Pricing help for '61 Dorsett

[GMartin]

Im looking to buy my first boat and have found a '61 Dorsett San Juan in relatively good shape. It has a '73 motor and trailer. I'm told it is seaworthy but has been sitting in the weeds for 2 years. The guy paid $2000 and has another $1000 in the engine and trailer. He's asking $2000.

Being new to this...is that a fair price?

Any advice would be helpful.

 

[yabuoy]

Re: Pricing help for '61 Dorsett

If the engine runs no prob, the trailer is road worthy and the tags and whatnot are paid, the transom and hull is in good shape, and you can take the boat to the lake the day you buy it, then yeah maybe $2000 isnt so bad. But a boat sitting outside in weeds may need have water damage to the floors and transom. I would check all of that out. Those Dorsetts are collectible boats, and have great lines. The San Juan is definately a pretty boat

 

[wilb3]

Re: Pricing help for '61 Dorsett

Got any pics?

 

[GMartin]

Re: Pricing help for '61 Dorsett

Thanks for the insight. I know there is not much information here as I can't actually get in to see the boat until next week for a good inspection...just a look through the fence and a quick chat with the owner who is on vacation...

Just wanted to know if $2000 was a ballpark figure for something that old (condition pending). This will be quite an experience...

 

[southkogs]

Re: Pricing help for '61 Dorsett

Unless it's in much better shape inside than I'm guessing it is, and unless the motor is in impeccable shape - I'm thinking $2K is too much for it. Especially if it's just sittin'. Fun old fiberglass boats aren't really like classic cars in that sense - not really worth much to anybody except that "beauty in the eye of the beholder" guy who buys it and takes care of it.

Look it over REALLY carefully, and make sure you run it out on the water before you decide to let $2K go on it. Might be worth it, but I'm leaning toward probably not. $2K - $3,500 will go quite a ways in a used boat in the fall.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Pricing help for '61 Dorsett

That's at least twice what it's worth.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Pricing help for '61 Dorsett

Pricing on a boat that old is a crap shoot. I wouldn't pay much attention to the pricing advice you get here. To get any meaningful advice you need to tell us where you are (market - one of the key factors in selling a boat), provide lots of pictures and give us some detail about the engine . You gave us very little information.

And, and this is more important than the above nonsense - - remember the sellers goal is to get as much of your money from your pocket into his. We have hundreds of posts which go like "Well the seller said that it ran great the last time he used it. All it needed was a little tune-up but the first time I went to take it out - - - -. Then follows his tale of woe. And buckets of $$.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Pricing help for '61 Dorsett

but has been sitting in the weeds for 2 years.

That right there says it all. I wouldn't waste my time on it at any price. If you've got somewhere in the range of 2 - 3 K$ to spend you should be able to find something in reasonably decent condition which has been properly maintained (which that boat has not).