did you perhaps read "Liveaboard" as "Liverpool"?

 

 

To the OP: if the owner was daft enough to pay a six-figure sum in 2009 for a boat with a low-grade fit-out he's probably daft enough to think he'll get 85 grand for it now. When he finds that he can't, he may well listen to your lower offer (if he's not too daft).

(Messrs Daft & co.)

 

 

Don't forget, it is still very much a buyer's market regarding boats, So chance your arm if your set on this particular boat for whatever reason!.(subject to survey ofcourse)

Edited April 15, 2014 by Paul's Nulife4-2

[Lou4444]

Hi there

My husband and I have done 2 years of research and are now buying our first Liveaboard narrowboat. Is there any 'formula' for the value of a boat, do you immediately take the VAT off and then is there a depreciation per year? We are looking at a boat that was bought new in 2009 for £105 000. The owner is now asking £85 000.00 for it. She has been well maintained, serviced, blacked but the interior fitout was cheapish and it is showing it now. Also it has had the same anodes from new ( which worries me).

This may be a really dumb question as boats vary soooo much.

Thank you very much

 

Wow thank you everyone for your response. Yes we have been looking for a long time and have viewed many many boats. Of course we will get a survey done, but thank you for the advice to be there when it is surveyed.

The boat is not a normal narrowboat

http://www.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=322660

 

this is the canal boat article on its sister boat that is exactly the same.

http://www.canalboat.co.uk/canal-boats/boat-tests/braidbar_60ft_1_2256767

 

Thanks everyone.

[Athy]

Apollo Duck link comes up as "page not found" and Canal Boat link does not work either I'm afraid.

[Paul's Nulife4-2]

Both links didn't work for me,but good luck in your hunt

[Woodstock]

Is it strawberry fields?

 

http://www.apolloduck.co.uk/listings.phtml?view=1&layout=1&fx=GBP&minv=84999&maxv=85001&minl=0&maxl=0&ymin=2009&ymax=2009&sort=0

[Paul's Nulife4-2]

Or Moon and Sixpence !

[David Schweizer]

 

More of a Ford Escort than a Skoda (although the latest Skodas, VWs and Audis are the same car...). Liverpool produced lots of boats off a process that was more stable than many bespoke builders. They also had some very good (and very poor) design features / quirks.

 

Really, why do they look different then? I have been looking for a replacement for my aging Passat and was persuaded to look at Skodas, they are not the same cars. Although they share many of the same mechanical components, they are not built by VW/Audi and are not built in Germany, and do not seem have the same quality as VW's either. The diesels are definitely noiser inside than the (alleged) VW equivalents.

 

Skodas are built in the Czech Republic, tranported by train to Emden in North West Germany, then shipped to Grimsby by boat. If they are real VW's why don't they carry a VW or Audi badge?

Edited April 15, 2014 by David Schweizer

[Alan de Enfield]

You wouldnt need to take the VAT of on that boat as (from the description) VAT wasnt paid in the first place (Tax Exempt). - Could be worth investigating as it may be an issue in the future.

 

From previous threads it doesnt appear that a N/B can be Tax exempt.

[Athy]

 

. If they are real VW's why don't they carry a VW or Audi badge?

For the same sort of reason that Land Rovers don't carry a Tata badge perhaps? VW bought Skoda some years ago, so the cars are VWs in the sense that they are built by a company owned by VW.

 

Our local garage owner, an experienced man who knows his cars, reckons that Skodas often have the floorpans, engines etc. of the previous generation of VWs.

[cotswoldsman]

 

Really, why do they look different then? I have been looking for a replacement for my aging Passat and was persuaded to look at Skodas, they are not the same cars. Although they share many of the same mechanical components, they are not built by VW/Audi and are not built in Germany, and do not seem have the same quality as VW's either. The diesels are definitely noiser inside than the (alleged) VW equivalents.

 

Skodas are built in the Czech Republic, tranported by train to Emden in North West Germany, then shipped to Grimsby by boat. If they are real VW's why don't they carry a VW or Audi badge?

A vast majority of VW's are built in Czech Republic or shipped from there in KD and assembled in Germany.

[Lou4444]

It is Strawberry Fields

[Guest]

Really, why do they look different then? I have been looking for a replacement for my aging Passat and was persuaded to look at Skodas, they are not the same cars. Although they share many of the same mechanical components, they are not built by VW/Audi and are not built in Germany, and do not seem have the same quality as VW's either. The diesels are definitely noiser inside than the (alleged) VW equivalents.

 

Skodas are built in the Czech Republic, tranported by train to Emden in North West Germany, then shipped to Grimsby by boat. If they are real VW's why don't they carry a VW or Audi badge?

They are the same car in the same way as a FIAT 500 is the same car as a Ford Ka in that they share a substantial number of components, and actually in this case they are actually built in the same plant in Poland. Though ISTR ford have or are about to cease production of the Ka.

 

That is what was meant, but I think you knew this really.

 

Skodas don't purport to be VW's but they are owned by the same parent company and are actually widely regarded as being built to the same quality standards as VW and Audi. It is just marketing that allows the VAG group to charge more for the Audi and VW product. As to quality and reliability just ask your self why you see so many Skoda Octavia taxis?

 

It is only brand snobbery that stops people buying with their head but rather with their heart. There was a report recently that I can't locate now that VAG group were starting to 'down spec.' their Skoda models because market research was showing people were bypassing the more expensive VW's in favour of Skoda's because they were adopting a 'why pay more for what is effectively the same car' type attitude.

 

So although quality may the same people may find the specs. are not.

[Nightwatch]

A great number of Hondas are manufactured in the Uk. They are still owned by Honda and the Quality Control is the same.

 

Skoda are owned by the VW group. They have certainly improved since this happened. I haven't looked at VW or Skoda cars for many years, but I have assumed that the quality of each would be similar. At the end of the day you get what you pay for. Perhaps sound proofing and build quality is reduced on the Skoda to enable VW to achieve a higher premium, and remain the better quality of the two.

 

Pick the bones out of that ramble.

 

I still wouldn't buy a Skoda, although they seem nice cars. Having said that I drive a Citroen!!

 

Martyn

[David Schweizer]

For the same sort of reason that Land Rovers don't carry a Tata badge perhaps? VW bought Skoda some years ago, so the cars are VWs in the sense that they are built by a company owned by VW.

 

Our local garage owner, an experienced man who knows his cars, reckons that Skodas often have the floorpans, engines etc. of the previous generation of VWs.

 

I think you will find that it is Seats which are re-badged VW/Audis from the previous generation, made in Spain in a factory owned by VW. Supposedly very nice cars, but almost impossible to sell second hand especially those based on the Audi range. Not surprising really, who wants to pay a lot for a five year old car whose design was ten years old when it was built.

 

Skodas did (and to some extent still do) tend to share the same floor plan as VW's, but apparently some of the newer Skodas now use their own floorpan.

 

Edited to add: A friend of ours recently bought a two year old Skoda Octavia, I have been out in it, and it is a nice car, but it just didn't have the same quality of feel as a VW, and it was definitely noiser inside than a Passat.

Edited April 15, 2014 by David Schweizer