Help me sell my boat!! . . . .

[Charles Brennan]

It's tough selling a sailboat, especially if you've been the sole owner, approaching 50 years.
I'm getting ready to sell Urchin since I am rapidly aging out of being able to handle her in all conditions by myself; a non-negotiable personal requirement.
(That my wife keeps telling me not to mention to the people I want to sell her to.)   

Does that make you blind to what a buyer would see as a defect?
Does it give you an inflated idea of the boat's true worth?
Are the "quirks" that you haven't minded for half a century, a non-starter to a buyer, and how do you manage to see those things from a buyer's point of view?

Having been a regular contributor to TSBB since May of 1999, many of you are familiar with Urchin and her exploits. 
(Not like I've been shy about posting pics; the good, the bad and the ugly!) 

What do you think are her best selling points?
Weakest selling points?
Significant drawbacks?
Concerns, but not deal-breakers?
I've sold boats before, 3 power boats and one sailboat (a Sailfish; plywood pre-cursor to the Sunfish), but never a boat I'd invested most of a lifetime in, and I'm not sure how it colors my perceptions.
How do I describe everything pertinent to a potential buyer, without writing a novel?

Any and all opinions, welcome! 

Thanks,
Charles Brennan

[Jim B., CD-25]

The end of an era.

No doubt the emotional attachment will color your discussions with a potential buyer.  How do you put a price on 50 years of that attachment?  One thought: don't put a price on it... donate it to a sailing club, especially if there is a youth program.  There will be people there who will know how to maintain the boat and give it a new purpose.

The value to you has to be nearly priceless.  The value to the general public: it's a 50 year old boat... it hurts me to say this, but it has very little value.  And to a sailing club: the potential to generate some enthusiasm could also be nearly priceless.

As we age, we have to make some heart-felt decisions.  In 1999 (same year I joined here), I was riding a Harley and flying airplanes (as well as sailing).  These days, I ride a dual clutch transmission motorcycle and a small(ish) scooter; my flying days are behind me.

Good luck with the decisions, Charles.  You are a good man with a good heart.  If you need to write a novel about Urchin, there are some long-timers here who would enjoy that read.

Best wishes,
Jim

[Doug SC]

Jim has a point but if you do sell, just be up front with both its strong suits and deficiencies. That you have not felt the need to change sailboats all those years speaks for itself. Its history demonstrates its capabilities. That you recently did any needed work on it, and the trailer is very road worthy with superior bunks. I would think a listing between 3 and 6 thousand would be fair depending on sails and rigging, but the market will decide the value. I have seen Potter 19s go from 4 to 8 mostly the higher number that were built around 1995 to 2000.

[Monroe]

I agree with what Jim B suggested. When I gave up solo sailing my 15 year old Flying Scot about 5 years ago, I couldn't sell her for what I felt she was worth so I donated her to the local community sailing club on Lake Norman, NC. They already had a few Scots and were pleased to get one in prime condition with some extra features I added over the years to make sailing easier for me as I got older and weaker with balance issues.

[Brian N.]

Charles - We all will face the point where you now find yourself. Very recently I had to see a neurologist and received a diagnosis that is not great (sorry, not ready yet to share exact condition on a public forum). However, as my wife pointed out, I have friends and family that with a days notice, can go out on the boat with me. Perhaps that might be an option for you as well, before giving up sailing completely. Yes I might only get out a few times a season, but that is a fair compromise given the alternative of not sailing at all. If you go ahead with the sale of your boat, I would guarantee a prospective buyer would appreciate an honest assessment, in full detail. Best to you

[Travis Chapman]

Urchin is a significant reason I pulled the trigger to buy Panda Paws several years ago, so know that you have already made a difference and will continue to do so long into the future! Having gone through the process a couple times, my thoughts:
- I find limited descriptions but many pictures are helpful, or point toward resources like these forums
- A good buyer will go find the background info; help with accurate info (model and specific sub-groupings)
- I always had the best luck with buyers from Craigslist, but have sold on other sales platforms. I don't like Facebook Marketplace, but it may be a better audience if there's silence elsewhere. For me, CL was perfect: only boating weirdos like me are looking for sailboats!
- Don't worry about being too honest. I appreciate a good story for context, and some of my closest boating friends were met swapping boat parts like that. A good next owner will understand
- Clean is great and perfect is impossible; have a plan for what you will or won't do to prep for sale. In one case, the buyer actually asked me "just take everything and leave the absolute minimum so I don't need to worry about it" (given my history, got it ...)

Agree with others that the best next owner may be someone you can pass it on to and love from nearby. I still visit my old Aquarius 23 because the new owner and I became close friends, and the memories are still wonderful

What a great epic coming to a close, Charles. Hat tip as you make the transition!

[Frank B.]

Think I'm getting close to your status, so I've thought about it a lot.  I think I would/will focus on those things that I have modified to make the boat A. more comfortable to use for overnight living. B. Easier to launch, sail, and anchor in a single handed mode.  The list in both cases is extensive.  I would/will let the potential buyer view condition as it stands, only emphasizing that anything that has worn out in the past has been immediately replaced.  Records and receipts available to confirm, take the book home, read it and make your decision based on what you see and what can be confirmed historically.

Good fortune with this journey.

[Riley Smith]

I feel for ya! That's like getting rid of a part of the family in our own eyes. There IS a remedy and it can be had here: https://trailersailor.com/forum/index.php?topic=1068.msg6576#msg6576

[Noemi - Ensenada 20]

Hmmmm, you CAN be a little wordy....but people often like a lot of info on a used boat.  I would put together your ad or description like this:

1. The basic description of the boat, its history, and its condition.  Asking price.  Location. Weight.
2. A bunch of pics.  Make sure you get all around, in the cockpit, and into the cabin.  Not too many.
3. A list of upgrades, and maybe some reasons for them. 
4. A list of repairs.
5. Your opinions of the boat, best uses, comfort, etc. 
6. Any additional stuff you want to tell.

This give the casual reader enough info up front that they can decide early if they want to keep reading or not, and the truly interested buyer the kinds of things they need to entice them to read further.

Noemi

[Timm R Oday25]

As long as you asked ...
People looking for a boat under a certain dollar amount ,say 5 grand have expectations .Usually these are folks looking to get into their first boat for very little money .
Explain how everyything they might need is included . Trailer in good shape ,as well as the outboard and the sail are in decent condition.
 When I sold my Catalina 22 ,it was to a much younger couple who were just getting into sailing .
I showed them how to step the mast, how the stays were tensioned . I asked them what questions they had rather than just talking endlessly . Some thing I do when I'm nervous .

[Chris Muthig]

When you list it on Marketplace as one option, make sure you post a video of the motor running detailing the cooling stream.  Big selling point.  Also a picture of the mast up with the sails. 
Sailing Texas is the site I sold the Siren "Telepyleia", and the guy drove down from Pennsylvania to pick it up.  I barely got any attention from Craigslist or Marketplace.  Also, maybe sailing it on a WCTSS event with a big for sale sign in the bow pulpit couldn't hurt.  I might be talked into a ridealong.  A shot of all the "STUFF" that goes with the boat neatly laid out on the lawn next to the boat is a nice touch, also... all of the cushions, first aid kit, the 43 anchors that go with the boat, etc etc.  It's a really nice boat and should command some attention, but it needs to stand out against all the other boats for sale.  I'm about a month from being able to sail mine again, so if you want some action video we can work that out.

[Riley Smith]

Most of what I see on Marketplace in this area is better left in the woods where it was photographed. Anything clean and not an obvious poj gets a look. Haven't done any selling but one good photo will draw attention. I have no idea about price, either. One problem in THIS local area is the sailing culture isn't very big. There are many more in Biloxi/Gulfport/ Bay St. Louis and Pensacola in Florida. So that would increase your chances if the ads are locality specific ( haven't posted one in ages). A fare assessment of condition goes a long way. Throw in another anchor as a freebie. And some of the interior can be staged very effectively, so make sure it is EMPTY with maybe some cushions. So would a big banner saying ONE OWNER. Just some ideas and pointers.

[Chris Muthig]

Also make sure that when you post the pictures, the first picture is the attention grabber.  I see alot of people post "18' windrose" and the rest of the title gets cut off, then the first picture is a picture of a blemish in the side of the boat that doesn't lend any help in knowing what a windrose is.  First picture needs to be the picture that commands you to open the post.  Also, multiple listings in multiple surrounding areas helps alot, You'll list it in Gainesville, but also list it in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Pensacola, Tampa, Orlando, Ocala, and Daytona Beach.  Most people will drive a couple of hours to get what they really want (maybe even Wisconsin!) 

[Norm L.]

I liked that, Chris.
Leading with a very good photo of it is the lead into it. What someone has seen is the next step into the basic details of what they find of interest. The photos of areas that they would like and finally those lists of the bits and pieces of a boat's actual items.

I think that process could be the best and finally ending with the price. I have seen ads starting with the photo and the cost. It may work for one buying the first boat ever, but I think the lead into what this could be for someone can have the cost at the end of the view.

[Riley Smith]

Totally agree. You have about 1/10 of a second before that scanner decides to move to the next one in hopes of eye candy. Not too many pics though, because you ALSO want to engage. You know, as in person. Where the cash is. I don't know what I'd do with the catboat when it becomes untenable, but the way things are going I'd better spend some thought on that idea.