Boat Buying help Please

I am considering a purchase of a 1994 crownline BR196. 305 hp engine with 102 hours on it. Capet is in excellent condition. The Vinyl has two torn spots approx. half dollar in size. The rest of the Vinyl is in perfect condition. I know the owners and they take good care of all their toys, this boat included. I started the engine with no problem and ran it for about 20 minutes with the water hose connected to the intake. No leaks during that time.

The trailer is a Road Runner tandem trailer which is also in great condition. The tires have nearly new tread on them. the carpet covered wood on the trailer appears to be in good condition as well.

I have never purchased a boat so I am hoping someone can tell me if $10k sounds like a decent price.

Boat also come with Cover and Bimini top.

Thanks

Re: Thoughts?

Re: Thoughts?

Please remain seated while I move this to the proper forum!!

Welcome to iboats!!

Re: Thoughts?

Re: Thoughts?

I don't know what all options this boat has, but the NADA Guide gives an average retail of $5480. Check it out here, and play with the options:

http://www.nadaguides.com/default.a...&m=0428&d=1600051699&y=1994&ml=C&gc=MR&gtc=MR

Now, Crownlines are good boats, I like them. I would get it, but 10K seems a little too high to me, if it is in as good condition as you say, the most I'd pay is about $7K, and that is a stretch.

Re: Boat Buying help Please

Thanks for the reply. It is greatly appreciated. I am still really unsure though. I have found 3 other identical boats for sale and each of those were selling for more than the 10k. In each of those cases the boat is not in as good of shape and each of them have more hours on them. I realize selling prices dont necessarily reflect the actual value, but since I am new to this game I can only use that as a reference. Im not sure if this matters but USAA (my lender) valued the boat and trailer at approx $10,200.00. Again, thanks for the feedback. It certainly gives me more to think about.

Re: Boat Buying help Please

With boats, condition and upkeep are EVERYTHING. Prices can also vary wildly by region depending on the popularity of a given style or model in that region.

Also, IMO, price guides have become almost totally meaningless in today's market. Frist, they lag behind the actual market and some include data that goes too far back into the seller glory years of pre-2007 when even junk sold for top dollar. No longer.

The main thing driving prices now is not the condition of the boat, it's the seller's motivation. Some dealers are desperate to move stock and many private owners are desperate to sell because selling a boat at a loss is a lot better than being kicked to the gutter when the morgtage company comes to glue a forclousure notice to the front door.

In this market, I'd start low and negotiate hard. This may seem cold hearted, but you have to look out for your own interests. Overpaying is never a good idea, especially in this market and boat owners are going to have to learn to accept that boats are rapidly depreciating assets that you should only buy if you can afford to take the hit.

Grouse

Re: Boat Buying help Please

It sounds way too high to me, for a 15 year old boat. By the way, only 102 hours over 15 years? You said you know the seller... why so little use?