DEJA VU!

[Captain Kidd]

Some of you may recall that last fall I drove 500 miles (one way) to purchase a new-to-me tow vehicle and came back empty-handed. Well, it's happened again! This time I drove 700 miles (one way) to purchase the Hunter 19 that I've mentioned. I came back empty-handed again!

Wednesday I drove out to Independence, MO, what turned into a 12 hour drive. I arrived and the seller had the boat in his driveway.

Let me give you the back-story. We've been working on this deal since last fall. We just never could work out a time that suited us both for me to drive out: weather, schedules, doctors, etc. I had agreed to purchase with no deposit required.

In our discussions, and after he sent me current photos, it was revealed that the boat was not in "excellent" condition as advertised. He commented that someone had included that in his ads without his permission and told him he could sell his boat quickly. I guess he used some kind of service. (I've actually had people contact me recently offering to help me sell my boat.)

The boat was supposedly in a barn for a couple years. To make this long story short, the boat turned out to be in fair condition at best and the motor would not start. Sticker on the boat was dated 2020 and trailer tag was 2019. Sails were limp as rags, halyards dry-rotted, gelcoat chalked very badly and the boat was beyond filthy. He had power washed the exterior which helped the appearance a little, but still... The price was pretty good for Hunter 19's as I'd seen on others, but it still didn't make up for the condition. I made him a low-ball offer, he countered but I declined. Though I had given him my word that I was good for the purchase, I felt he had been less than forthcoming and I do not feel guilty for backing out of the deal.

Made the return trip yesterday in 13 hours with a couple brief stops.

The highlight of the trip was the bridges and rivers. I crossed the Ohio River on I-24 and at Cairo, IL; crossed the Mississippi on I-64 and at Cape Girardeau (and at Cairo twice just to say I did it); crossed the Missouri River 4 times (twice out and twice back). Lots of construction along the way, especially on bridges.

Oh, well - 1400 miles, 25 hours driving, $200 in gas, 2 days lost at church and no boat. Guess you could say I'm still in the market for a pocket cruiser. Buyer supposed to take delivery of the 18.5 next Saturday. If for some reason that deal falls through, I won't be too disappointed.

Here's a few photos. Sorry no commentary.

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No MO sign but I think you'll get the message

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some bridges

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confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

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stayed at a KOA

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Back to the drawing board.

[Brian N.]

Sorry that you were so badly misled. Your positive attitude is to be commended. When I was shopping for a boat, I looked at many used boats, and was always disappointed. In particular on one boat, I opened the companionway hatch (freshly painted) and it  broke right in my hand. Walked away, with the owner very angry. Another boat looked as if it was abandoned and the interior had mud wasp nests everywhere. The owner had posted some beautiful pictures but from another boat! In the end I went to the Annapolis boat show and purchased a new boat

[Krusen]

Sorry you had such a bad experience with the seller.  On the other hand, I would have enjoyed that round trip.  I understand crossing bridges for the view!  It would have been particularly fun with you diving and me sightseeing.


When I sold my Mac 22, I had several people try to low ball me without seeing the boat.

I had several people make appointments, and not show up.  I called one no show, he said he had 3 appointments that trip, the first 2 were so ratty he just went home.

The one appointment that showed up, climbed all over my boat, inside and out.  Finally, sitting in the cabin, he asked me what was wrong with it, that I was not asking more?  I said "Nothing, I just need to sell it, and do not want hagglers, Do you want to buy it?".  He signed a purchaser agreement at asking price, and later paid in cash.

He said he had looked at a lot of junk at similar prices, and was happy to find my boat.

[Brian N.]

Honesty pays off in good vibes all around. Over the years I've sold several of my cars for below "book" value simply because I knew the car had issues, and was always upfront with potential buyers.

[Frank B.]

That's too bad, but at least a decent trip.  I've purchased two boats from afar with good results.  The first, a Columbia 8.7 was in Warwick, RI, but I had a business trip to Windsor CT, so stayed an extra weekend and drove over to look at the boat.  It was mostly as expected, made an offer a little less than asking price and the deal was done.

The second was the Compac 23IV which I currently own.  I made an offer over the phone subject to inspection and was turned down.  Three days later they called me and said that they had reconsidered as they had already bought another boat and did not want to risk the expense of wintering the Compac.  So I drove over to Guntersville, AL where the boat was moored and found it was exactly as indicated, bought it and towed it home.

I never sailed either boat before I bought them.  The Columbia was on the hard for the winter and the day I viewed the Compac was windless.

[Captain Kidd]

I've owned three pocket cruisers. The first I drove two hours to see it. I'd never sailed or boated. Didn't know what to ask or look for. Returned home and discussed with my wife. She agreed to go look at it. I made them an offer and headed home. They called before we got home and accepted the offer. Returned and trailered the boat home. Turns out the boat was in fair but serviceable condition. The hull was starting to delaminate! But I sailed her for 5 years without sinking her. LOL

#2 I bought my Mac 26 from original owners who were 80 and retiring from sailing. Drove 500 miles to make the purchase. A good buy.

#3 I negotiated over the phone and bought her sight unseen. Drove 350 miles to take possession. Owners were avid sailors and moving up to a larger boat. Another good buy.

I had some suspicions about this sellers recollection though not really his honesty. ? I know that sounds contradictory. In hindsight I'm still unsure.

In any case, I passed and am moving on. I've already got my eyes on another H19.

In the meantime, I'm due to deliver the 18.5 this Saturday.

[Timm R Oday25]

I say good for you . Why ? I've always thought it best to be able to just walk away .
When we drove from Madison Wisconsin to Lake Carlisle in southern Illinois to buy our 25 Oday ,
that was the atittude I had . The boat was not even close to the description. Most of the horror wouldn't be discovered until I crawled down into the cockpit !
Hurricane Katrina was expected to make landfall several hundred miles to the south of us any minute .
 I have never experianced rain like that. While the boat needed considerably more work that represented it was close enough that I took the chance. Not often I do that. I figure I can only spend that money once .

[Ed]

That is pretty much what we experienced with every boat we looked at, the write up was anything but accurate on all of them, even the one nice one that slip fees kept us from buying, didn't have everything listed that a 5 minute conversation with the seller revealed.   

[Captain Kidd]

That is pretty much what we experienced with every boat we looked at, the write up was anything but accurate on all of them, even the one nice one that slip fees kept us from buying, didn't have everything listed that a 5 minute conversation with the seller revealed.   

Sent you a pm

[Wolverine]

a couple of years ago i saw a boat on yacht world that looked good so i made an appointment with the broker, flew down to tampa, rented a car, and drove 2 hours to look at it. at first sight i new it wasn't the boat listed. he said the listing pictures were of a "sister" boat. this boat had been donated to a charity that teaches troubled youths to work on boats. it did have new sails, a new westerbeke and transmission. however all the interior drawers, doors, electronics, and what nots were removed and sitting in the v-birth. the deck looked like a dried up lake bed that the broker said only needed "a little paint". i took pictures and  told him he misrepresented the boat and how angry i was. my plan was to report him as i figured there was some organization for brokers, but never looked into it.   

[Charles Brennan]

Ed, I am curious as to your statement: 

That is pretty much what we experienced with every boat we looked at, the write up was anything but accurate on all of them, even the one nice one that slip fees kept us from buying, didn't have everything listed that a 5 minute conversation with the seller revealed.   

Do you mean that they left out defects or shortcomings, or do you mean that they did not mention features or selling points? 

I am getting close to putting Urchin on the market and do not want to be perceived as one of these types of sellers, wasting everybody's time and (more importantly!)  not selling the boat.
I would like to avoid all those shortcomings, if possible.

Inquiring minds want to know!
Charles Brennan

[Ed]

Most of the write ups were missing key features/problems/issues that when I inquired further with the seller the facts came out.  When I get information begrudgingly it leads me to think there is even more that I haven't asked about, yet.  Case in point was our new to us Hobie Tandem Island.  Originally listed as a garage kept pristine TI with a great trailer, Hobie supports, dual cockpit controls, etc.  Two days before we drove up to Knoxville I was told that the tires were original (2014) but look great.  I asked for the tire size and hub size so I could get a set at Wally World (Memorial Day is not the time to look for tires) and asked about the last time the bearings were serviced, answer was, "what?"  I got them to take $300 off the price to offset the new tires/rims and my butt jacking up the trailer and packing the bearings.  On Sunday before we left I got a list of 10 or 12 "small" things that wouldn't be a problem.  Bent Mirage Drive peddles, a couple of bad clips, stretched bungie cords on the amas, etc.  Decided to make the trip, anyway.  Got there and the trailer was worth as much as the boat.  A nice Shorelander trailer with swing tongue, Hobie cradles, and the only rust was a light coating on the springs.  Most of the stuff on the boat was simple stuff that he should have taken care of before.  Mirage Drive blades are $80 each times 4.  I told him I would try to straighten them but that was $320 if I couldn't and a Tuneup on a TI (adjust all the lines running around the inside and untangle them) is $120 so I asked for another $400 off, he countered with $300 more and we drove off with a 2014 TI in pretty good shape on a great trailer for $3200. 
I think the more information you provide the better chance you have of finding a real buyer.  There are a lot of tire kickers out there.  If you offer demo sails make sure you charge $100 for it, up front, and apply it to purchase price if they buy the boat.  Twice I had people on vacation get a ride on my first Sea Pearl Trimaran I sold because I didn't charge for a demo sail.
You have done all kinds of work on Urchin.  List the recent stuff and post lots of pictures.