You think boat shopping is hard? Try from New Zealand. Set me on a better course!

[Septic]

Nice, sounds like an awesome plan!

Seen anything you like?

Hooky if you are still on the hunt there is a pretty decent looking Birdsall that popped up today.

Pretty limited description and shit photos but looks like it has been well looked after. Has proven itself offshore. NZ$85k. Triple skin glassed over Kauri.
Only issues are the lifting keel (but if you are planning to cruise the tropics it's pretty ideal) and the fact it's almost 50 years old but this hull construction has held up really well if looked after.

Would certainly think it's worth a look. Apparently sold earlier in the year but the buyer wasn't good for the money.

 

[Not My Real Name]

but also because all the Cruisers up and left when borders opened, or didn't make it here at all and, there is a big lag in the boats on the way here. This was always a good jumping off point for many Cruisers to get out of the game after a couple of big passages so there was a consistent supply of boats available. Those days are gone and seem many years away now, if at all.

You are a bit late to the cruiser boat sale party.

We had several cruising pals in Whangarei selling boats that were EXACTLY what you're looking for in the range you're looking for or better. But that was in 2020/2021 when we were all stuck there going nowhere.

During that time there were also a lot of vultures looking to fleece trapped cruisers of their boats, I know I was left at the altar by two of them when I refused to drop big $$$ of the contracted price after surveys. (one survey was so good we bought it from the surveyor to help sell the boat and the eventual buyer used it, the other was...negligent and borderline fraudulent, to the point it looked written to drive the boat's value down)

I can't tell you what's there now, of course, since I'm no longer there. But I do know that everyone we hung out with before the borders opened pretty much had to get out of Dodge the second they could because TIEs and Visas were all running out. Many were unclear how long they'd have to stay out of NZ before they could return. I know a number of my friends are booked to weather cyclone season up in cyclone pits in Fiji, so perhaps they couldn't come back.


I think cruisers will return there, it's a great place to spend cyclone season and no reason not to go back. Though after nearly two years there during the pandemic, we saw an awful lot of what there is to see, but still not everything. So there's plenty to bring people back, even if they were there for the pandemic.

 

[Jono]

Linking into the above post. Anecdotally it seems there are some pretty good deals up in the Pacific. Families that have been away for longer than expected, parked the boats meaning to get back to them and it is getting all too hard. It is a matter of finding a god one vs an abandoned one. People with a bit of time to poke around and get the bar talk will do well.
In NZ I still can't believe the Farr 38 Fulmar hasn't sold. And for solo/couples there are a couple of Cavalier 32s at nice money.

 

[Cisco]

snip...
I think cruisers will return there, it's a great place to spend cyclone season and no reason not to go back. Though after nearly two years there during the pandemic, we saw an awful lot of what there is to see, but still not everything. So there's plenty to bring people back, even if they were there for the pandemic.

The 'Great Panama Enema of 2022' started arriving in NZ a few weeks ago. I counted (marinetraffic) 60 at sea north of NZ a few weeks ago and they are still coming.

 

[Not My Real Name]

The 'Great Panama Enema of 2022' started arriving in NZ a few weeks ago. I counted (marinetraffic) 60 at sea north of NZ a few weeks ago and they are still coming.

Yeah, I'm sure the marine industry in Northland is going to be just.

I think a lot of our friends who were there for two years with us would happily go back if their plans aren't to keep on going around the globe.

 

[Septic]

The 'Great Panama Enema of 2022' started arriving in NZ a few weeks ago. I counted (marinetraffic) 60 at sea north of NZ a few weeks ago and they are still coming.

I went to Whangarei a couple of weeks ago and there was what I can only describe as a squadron of catamarans that appeared to be winterized and stored in the marina there. I counted 6 Outremers alone, including a couple of big 55s.
Obviously this required a bit of looking into and it turns out Grand Large are doing a round the world rally, why some of these boats aren't cruising our beautiful coastline over the summer I'll never understand. Or perhaps there are a half dozen other shiny new Outremers cruising around that I didn't see.

Anyway back in NZ there is a steady stream of new boats coming on the market and a huge number of aforementioned cruisers arriving by the day.

Are you still looking @Hooky or could you give us an update? The cynical part of me suspects you just wanted to have a moan and aren't that serious about buying a boat.

@Jono you'll be pleased to know someone appears to have picked up Fulmar.

Anyway @Hooky I have another boat that's worth a look. Not sure how you feel about steel and obviously it's getting on but this big Mummery has been there and done that. Loads of gear.
It is a the top end of both your size and price range. Owner sounds like he loves the boat and wants it to go to the right person so you could potentially pitch low with a story about why you are the right successor. Few other good boats around at the moment too.

Trade Me

www.trademe.co.nz

That other Birdsall went fast. The Cav is still there. There are some really nice boats in the $140k to $160k range that might come down if they don't sell.

 

[Tylo]

Plan to liveaboard in my current job while saving and sailing locally.

That brokerage has the worst website around.

I'm not super familiar with tax laws in NZ but I've seen some ads for boats down there that proudly proclaim that the boat is fully imported to NZ. Is this something that you would need to consider for your planned use, and if so, have you taken that into account with regards to price comparison of a domestic boat vs a foreign one?

 

[Jono]

If you are a Kiwi importing allow 8% duty and 15% sales tax (GST). If you are from overseas buying in NZ you do nothing if it is already imported and I assume have to go through a few hoops if it is in NZ on a cruising permit.
There are a few mid 30 feet boats popping up at reasonable money (NZD 30-50k). Too cruisy for my taste but ideal for people wanting to do extended cruising on a budget.

 

[Hooky]

I went to Whangarei a couple of weeks ago and there was what I can only describe as a squadron of catamarans that appeared to be winterized and stored in the marina there. I counted 6 Outremers alone, including a couple of big 55s.
Obviously this required a bit of looking into and it turns out Grand Large are doing a round the world rally, why some of these boats aren't cruising our beautiful coastline over the summer I'll never understand. Or perhaps there are a half dozen other shiny new Outremers cruising around that I didn't see.

Anyway back in NZ there is a steady stream of new boats coming on the market and a huge number of aforementioned cruisers arriving by the day.

Are you still looking @Hooky or could you give us an update? The cynical part of me suspects you just wanted to have a moan and aren't that serious about buying a boat.

@Jono you'll be pleased to know someone appears to have picked up Fulmar.

Anyway @Hooky I have another boat that's worth a look. Not sure how you feel about steel and obviously it's getting on but this big Mummery has been there and done that. Loads of gear.
It is a the top end of both your size and price range. Owner sounds like he loves the boat and wants it to go to the right person so you could potentially pitch low with a story about why you are the right successor. Few other good boats around at the moment too.

Trade Me

www.trademe.co.nz

That other Birdsall went fast. The Cav is still there. There are some really nice boats in the $140k to $160k range that might come down if they don't sell.

@Septic @Jono I think I've found a few options to look at locally. I might wait until after the season in the Pacfic and see what's left up there as there are lots of boats on the way. For the meantime I'll just keep looking and waiting. I think my sailing summer has run short anyway.

Thanks for your input and advice everyone.

 

[Raz'r]

Well, shoot, you got me thinking that when this working gig is up, I should sail my West Coast US boat down to NZ (via some Islands) and just sell her there when I'm done...I need to add an anchor locker, but other than that...

 

[Jono]

@Raz'r - plus there are any number of cruising regattas along the way. Tonga, Musket Cove in Fiji, Groupama 600 in New Caledonia, the Australian East Coast (Magnetic Island, Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island, Port Stephens. You'll be able to race it with the squabs in. Then come to NZ.

 

[Raz'r]

@Raz'r - plus there are any number of cruising regattas along the way. Tonga, Musket Cove in Fiji, Groupama 600 in New Caledonia, the Australian East Coast (Magnetic Island, Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island, Port Stephens. You'll be able to race it with the squabs in. Then come to NZ.

shit, now you've got me thinking about how to spend my kids inheritance

 

[Jono]

There have been a few boats popping up as the end of summer draws near. Plus the lack of a summer in the North Island!
One that caught my eye is a Lotus 10.6 on Trade Me. All GRP and a lot of updates. At auction but if the starting price is $30k it shouldn't be a silly reserve. Also a couple of nice offshore cruisers. And Black Jack should pick up one of the Mull Chico 30s instead of his European jaunt. There are a couple at around NZD 25k. A Farr IMS50 Sababa has just been relisted at a no reserve auction of $50k. Built as Morning Mist in Australia. Nicely refitted.