trying to buy used boat major pain!
I have been looking at boats for a while and talked with several people over the phone about coming and looking at there boats. Man when it comes to me asking for a test drive that's where virtually no one I have talked to is interested in going any further. Am I missing something here? I would never buy a boat, car, or any damn thing without a test drive. I also wouldn't expect someone not to want one if I was selling my boat. I even had a guys wife yelling in the back ground saying, no way, no way, you want the boat come get it as is! (LOL crazy b*&%$) Maybe just a run of bad luck, but my God has anyone else ran into this? I am in the market for a sanger dlx trying to stay under 15k. Also would consider a ps 205 or sunssetter lx. My expectations are under 500 hours, clean, no major problems, everything must work, regular maintenance, etc.
Joel |
If someone is so adamant about you not driving it before purchasing I'd run away. I don't have any experience with boats in this department but my rule of thumb is if it has a motor you should be able to test it before buying. I've had people act odd when it comes to maintenance records and having a mechanic check out the vehicle. I just move on to the next one if I see that. No telling what they are trying to hide. Especially if you hear the wife yelling in the background lol.
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I probably wouldn't buy a boat without a test drive unless it was a smoking deal and it didn't need to run or the buy gave some type of guarantee.
Where are you located. If it somewhere where boats are winterized I could see people being reluctant if the boat is still in storage but other than that it seems strange. |
Also if you are picking boats that are priced way under market price then there may be a reason for that price. People may be trying to either dump something that doesn't work or could be looking for a quick sale without the hassel of test drives etc.
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Maybe re-phrase how you are asking for the test drive. Look at it and tell them you want to buy it contingent on a test drive. Give a deposit to show you are serious. I can see both sides. I had a boat that I gave 2 test drives and all parties wanted to buy it, but could not get credit approved. Literally ate up 2 days of time. I know make sure they are serious and ready to move forward with the purchase before spending the day demoing. If you follow those steps and still no test drive, then I would run...
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75% of the people i ever had come to buy any of my boats wasted my time, where rude, and stupid. I will never do it again. I trade them in and never look back. My life is too short to deal with it. If it was a solid lead from a reliable source them maybe. You have to understand, there is a 40 something group of buyers then a the 20 somethings, my last BU vlx, i must have had 15 kids calling me. I hope you find what you want and get to test drive it, but i would make you write a deal, have the funds secured then make the test drive contingent to the sale. You agree after the test drive, its yours. If not , the seller is pulling the boat to the lake, dirtying it, then having to pull it out and clean it, etc etc no way
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@ diggs I phrased it just how you were saying. I told everyone, look I'm serious if it is in said condition and tests out its a done deal or at bare minimum a serious offer. A test drive is also my one thing that I will not budge on is a test drive. I have cash saved so financing isn't a problem. Since I am mostly after a sanger dlx almost every person lives in CA, and say that there aren't lakes very close to them. (1h15min away) and that would require a lot of planning. Or one lady said she had never heard of someone test driving a boat and it must have just been because we have lakes that are close here.(LOL) Of course I have told them I would offer money for gas and their time if needed. One thing that is tough too is that I am located in Wichita, KS but I am willing to travel to California for the right boat, and it seems now the right owner willing to deal with me. Frustrating part is that I'm serious, have the money, and most people I have spoken to so far are reluctant to test drive. I would have bought on two seperate occasions if it would have ran ok and no signs of problems, but they wouldn't let me test run.
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It's a major purchase, used, and it needs to do the job you are buying it for. Test it. Seems simple.
I have walked away from dealers that needed me to sign a purchase agreement before a test drive. |
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One reason I wanted to see what others thought was that II was second guessing myself to a degree. I now know for sure that my gut was telling me the right thing. I don't think that I am being unreasonable at all for wanting to test drive. On top of that, that is a huge purchase at least it is to me. I just want a darn good boat that will treat me and my family right.
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I had the exact opposite experience. ha I got a good enough deal on a year old A22 that even if it had a minor issue or two it still would have been worth it. The dealership I bought it from INSISTED that I take it for a test drive after I told them it wasn't necessary.
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Up your price to 18k and you can come test drive my sanger all day. Get you into a nice v210 mechanically sound as all hell w/perfect pass/shark skin plus cover/well maintained😉
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Yep
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I agree with agreement to buy pending water test. Too many tire kickers & it's a waste of a day & fuel to just take people out for a spin if they aren't already committed to the purchase
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I have bought three boats, first one the deal was basically done before the test drive. The second two I bought off season from the same dealer, lakes were frozen. Have sold two boats. First went to my brother who had been in the boat many times. Second boat lakes were frozen, with both I did hook up a hose and ran them and then showed new owner how to drain everything.
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I test drove the '14 G23 I own currently (had to drive 5hrs to do so) and had the guy that bought my '10 Z1 come test drive it the day before he bought it. as the seller that was the 1st thing I offered was to come test drive it because that's (IMO) how you know if they are really interested or just kicking the tires. The buyer has to waste their time coming to see/drive the boat so its not just the owners time its both. If they are not serious they say "some other day", but if they really are serious they'll have a plan.
if the owner doesn't want you to test drive it then just deduct the amount to replace the motor and offer from there and explain why. If he doesn't budge then you know the motors on its last leg and that'll be the 1st thing you'll be buying when you get home. |
Maybe your problem is your expectations of 500 hours or less on an older boat! They hardly used it when they wanted it, why would they use it now that they want to sell it!! LOL.. In all seriousness, I think expecting a seller to take you on a test drive on your first visit is unlikely. No matter how serious you sound on the phone. You need to go see the boat first, then schedule a test drive for another day. If you aren't willing to make two trips,then you will have to take the risk. A seller should at least be able to hook it to a hose though! Unless of course its winterized.
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I think the geography plays a role too. For me, I could have a test drive completed with someone in less than an hour, as I have launches at 3 different lakes within 5 minutes of my house, so doing a test drive isn't a huge issue. If a test drive takes a day, then yea, I can see some reluctance. Either way, you're not out of line to want a water test prior to purchase, but you do need to make it clear that it's intent to buy at xxxx price pending water test.
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@ everyone. Thanks for the input guys I will continue on and hopefully be sharing some pics soon. The right boat and seller will come eventually.
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Oh man!! That's why. I was just in LA last weekend buying a boat and let me tell you it was miserable. I drive 6 hours to meet at a lake and got rejected because the guy ran the boat on the hose prior and didn't pass mussel inspection. Then we tried to go to a lake 20 min away just to be turned around because the other lake put a APB on him,these lakes were 1.5hrs from his house in Huntington Beach. So we ended up going to make Elsinore ,45 miles away. So 2.5 hours later we arrive at this horrible **** hole of a miniature ocean with 100 boats on it. Fml I'm never going down there again F that place and their lakes. So anyhow going To a lake in so cal is a freakin mission.
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Bizarre that so many people won't do a test drive or even run it on the hose. When I was selling my last boat I'd run it on the hose for everyone who came to look. If they were serious after that and wanted a test drive I'd haul it to the river but didn't have any takers. Two were gonna buy it when they got the money, without a test drive, but they never came through. Ended up driving 3 hours to meet a guy halfway between us and test drive each others boats for a trade plus some cash. Worked out well, he was debating whether to keep the boat or sell it but said someone walking his dog while he was going over the boat at home wanted it and bought it a couple weeks later before he even put it for sale.
The previous boat the guy did a test drive with no fuss. Was first time he had it out for the season so ended up having to find a drain plug and change a fuel filter as it wouldn't run wide open... But after that I was happy with it and made the deal, that one was a straight trade of my convertible for the boat. I was waiting on parts to finish a transmission swap in my truck that weekend so he delivered it to me, a 30-40 minute drive. That's my only two experiences buying boats, so no major issues. |
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People that won't let you test drive something crack me up. I mean do they really think anyone who is serious isn't going to want to drive it? I mean come on, you'd think they'd have insurance on it so if something were to happen, it would be covered? Selling something is a serious pain sometimes, dealing with people who waste your time and have no intention, or means to buy whatever your selling. Hell, even trying to sell something on craigslist is a major task these days, no matter how many times you put NO TRADES, some jackass will text you asking "any trades?"
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I talked with this guy today, he said that the engine was rebuilt at 280 hrs and now has 530 hrs, no issues since rebuild. He also said he has a small leak from the water pump, and a few areas on gel coat that were dinged on dock by previous owner. He is the second owner, he says that he has beached it so there are scratches on the hull from that. My thinking is one he shouldn't have beached it, but I don't think it should be a too costly to fix, of course I could be completely wrong. Please let me know if I am. He wants 13k for it what do you guys think? |
Looks clean. I like it. Not my money..but I would do everything I could to raise another 5k and buy Reds boat. IMHO
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It's gone😁
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Having sold several boats and jet skis, I would never do a test drive till the deal was done till right before handing over the title. I was not in the business to see if my boat was the right boat for you. If you did not know what you were buying, then go do research somewhere else...but not on my time and dime. Too many lookie-loos. I had no problem putting it in the water because I was always confident in what I was selling, but it was the LAST step before transfer of money and title, not the first step in the negotiation process.
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Yeah, must be something wrong here....RUN! The ONLY machine that test drives should not be freely given on are motorcycles. That's the only thing I would have to think twice before letting somebody take for a ride...UNLESS they gave me cash in hand up front and signed a "break it you buy it" policy. But as for boats...why can't you take the boat out with them in it of course...I see no issue with that unless they are hiding something!
Although I could see the argument if they lived too far from a lake. I only live 5 mins from mine so it's no big deal to me. But before buying anything that doesn't have a warranty, I would at least have to hear it run. Hook a hose to it and let it run in a driveway or something at least for a few mins. As stated before, depending on the time of year, you may have to wait until they are willing to de-winterize it. To me, if somebody can't take the time to show you that their product even works....then move on! |
My first boat was a 1989 Mastercraft Prostar 190. Lot of calls, only one guy came out to look at it and I offered a test drive. He took it, was happy, and bought the boat. Next was a 2004 Sanger V210. Guy came from another state to buy it. I offered test drive and he said no thanks, bought it and left. I wouldn't hesitate to take people out on a test drive but I've never had the type of problems people here are worried about (too many tire kickers wanting a free ride).
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my neighbor sold his boat last year, funny sh@t, he even had it in the lake in our hood. he test drove it 20 times, lol no one bought. no one really had the money, no one offered a reasonable price and he was so frustrated. Ended up selling it to a guy across the country with the contingent, NO TEST DRIVES! if you want it, come and look at it buy it or don't. After talking to the guy who drive 600 miles to buy it, he was sold by the position my neighbor took to not be suckered into a tire kicking process. Just by telling the potential buyer all the BS he went through for 6 months was enough to realize the boat was solid.
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I bought my 210 last summer from a guy in Oakley it was ridiculously and meticulously well maintained and in almost new condition for a 1998 . I'm very happy I paid a little more then I wanted and bought it .Even the Trailer had been completely restored by VM ( the manufacturer) and outfitted with the newer style brake actuator and bad ass LED lighting . What I'm getting at is he also INSISTED that I take a sea trial before he would sell me the boat . I really liked the guy and still see him from time to time . I told him next time I see him and I dont have kids with me its cocktail time ..lol
BTW that Pro star is really nice but I will never own another single axle boat trailer . Be patient you will find something . Did i miss what your price range is ? |
Why no single axle?
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Probably has 8 year old tires and has blow outs all the time.
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FWIW I never had problems with my single axle trailer. Usually they are under lighter boats so it's not that big of an issue. Less maintenance and cheaper to buy 2 tires than 5. Was possible to maneuver by hand as well. With a bigger boat having tandem axles is good because you can get brakes on both axles and for me the trailer seems to tow better (more stable, less sway, less bounce). I wouldn't hesitate either way, especially if you're not buying a huge boat.
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That 205 looks pretty decent. Don't think you can expect to readily find a serious budget boat that is "perfect."
I can tell you my last 2 boats had been beached and, know what? You can't see those little scuffs when it's sitting in the water! Yes it bugged me, but after a couple wakeboard sets and a few beers I didn't care! Buying selling a boat is no different than any other big$ private party sale. Going to be a crap ton of flakey buyers and sellers. Just have to be able to get a read on people to decide whether it's worth your time regardless of which side of the coin you're on. The guy that texts simply "Wats yur lowest price?" And that's the first question, is a douche. Also typically the older and cheaper it is, the more flakes you get, both ways. Some dill bag who lives in a trailer house whose greatest possession is a 20year old ski boat with mushy stringers will be pimping it as the greatest boat ever because the ebt is running out for the month and baby momma already spent the disability and social security on catching up the water bill to only 90 days late and cleaned out the Wally World of Parlimnets and Natty Light. Lower your expectations on society, not boats, and the process won't be as bad! Plus dealing with low volume items like used comp boats, means more long distance deals to find the right machine for you. Both parties have to be willing to give a little or it won't be such a sweet deal! |
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I would never buy a boat without a test drive, and I've never had a problem getting a test drive when I've bought my previous used boats. When I sold my previous boat, I was the one who insisted on taking the potential buyer out for a lake test. But I could tell he was serious.
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Stick with your plan to get the DLX from Sanger...you are right Sangers are bad ass. Great boats. Search for any Sanger boat because some owners think they have a Ski Sanger...thats not even a model...anyway 400 hour DLX's are out there and they do stack up better than similar models from mc mal cc/naut...the Sangers going to be in better condition as long as its been stored correctly...look in norcal...sf bay area...stockton...sacramento...we got water everywhere up here so test drives are sure easier
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Oh and tell that mc dealer friend that my mastercraft fell apart but my Sangers sure as heck don't.
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