What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

[hokiepoq]

I've been looking all over for a boat that would meeting all my "requirements" and, on paper, this one seems pretty close. It's a repo with a Honda. Anyone have any opinions? The price isn't a "steal", but seems reasonable. Any opinions would be welcome.

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2004-PRO---LINE-23-WA--Honda-225hp-95300368

Interested in my requirements? Here they are:

- easily trailerable since that is how I will use it
- able to go out in the Chesapeake Bay in something other than a perfect day; probably not less than 18 deadrise, prefer higher at bow
- good for fishing
- good for cruising
- able to get out of the weather in cold/rain
- able to use through December around Tidewater, Virginia
- able to sleep overnight on (not more than one night) up to 2 people
- take off-shore once in a blue moon
- plenty of horsepower to get from point a to point b
- Yamaha OB preferred, maybe Suzuki OB
- No wood in hull
- Able to fish off the front
- Not an unlimited budget
- Quality boat (I suppose the ones people call "mid-grade")
- Not inheriting someone else's problems

 

[Philster]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

Call for price = "We want so much money for this boat that you wouldn't call us if we posted the selling price, because you would recognize it as way too much money and move on. So we want you to call out of curiosity so we can talk you into seeing it and tell you how impressed we are with this boat. Once you see it, we think you will lose your ability to be objective and be more likely to make an offer, since you made the effort and all that. You will have a bit of boat fever and gladly overpay, even though you say to yourself that you won't."

 

[hokiepoq]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

Call for price = "We want so much money for this boat that you wouldn't call us if we posted the selling price, because you would recognize it as way too much money and move on. So we want you to call out of curiosity so we can talk you into seeing it and tell you how impressed we are with this boat. Once you see it, we think you will lose your ability to be objective and be more likely to make an offer, since you made the effort and all that. You will have a bit of boat fever and gladly overpay, even though you say to yourself that you won't."

LOL! Sounds like the voice of experience. I did talk to the guy and he said that the NADA is somewhere in the $27k range (like that means a lot this day in age), he "took another offer to the bank of somewhere between $21k and $22k and the bank rejected it". Expects it to sell for $23k. Don't know that I'm ready to spend that for that boat.

 

[dingbat]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

$23K is a decent price for that boat. Not a steal but not a bad price either. Depends on the electronics involved

FWIW: I'd take a Honda over a Yamaha or Suzuki any day of the week.

 

[Philster]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

So it's bank owned? "The bank rejected it (offer)".... makes little sense otherwise.

I like the boat. I think it has decent gear and the motor is a winner. The power at that size is above average. You routinely see 23' WA with a 175 to 200.

I just don't like people who think they can sell a boat with any leverage right now. The seller owes a lot of money to the bank. They are hoping to cover their losses. Good luck with that.

23 is his bottom price. He can say whatever about the bank. 23 is the bottom. Tell him your ceiling 20.

 

[dingbat]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

I like the boat. I think it has decent gear and the motor is a winner. The power at that size is above average. You routinely see 23' WA with a 175 to 200.

Above average? That's min. power.

A 23' needs min. of 225HP, should be more like 250-300 HP. Lots of 23' running around with twin 200 power on the back.

 

[Philster]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

In my neck of the woods, those boats range from 175 to 225 HP, with 200 as very common. Rarely have I seen more.

 

[hokiepoq]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

Thanks for the feedback guys. Don't know why people aren't more motivated to sell than they are. Too upside down? Anyway, time is on my side and I am only looking for one boat. I did respond to the guy to see if the boat had sold yet. Wonder how that works. Here is the message he sent me in early November:

"We had a offer of $21,750 and the bank countered at $24,500. The boat will sell for around $23,000"

I guess he's selling on behalf the the bank who actually owns it?

 

[piper_chuck]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

Thanks for the feedback guys. Don't know why people aren't more motivated to sell than they are. Too upside down? Anyway, time is on my side and I am only looking for one boat. I did respond to the guy to see if the boat had sold yet. Wonder how that works. Here is the message he sent me in early November:

"We had a offer of $21,750 and the bank countered at $24,500. The boat will sell for around $23,000"

I guess he's selling on behalf the the bank who actually owns it?

A bit off topic, but related, I recently bought a lot. Before I contacted the seller a real estate agent said she had talked to him on behalf of another client and he was unwilling to negotiate. To make a long story short, he came down quite a bit.

While they THINK the boat will sell for $23K, this seems like the wrong time of year to hold onto inventory if there's an interested buyer who's only a couple thousand below the price they want. For most everything these days, it's a buyer's market. You have no way to be sure what you're being told is even true rather than just a seller's game.

If you like the boat, decide what price you are willing to pay for it and present a slightly lower (to give you a bit of room to come up to make them happy) offer to the seller. Tell them your offer is firm, be prepared to put it in writing and ready to write a deposit check if they accept the offer. If they don't accept it, politely tell them the offer will remain good for x number of days and walk away. If they really want to sell it they will either try to keep you there or will call you back a bit later. If they don't then just accept that they wanted more for the boat than it was worth to you.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

They guy 'could' be handling the boat FOR the Bank on commission, and may be attempting to 'push' you on the price of the boat hoping to increase his fee.

Realtors are always 'pushing' to get more commission.

 

[hokiepoq]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

I asked him if the boat was still for sale (my original query was early November) and that my ceiling was $20k. His answer:

"The Proline is still here. Unless you are willing to go to $23,500 the bank is not going to consider your offer."

Good to see that there are some banks that feel they're in a seller's market. Maybe that will help turn the economy around!

 

[superpop]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

The bank is not feeling the pain yet, I would give them a call back in January and see how they are doing. And call the broker back and tell them that your offer of 20K stands, I would guess you will get a call come January.

 

[rbh]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

The bank is not feeling the pain yet, I would give them a call back in January and see how they are doing. And call the broker back and tell them that your offer of 20K stands, I would guess you will get a call come January.

Yes go and lowball them if they are hungry they'lle bite

 

[QC]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

To your original question . . . I think all boats should be blue and white, so in my book she is perfect

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

The bank is not feeling the pain yet, I would give them a call back in January and see how they are doing. And call the broker back and tell them that your offer of 20K stands, I would guess you will get a call come January.

I would guess he's handling the transaction for the bank and his fee is based how much he sells it for. The bank probably doesn't even know there has been an offer.

The bank is holding a non-performing asset. I'm sure they would take 20 to get it off the books.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

Exactly what I was saying.

I had a van given to me without a title, to track it down I had the local Sheriff's deputy run the VIN. He told me that he couldn't tell me the owner and leinholders names, etc. because of privacy laws, BUT..... since Dispatch would be telling HIM over the RADIO........ and I happened to OVERHEAR the information and write it down........

The sales agent isn't bothering to relay offers because he isn't satisfied with the commission.

Do your homework, find out WHAT BANK, call them direct and offer them 18

 

[dave11]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

Exactly what I was saying.

The sales agent isn't bothering to relay offers because he isn't satisfied with the commission.

Do your homework, find out WHAT BANK, call them direct and offer them 18

Advice doesn't get any better than this.

 

[hokiepoq]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

Sounds like good advice, but not sure how to go about getting it. I'll try the obvious first path and ask the broker. Being 10 hours away, not sure how I'd get the information by another means...

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

He may not tell you because he KNOWS he hasn't been relaying offers on the boat.

But then again, you will never know unless you ask.

Get the VIN and get creative, find someplace that will run the #'s, titles and liens are REGISTERED somewhere, most of the time that is PUBLIC information. You just have to find the right place to look.

 

[dave11]

Re: What do you think of this boat? 2004 23ft Pro-line Walk

And keep us informed. I am really anxious to see what the BANK will take.