Question about selling a Mac

[waternwaves]

bought mine dry from a spouse of a dead sailor wannabe.

I admit it was not my first boat, and I was pretty much decided on that one prior to driving 300 miles to see it. (was on a 1500 mile multiple mac inspection trip.)

I had sailed and been on other macs, they are easier to inspect when not in the water.

i personally do not find that most newby sailors make impulsive mac buyers. generally if you are or were comfortable dinghy sailing the mac is a fun upgrade.

I performed Comp check on the motor, vacuum check on the fuel system, electrical check and start on the , looked at the PO kluge wiring,but observed the high quality fixtures and components he had added and knew that I would be modifying it.
filled the ballst tank with water, checked trailer bearings etc..........
I also knew the nissan 50D was underpowered for such a heavy boat anyway. and figured on replacing it soon....(ahhh where have the last 8 years gone........) With the right test gear,

For an sailor with mac experience, and a decent amount of mechanical and electrical inclination (no degree required) one can make a good decision.

now here is the caveat.
I have not met a 30 yr old male or female, without engineering training or vehicle repair training that I would trust their observations and judgements about any boat anyway.

Very few of the younger generation have any understanding about repair and maintenance of anything mechanical. By far the most dont fix their cars, boats, refrigerators,, computers, marriages, etc. it is all disposable.

If a 30 something called and wanted to see the boat in the water,
I would invite him to come over and hitch it up, and I will ride with.
otherwise, where is the cooler. If he/she doesnt have a tow vehicle, why is he looking at my boat.
IF he/she doesnt know how to back up a truck to a 4500 lb load,,,,,,,,he doesnt need my boat.
if he/she doesnt know a left handed floor joist router from a spinnaker barrel.......well, it is not likely he wants a mac.

Most mac owners own=

some sort of leatherman type pocket tool
a multimeter
an air compressor
duct tape
buffer polisher
grease gun
real wire strippers

and a big cooler to haul all the goodies in.

now I know there are exceptions........but in general I find the above to be true. I probably know 2 dozen mac owners personally now. And in most case they seem to be a pretty capable lot.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

i vote for the $100 trial-ride fee.
and if the buyer decides to purchase, the $100 is deducted from agreed-upon sale price.

i've done that in the past when selling a used car.
the prospective purchaser can take to a mechanic "on his own dime".
if the buyer then decides to purchase from me, I'll deduct up to $100 from the agreed-upon sales price.

Bob T.
"DāBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI (14" x 11 pitch)
Dinghy Motor: '06 2.5-Suzuki

[kmclemore]

Rich had a good experience, thankfully, but as a seller I would *never* let anyone take a vehicle (boat/car/whatever) out of my posession without passing title prior to release of the vehicle.

The reason is not so much about the check bouncing or anything - though certainly that's a risk - but instead is more about liability and insurance. You see, until that title is passed to the new owner, you own *total* responsibility for the vehicle and all who travel in her... so if somebody runs into it, sinks it, or God-forbid drowns on it, you're on the hook 100%.

Payment should be by certified bank check, if you want to take a check. Me, I prefer the U.S. Treasury's "Presidential trading cards" myself.... the nice green paper ones.

As for a deposit prior to a sea trial, that is usual and customary for yachts, and $100 is pretty standard... you could go $50 and it would work as well - nobody want's to drop $50 and then pull a no-show.

As far as letting them help setup/takedown, well, I suppose I'm of a different thought on that... I frankly think that a serious buyer won't be scared off at all... indeed, if they participate in the work it begins to have them 'bond' with the boat and feel a part of the process and product - like they are already the 'captain' of their new boat - as opposed to having it all set up and ready to go, as if they were a passenger.

[MadMacX]

Guys, I really appreciate all your input. This board is amazing with it's depth of knowledge.

In reading over all the responses, I think I too like the idea of offering an on the water test with a $100.00 deposit, refundable on the purchase price. That should hopefully weed out the "tire kickers" and those that are just looking for a day on the water.

I don't have any fear of putting the boat on the water for a demo. It is a good solid boat with a few of the normal worts that a 12 year old boat would have. The engine, while on the smallish side, performs well and will pass any mechanical tests that the future owner may wish to conduct. It's certainly not a new boat, but it has years of life left in her, so on the water, or in the driveway, I think that a buyer will see what they want. I just don't want to get jerked around, like I did with the first guy. If I HAD to unload my boat I would probably do whatever was necessary to move it, but that is not my situation. I have half a notion to just place it on the trailer in a marina with mast up storage and use it when I want some quite time.

As far as payment......well, I too like dead presidents, and if you don't have them, don't call.

Again, thanks for all the well reasoned responses,

Pat

[kmclemore]

Of course, instead of selling the boat, you could consider replacing the Admiral!

Seriously, though, you could consider joining a sailing club or other organisation that would have folks that you could sail with besides your wife. There appears to be a few yacht clubs at your local lake....

http://www.wcsc-sailing.org/
http://www.bigwatersailingclub.org/

Also, if there's a Sea Scouts branch near you, you might join up as an adult leader and use your boat as a training vessel. It's loads of fun, and you'd be passing on some very important skills and experience to a lot of appreciative young folks. I'm a Boy Scout Assistant Scoutmaster, and I enjoy it very much.

Here's some links:

http://www.seascout.org/

http://www.ship300.org/

http://www.georgiaseascouts.com/

http://www.gwinnettbsa.org/front_page

http://sregion.seascout.org/

[MadMacX]

Of course, instead of selling the boat, you could consider replacing the Admiral!

Seriously, though, you might want to join a sailing club or other organisation that would have folks that you could sail with besides your wife. Also, if there's a Sea Scouts branch near you, you could join up as an adult leader and use the boat as a training vessel.

Dam*it Kevin, I knew someone would bring that up. I'm already on my second admiral, so I don't think that is a viable option.

It's funny that you mention the Sea Scouts. When I was growing up in Minnesota I was a member of the Sea Scouts and that is where I developed my love of the water. I'm not sure if they are still around, in my area, but I'll have to check that out. Of course, I'm not sure that the Sea Scouts are looking for an old, opinionated, politically incorrect "adult leader" either. In addition, I really doubt that the Sea Scouts allow "adult beverages" aboard a training vessel.

Pat

[kmclemore]

I wouldn't worry about being old, politically incorrect and opinionated... most of us guys are when we get to a certain age... it comes as a package deal with the aching back and hairy ears, I think. Scout leaders aren't perfect... they just are there to give what they can to the kids.

One other note... if you're able to put off selling for a while, you might preserve more of your investment, since the market is kind of soft just now for boats and other mid-priced 'luxury' items (the high-priced market never seems to go soft, though). In a few years, if/when the economy recovers, you might pull more $$ on your sale.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

If I HAD to unload my boat I would probably do whatever was necessary to move it, but that is not my situation. I have half a notion to just place it on the trailer in a marina with mast up storage and use it when I want some quite time.
Pat

Hi Pat,

Likewise, my Admiral isnt into the joys of sailing and boating as much as I am -- although we occasionally have guests, do the "water thing" joyfully, or do a weekender in our nice Marina.

Sounds like you have a good idea...hold on to her (the boat). Its nice having that "quiet" time in the offering with a Mac and a nice day on the water, especially if you enjoy sailing, and water stuff.

Anyway, since your not under pressure to sell...just stick a "for sale" sign on her, if some one is interested, fine, if no one is interested, thats better.

Good luck on whatever direction you choose !

[Russ]

Let them come see it (kick the tires) on the hard. If they still want to test drive, take a deposit. But if they won't even come to your house/marina whatever, that is the first cut of lookie loos.

When I sold my runabout, that's what I did. They came to the house...looked at it and I took an 80% deposit before letting them hook it up and drive it.
I really didn't want to ride with just to test drive it, but then again it wasn't an expensive boat either.

If I were selling my Mac, I'd be driving and they'd be watching.

--Russ

[pokerrick1]

Dam*it Kevin, I knew someone would bring that up. I'm already on my second admiral, so I don't think that is a viable option.

Only two Amateur

Rick

[pokerrick1]

if he/she doesnt know a left handed floor joist router from a spinnaker barrel.......well, it is not likely he wants a mac.

What's a left handed floor joist router

Rick Less

PS What's a spinnaker barrel

[Hamin' X]

You can see a left handed floor joist router at Home Depot, in the left handed tool isle, just past the left handed monkey wrenches.

Spinnaker barrels are an obsolete item and on boats that may still require one, muffler bearings may be substituted.

~Rich

[moondancer]

Rich is that where they keep the left handed floor joist router. I thought I saw them under the metric adjustable wrench display. Mike

[waternwaves]

Rick,

i dont think most of us are affluent enough to afford that many X-Admirals


At the tender age of 15, I walked into a hardare, supply and tools store looking for a job. The Owner (Gary Frankovich) sized up the callouses on my hands and told me I could have the job If I could find the left handed floor joist router. I smiled and laughed. And waited...... and waited...... his brow furrowing..... then I grinned and asked him....... electric or pneumatic?

I got the job.

My grandfather and my fathers uncle sailed as kids. I learned on a little el toro kind of thing at about 7 years old (the same year I learned to be a torpedo waterskiing) I would go out to the little boat and wait for the wind.......sometimes......there wasnt much wind. And my great uncle would tell me to point the barrel on the dock until I caught enough wind to fill the barrel and it would roll of the dock. He called it the spinnaker barrel.

If there was enough wind for that.........

He is pushing 84 now........still skiing and was teaching at Schweitzer Mountain until a couple of years ago.....

[fdeoreo]

Hello,

I don't post much but wanted to write about this. Keep it for a while or you can sell it, or a little of both. I like your not too far neighbor's idea of keeping it somewhere mast up, and then you can either sail it at your leisure or meet a potential buyer there and you can give them a test ride and enjoy a couple hour's sailing anyway. For what it's worth I bought mine without a sea trial but as some others have mentioned the impression I got from the seller is what made the difference. As for waternwaves I hate to do it but please check out my link on the repair of the chrysler transaxle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbVY5teBzlg

francis joshua