JoLin
Vice Admiral
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2007
- Messages
- 5,146
I just got back from the broker where I left a 10% refundable deposit, pending survey and sea trial in (probably) late March. Sellers and brokers all seem to have their own way of structuring a deal at this time of year. This deal gives me "first right of refusal" on the boat. What that means is that even if the owner receives a better offer in the meantime, he can't act on it unless or until I decide that I don't want the boat. If the survey or sea trial go badly, I can walk away and get my deposit back. If all is well, I then pay the balance of the already agreed-upon sale price.
So, what did I buy? Well, after turning my back on a 1996 24' Bayliner Ciera Classic that turned out to have a transom saturation issue, I went looking for another one because I was so impressed with the way the boat was laid out. I found one at a local brokerage that seemed to be in really nice condition, so the wife and I checked it out. 1998 5.7L w/Bravo 2 and less than 300 hours. Nice boat, but as I've mentioned in other posts, the fact that it's a hardtop as opposed to a "ragtop" always makes me hesitate a little. We like biminis
Anyway, over at the opposite side of the yard my wife spots this racy white thing and convinces me to take a look. Well, it was more boat than I was shopping for- 1999 Chris Craft 240 Express Cuiser, 5.7L V-P Duo-Prop, on a trailer. Engine was rebuilt in '07 after a bad winterization job cracked the original block. The asking price was pretty reasonable for the boat, but way more than I could afford to spend.
But, it sure looked good and the wife really loved it. I told the broker that as interested as I was in the Bayliner, I wanted to make an offer on the Chris Craft if I could do it without insulting the owner. I told him what I had (I was stretching the limit, too!), he did his best to keep a straight face... and told me he didn't think it would fly, but would present it to the owner anyway. Couple of days went by and the broker called to tell me that the owner was willing to meet me halfway. I told him that I was sure the boat was worth it, but I just couldn't go any higher than my original offer, which was the truth. I told the broker to thank the owner for his time, and go ahead and start working a deal with me on the Bayliner. He told me to let him try once more with the owner. On Wednesday I got a call that the boat was mine. So, I'm really hoping that everything checks out okay down the road, 'cause it's a hell of a boat.
NADA price- around $24K without a trailer
Asking price - $21K incl trailer
My price - $17K for the whole shabang
Wish me luck! I'll let you all know what develops come Spring I know I'll have plenty of questions for the forum in the meantime.
(I told my wife that it doesn't look like the deal will happen... gonna surprise her on Xmas....)
So, what did I buy? Well, after turning my back on a 1996 24' Bayliner Ciera Classic that turned out to have a transom saturation issue, I went looking for another one because I was so impressed with the way the boat was laid out. I found one at a local brokerage that seemed to be in really nice condition, so the wife and I checked it out. 1998 5.7L w/Bravo 2 and less than 300 hours. Nice boat, but as I've mentioned in other posts, the fact that it's a hardtop as opposed to a "ragtop" always makes me hesitate a little. We like biminis
Anyway, over at the opposite side of the yard my wife spots this racy white thing and convinces me to take a look. Well, it was more boat than I was shopping for- 1999 Chris Craft 240 Express Cuiser, 5.7L V-P Duo-Prop, on a trailer. Engine was rebuilt in '07 after a bad winterization job cracked the original block. The asking price was pretty reasonable for the boat, but way more than I could afford to spend.
But, it sure looked good and the wife really loved it. I told the broker that as interested as I was in the Bayliner, I wanted to make an offer on the Chris Craft if I could do it without insulting the owner. I told him what I had (I was stretching the limit, too!), he did his best to keep a straight face... and told me he didn't think it would fly, but would present it to the owner anyway. Couple of days went by and the broker called to tell me that the owner was willing to meet me halfway. I told him that I was sure the boat was worth it, but I just couldn't go any higher than my original offer, which was the truth. I told the broker to thank the owner for his time, and go ahead and start working a deal with me on the Bayliner. He told me to let him try once more with the owner. On Wednesday I got a call that the boat was mine. So, I'm really hoping that everything checks out okay down the road, 'cause it's a hell of a boat.
NADA price- around $24K without a trailer
Asking price - $21K incl trailer
My price - $17K for the whole shabang
Wish me luck! I'll let you all know what develops come Spring
I know I'll have plenty of questions for the forum in the meantime.(I told my wife that it doesn't look like the deal will happen... gonna surprise her on Xmas....)
