Now Is The Best Time To Buy A Classic Boat!
Stuff is selling!
Winter? Really? No Really. Okay, it may not be the best time to sell a boat, but if you are in the market, buy when sellers are motivated. And right now is the magic moment. A water test may be tough, but we are talking deal time. Old restoration boats are tough, because a water test is a good way to tell if the boat is sound. But for a unrestored boat, who cares, you know its a mess, and a fresh restoration is a good bet. You can run the engine to see if it starts, and if the seller is really interested, fill the bilge with some water and see if it leaks?
Call it a Christmas gift?
Motivated you say? Well, think about it. Right about now, the last thing on your mind is a boat. And for a seller, its a dead weight filling the garage/barn. Its probably been for sale all summer, so an offer is always welcome. But don’t dilly dally, cause in a month or so, the boats are socked away and forgotten until March. So there is a small window. So shop around, you have a moment of leverage.
Boat Shows are in the winter for this reason. Yup, that’s Phil’s Blue Arabian
Prices are going up! Yup, stuff is selling, and boat shops are busy. So, that means the market is good for a classic boat. I will add, that in the end, if you buy from an individual, you may feel like you get a deal, but stuff is hidden under and in things, so make sure you get a good person to look for you. And of course we are huge proponents of dealing with a dealer. The top in the business are here on WoodyBoater. So click away and see whats out there. Hopefully we will see you in Florida in March.
Available, and comes with a Warranty at Katz’s marina.
Or this time capsule Riviera at Freedom Boat Service.
This cool Old Town at Mahogany Outfitters would look cool in your living room over the winter. Your spouse will understand. And if not, well, you have room for more boats. Right?
How about this 1929 Commuter at Sierra. Its only $375,000 and I bet since its winter time, you could get around $1,000 off? Try it. BTW, one insane cool boat that is worth every penny!
In case you are not sure what model boat this is? Its a Holiday for sale at Halls! HERE. You can take a Holiday and stay there, and come home with one! Oh hell ya! HERE
I’ve always bought my boats in the fall or winter. It gives you a chance to really study the vessel and make repairs and upgrades prior to launching. It also gives you something to look forward to during the long winter. Yeah, yeah – I know the Florida gang is laughing and shaking their heads right now about us northerners,
I have two power boats and three sailboats that need major work this winter. Now would be a TERRIBLE time to add another boat to the mix! Unless I find another barn first…
Funny you should say that. Sandi and I are traveling the weekend after Thanksgiving to look at a couple of boats.
I am curious , what are some of you looking for ? Type, size , condition and price range?
Live aboard, 45′ to 50′, Excellent condition, and under 100K.
Looking for a 25 foot Chris Craft Sportsman in original condition that’s been tucked away in a barn for fifty years for under 5 thousand dollars. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
If anyone has one of these, don’t sell to Dan. I’ll offer $6,000!
How about the 25 footer on ebay under 20K
My dear wife says “not until you finish your current project”. That translates into “not in this lifetime”, or more simply…”no”.
Last night as we were laying our heads down on the pillow Sandi said “I wish we were back on the boat.”
YA! I got a good one!
Theres never a bad time to buy a classic boat!
I would like a project 27 foot mid 30’s roll deck
You could declare the new boat as a present! This is how it looked as she came home from work. The neighbors were skeptical, but the gift was well received.
Due to some eye surgery, I’m a day late on this one but this weekend an ole friend with whom I served on the ACBS Board many years ago, phoned to tell me Dad had died and mother is now 92 and it is time to sell the family’s 1929 Chris Craft Cadet. Boat sounds pretty original but you’d have to look and see. No price was discussed. If anyone is interested contact Henry Smith (518)-796-5726
The photo from the boat show is not Phil andrews boat. This boat show is the 1955 show, January of 1955. Phils boat was finished some time in April of 1955. As the first 1956 model. The 1955 was was still the narrow hull. This particular 55 was the first to be the darker blue. It is hull #Q5556. But hull #,Q5550 – Q5560 were all lighter blue eith lighter blue interiors except for this boat made for the NYShow. Then hull #after Q5561 were all made like the NY Showboat. This boat is still around, i believe. Owned by someone in Hewitt, NJ the last i knew of it. The Coronado is also still around somewhere in NY. It was on the cover of a Century boat club newsletter in the early 1980s.
Phils boat the first 1956 was never at a show. First test run in april or may of 55 with a straight inboard conventional ebgine. Then that engine was removed, the drive was changed to a V drive and tested. The boat was sold with that configuration. Production boats returned to standard straight inboard for the rest of the 56 model year. The boat was delivered to its original owner in the summer of 1955. It was delivered before many of the 1955 models.
Fascinating history on my boat thank you.
I’ll be sending pictures in a few days of its trip across the Cook Strait on a ferry to its home with my other Century’s at Lake Rotoiti Nelson Lakes New Zealand.
It now sits on a custom trailer that looks the part. ( well I think so.) she has a name too. Casper.