Best time/place to sell a boat on the east coast USA

[CaptJamesCook]

What the others have said

Spring I would say is optimal But a lot of lookers starting in FEb, March.

Maybe any state that does not have sales tax on boats.
0n a $100,000.00 boat it could save up to $6500.00

But guess sales tax can not be avoided.
I was looking at a used sailboat in Maine sales tax is just over $11,000.00
That could have been a new boom furler!~
Or new standing rigging!~
That could have created some jobs.

Maine has collected sales tax on this boat three times now. Who ever buys it next will be the fourth owner.

[montigre]

Originally Posted by epiic

Interesting...

I am surprised you guys suggest I go all the way up to the Chesapeake.

I thought Florida was the best place to sell a boat.

The Chesapeake is the sailing capital of the East Coast....

[nitpik]

Originally Posted by CooksFraming

0n a $100,000.00 boat it could save up to $6500.00

Try buying a boat in Ontario ....... every time a boat changes hands, the gov't. collects 13% tax!

I am trying to buy a boat from the US.
First, I have to pay the extra 36-38% for the Canadian dollar exchange rate.
Then, if the boat was not built in Canada or the States, I must pay duty.
Finally, I get to pay the 13% Harmonized Sales Tax on top of that.
All compounded!
So, a $100,000 US boat will cost me about $170,000 Canadian.
This might explain why boat sales are in a slump, at least north of the border.

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by epiic

Sure would be nice to get listed on Yacht World.

Too bad only brokers can list a boat there...

A good broker is very likely going to sell your boat for more than 10% more than you can sell it for. And they are going to earn it by fielding calls, showing the boat, handling the paperwork, etc.

Your boat is almost brand new. It's worth going through a broker to sell it.

[Hudson Force]

Some other considerations about where to purchase a boat deal with the water and the temperature. If a boat is located in fresh or brackish water opposed to a higher salinity, then the salt induced corrosion can be far less. A boat kept at a higher latitude will have less UV damage to materials, but a possibility of damage from water freeze and thaw. In addition, boats in Florida are used year 'round. A New England boat of the same age would have half the use.

Chances are that a 20 year old Great Lakes boat would be in better condition than a 20 year old Key West boat, but there's a huge difference individual care and maintenance.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by epiic

I am curious... Where did the actual buyer find your listing?

I had stated earlier that I would come back to this question after asking the buyer of my boat. As I had said, I had it listed in about six different locations, five of them free and one with a nominal charge,- no brokers.

The new owner (as of tomorrow morning) found my boat on the Cruisers Forum Classified Ads. Actually, I believe the boat caught his notice because I was active on the forum listing threads with my projects and the many notes about the boat.

Some had suggested that I might have gained a better price listing through a broker, but I doubt if this is likely. When I first made inquiries with brokers I was encouraged to ask far less for my boat. They had pointed to the "book" value and not considered the equipment, care and maintenance. Brokers encouraged me to look at the average sale prices of 1973 Morgan Out Islands and were suggesting that I stand in line with the other abused and forlorn neglected boats of that age.

I'm not posting here to discourage people from using brokers, but the brokers are not the people with the best knowledge of a specific older boat. It seems their focused task is to encourage the buyer to offer more and the seller to accept less.

I think the best deals are those with both parties a bit disappointed. Sure, I would like to receive more money for my boat and the buyers would always want more boat for less money.

'final outcome is fine for me. I'm placing my boat in the hands of a young responsible couple who will likely gain great joy and adventure from the vessel that my wife and I have treasured for the past 32 years.