Picked up an amazing used boat from leisureliquidators.com They have a yard at Toefield that they will move a boat to from their Winnipeg yard for free. We got an 1989 Bayliner 1810 Fish 'n Ski with a 1999 120HP Force 2 stroke and trailer for $6500 shipped! (The boat is my profile pic)
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My last 2 boats have been new and I will explain why.
Let’s say I’m in the market for a new 18 foot aluminum fishing boat. I go into the dealer and see that one set up the way I want it is $65,000.00. Fine, that a bit of money but I’m ok with that. Now I go look at the used market. I see a barely used 2013 of the same make and model as the new one I looked at. Looks nice and clean. Barely used. The original owner won’t go done below $45,000. So I’m going to save $20,000 and have a like new boat. Probably not. I’ve come to find out that barely used boat in Alberta means the original owner did no maintenance or upgrades and wants to get rid of the boat boat boat before it cost him a bunch of money. First off as soon as I get the boat depending on weather the bowmount is a 24 or 36 volt I’m going to have to replace all the batteries including the starting and house battery. That’s $1,000 right there. Then I look at the electronics. They are 6 or 7 years old. They are obsolete and can’t be upgraded. So another $3,000 for some basic units. Then I need to do some wiring for all this new electrical gear. $300 here. Then I take a look at the outboards. Original aluminum prop on the main motor. New stainless prop $800. Might as well get the right prop for the kicker $200. Now I check the main motor. Hope the guy changed the leg oil in the last 6 years. Now I check the water pump impeller. Hasn’t been changed. $400. Another $200 for the kicker. Then I look at the trailer. Dang, the bunks have dry rot from being stored in the heated garage. $300. Wheel bearings need done. $200. Need new tires $400. And all this does not include my time in which I will value at $4000 for 40 hours. And I missed a week of boating with my family. Priceless. So the barely used 2013 boat in the end cost me maybe $10,000 less than a brand new one and I still didn’t get any warranty. A good deal? Not in my books. I would happily buy a barely used boat. At 50% of new. Otherwise, no way. |
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As for your point though, I completely agree, you're still saving a LOT of cash. It makes a ton of sense to go used if you can find the right boat that's been taken care of at the right price. I sold mine, 4 years old, loaded, like new condition, with under 200 hrs on it and still under warranty for $25-30K less than the cost to replace it new. That $25-30K is a giant leap in how much boat you get when it comes to comparing prices on new boats. |
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The simple answer is don't buy that boat for $45,000 if it needs all that work. Keep shopping until you find a better deal where either the boat doesn't need the work/mods, or the needed mods/maintenance are factored into a much lower asking price. It can be done, just takes some time and a willingness to go on a road trip if you find the right deal. |
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The simple answer is don't buy that boat for $45,000 if it needs all that work. Keep shopping until you find a better deal where either the boat doesn't need the work/mods, or the needed mods/maintenance are factored into a much lower asking price. It can be done, just takes some time and a willingness to go on a road trip if you find the right deal.[/QUOTE]
You are quite right. After having several used and 2 new boats I know that what is required to make a boat safe and fishable. Non of the items I listed above are “wants”. They are all necessary maintenance items. Others may have a different opinion and that is fine. Sure, I might find a decent used boat that fits my needs - after spending hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars searching. That’s why I said I’m not paying any more than 50% of new. Most people place very little value on their time. Time is valuable - a precious commodity that can’t be replaced. I have no interest in spending my time rebuilding someone’s junk. I can always get more money I cannot replace that time once it has been wasted. |
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The rest of your maintenance items, when you combine the cost you quoted, plus the value of your time, you'd be better off just dropping it off at the dealer and having them do it. Same price, or less, in the end, and you don't lose any of your valuable time doing the work. I know you're trying to make a point, and it is valid, it takes time and effort, but if you spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars trying to find a boat, you're doing it wrong lol.:) |
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And getting a dealer to look after most maintenance items is usually a big waste of time and money. Most dealers do not even know how to prop a boat correctly. The less time spent at the dealer the better. Is that my new boat? Yes. Good, here’s your money. Off to my marine mechanic. |
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Are you your own marine mechanic? If not, sub "dealer" with "marine mechanic" and the point from my last post is the same. If you've found someone that's good and charges fairly, you're lucky, they're worth their weight in gold. At any rate, there's definitely no right or wrong answer, and I'm not trying convince you of anything, I just enjoy a good discussion. |
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