Mocking Ads on Craigslist

[Pertinacious Tom]

50 cents on the dollar is a whole lot better than a dime on the dollar, but the bottom line is the same: install something new on something old and you destroy the market value of the new thing. Destroying market value is not the same thing as destroying value.

I just completely wasted the market value of a new 60 hp Tohonda outboard by installing it on my old POS pontoon boat. I expect to enjoy my money back out of it.

 

[Dan33]

If we sold our boat today I would likely lose $20,000 (investment and improvements), divided by 8 years = $2500 per year for all the enjoyment we both get...money well spent!

In reality it doesn't really matter how large my investment is in GK, we have no expectation to ever part with her so she was a dead loss right from day one, and that's how I expected it to happen.

(now the $6000 I lost on our CS27 was a lesson I learned the hard way)

.

 

[SemiSalt]

As bad as the economics are at the bottom of the heap, it's worse at the top. The 0.1%-ers will spend millions for a new boat, but don't want a used boat at any price. Of course, the refit of a 5-7 yr old boat at that level is very expensive.

 

[SloopJonB]

Nope - only the pro shops with high buck clients make money doing it. Everyone in the business says to buy them already done - it's a lot cheaper than doing it, even yourself. Restoring one of those "old, beat-up Camaros" will easily run into 6 digits and return high 5 digits at best except in very special cases like Yenko's.

A proper paint job can easily run $20K alone - AFTER all the bodywork.

Kinda shooting down your own point...spend 100k resto'ing just another mass produced 1969 car, you'd be lucky to get back $50k.

Put 15 coats of varnish on just another old boat, and you'd be lucky to see cost of mat'ls.

Not really - restoring a car is seldom profitable unless done to order but if you choose wisely you can make back at least most of your investment. Pick a special car and you can make money - I turned down an FIA Cobra for $7500 once, now it would be worth as much as my house.

Restoring a boat is a guaranteed way to lose your shirt - even if you did a Swan you'll always lose..

 

[psychosailing]

They are very nice little boats and this may well be the best Haida in the world - it looks better than new in the pics BUT...... $24K for a boat that typically goes for $2K to $6K? In THIS market? They better hope there is that one person out there who always wanted a new one.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/4685845313.html

Yes it's sad. So it goes it's never worthy to invest a lot of money in an old boat unless you are going to use it (and heavily).

This Haida is a steal, at some 5k rebate at least. Altough it's evident the author of the CL is a bit too enthusiastic about her when he says "For such a small boat she has a large cockpit"... this is just a lie.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I just don't know what to say about this one. Except maybe to pay $10K for this, you'd need even more potent drugs than whatever the guy who built it was using.

OMG I just realized this thing is in VT. Not far from my old house. No, I won't buy it!

Edit: my bad, wrong state.

 

[Pertinacious Tom]

Restoring a boat is a guaranteed way to lose your shirt - even if you did a Swan you'll always lose..

There are odd exceptions around. Old Bertram 28's and 31's command a high price when restored to better-than-new condition and repowered with diesels. There was an outfit actually in that business ten years ago, not sure if they're still doing it.

Old "Potter hull" SeaCraft boats too. Most anything that age and size is chainsaw bait, but a 20' hull that has been separated from its deck and gutted runs about $2,000 - $3,000, depending on whether it has a trailer or not. Just about every other 20' powerboat from that era that has been split and gutted is a disposal problem, not something that can be sold for cash. Restored and repowered ones are darn pricey.

 

[SloopJonB]

When you've been advertising your boat for 2 or 3 years at $35K and it doesn't sell, why then RAISE the price by $3K and maybe that will bring someone out of the woodwork.

Then again, the ad has been viewed almost 11K times with no takers so maybe not.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/vancouver/columbia-34/367325824?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

 

[Pertinacious Tom]

It's the Dale Chihuly school of marketing. "It didn't sell for a year? Raise the price!"

The funny part is, people buy into it and hurry up to buy his work that doesn't sell before the price goes up. The guy is the marketing genius of our time. He managed to create this whole myth of rising value and get people to believe it, and because they believe it, it's real.

 

[RKoch]

It's the Dale Chihuly school of marketing. "It didn't sell for a year? Raise the price!"

The funny part is, people buy into it and hurry up to buy his work that doesn't sell before the price goes up. The guy is the marketing genius of our time. He managed to create this whole myth of rising value and get people to believe it, and because they believe it, it's real.

His "museum"/store has been here in St Pete for a decade or so. I haven't gone. I'm probably not missing anything. He sure does have a wealthy (and elderly) fan club.

 

[Pertinacious Tom]

It's the Dale Chihuly school of marketing. "It didn't sell for a year? Raise the price!"

The funny part is, people buy into it and hurry up to buy his work that doesn't sell before the price goes up. The guy is the marketing genius of our time. He managed to create this whole myth of rising value and get people to believe it, and because they believe it, it's real.

His "museum"/store has been here in St Pete for a decade or so. I haven't gone. I'm probably not missing anything. He sure does have a wealthy (and elderly) fan club.

I've gone. I was uninterested in going, but my parents wanted to see it. I would go again. It was pretty amazing. We also went to a glass blowing demonstration in some garage in the same neighborhood. That was interesting too.

 

[kent_island_sailor]

The 0 time engine would scare me off. Who would spend all the cash to put a new engine in and not use it unless it didn't run?

When you've been advertising your boat for 2 or 3 years at $35K and it doesn't sell, why then RAISE the price by $3K and maybe that will bring someone out of the woodwork.

Then again, the ad has been viewed almost 11K times with no takers so maybe not.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/vancouver/columbia-34/367325824?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

 

[SloopJonB]

That was probably zero time when the ad was first placed 2 or 3 years ago - I don't think the wording of the ad has changed, only the price.

 

[Dilligaf0220]

When you've been advertising your boat for 2 or 3 years at $35K and it doesn't sell, why then RAISE the price by $3K and maybe that will bring someone out of the woodwork.

Then again, the ad has been viewed almost 11K times with no takers so maybe not.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/vancouver/columbia-34/367325824?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

Does kinda look like a trailer park garage sale.

Meh you'd be surprised by raising the price. I had an old Kevlar solo racing canoe that was beat to hell. Still a great paddler, but oxidized gel coat, bad woodwork, patches here & there. Pristine a used one would go for $1k+, so I offered it at $350. Lowballers, traders, tire kickers out of the woodwork for two months. I bump the price to $500, its gone in three days.

Meh.

 

[Godzilla]

Here is one Scott should love.

Discount meth boats in Fresno!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/boa/4680519568.html

 

[kent_island_sailor]

Lancer 38ft Sailboat on 5th wheel trailer - $12400 (Fresno)

That boat is overpriced by $12,375 or so.

Here is one Scott should love.

Discount meth boats in Fresno!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/boa/4680519568.html

 

[SloopJonB]

Personally I wouldn't pay $12K for the best Lancer 38 on the planet.

 

[py26129]

...but come on, it's got a big ass trailer!!!!

 

[familysailor]

It does look like it's been used as a Meth Lab... Portable too.

 

[blackjenner]

Where to start, the absolute wreck that this project is, or the seller's defensive attitude?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/4671778922.html

27' X 14.5' Futura pilothouse catamaran project - $15000 (Everett)

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(google map) (yahoo map)


I am "considering" selling my 27' pilothouse catamaran project. I say "considering", as I have invested a ton of work and materials into this rebuild up to this point and am not willing to just give it all away. If I can sell it now, that is great, and if not, I will "pickle" it and get back to it in a year or so after I have finished rebuilding another boat I just purchased for a business ("Business before pleasure, as they say. . .)

Here is the short story. . .feel free to contact me for the long story and more details if you are seriously interested.

I bought the boat about 2 years ago, as I had been toying with the idea of making a "micro pilothouse sailing catamaran" with inside heat and steering systems. I also was only interested in foam-cored hulls, not wood, and this boat had them. They were made in Canada in 1985 by a company I know little about and is no longer in business. I then purchased 2 Yamaha High Thrust 8 hp motors and rigged them on temporary brackets. I cruised around the sound steering inside with my family on a few trips just to see how she handled (wonderfully, and ran at hull speed with only 1 motor going. . .the fuel economy was quite astounding).

At that point I gutted out a lot of moist plywood/polyester structure, and the waterline went down about 6 inches! Any part I tore out I replaced with NIDACORE and/or foam panels, including the main bridge deck floor (which I also built a slight arc into. . .it now feels like you are standing on concrete inside the boat. I mocked up all areas (head/galley/mechanics/beds/etc.)and started to grind out/sand and refinish the interior walls with cloth and epoxy.

All work was up to this point was done to a high standard with only the best materials. I have only used epoxy resin for any structural bonding and have avoided any type of wood core.

I have most of the remaining panels already made out of Nida-Core. . .they just need to be cut and installed, and of course will be part of any sale.

I also have a lot of gear that could be put into this boat, for example a brand new propane refer and stove, electronics (GPS, autopilot, etc.) Wallas heater, new electric windlass, new electric head, etc. All that can be negotiated, and will NOT just be thrown in, as I have spent quite a bit of cash on them, and will use it all later if and when I continue this project or on my other build. I also have foam and non-blushing epoxy that can be sold as part of the deal..if not, I can and will use it on my other project as well.

I have also had the idea of just turning this cat into a small cruising powerboat. That would simplify the process quite a bit, but I still have all the needed elements to remain a sailboat (mast/boom/rudders/etc.)

The boat is past the halfway point, but still needs a lot of work. If you are looking for a big project that will end as a very unique design when you are done, and are seriously interested in picking up this rebuild and running it through to its completion, then contact me. I will be happy to talk about it and show you the boat. . .in fact, I will insist that you see the boat after a bit of talk, as I think it needs to be seen to fully understand what it is and what it could be. The boat is located in Everett, WA on the hard.

I have a hard title for the boat in hand in my name with no bank liens or issues.

Thanks and be safe on the water...