If you look at the price of new boats (which I am currently sticking my toe into) for a 57ft or thereabouts they range from below £60k to over £120k.  So as Pete says, there are a lot of factors.  And some asking prices for used boats are way overpriced.

Hi. I agree with Pearly. When I was looking for my boat just over two years ago, I saw loads of rubbish. I think many boats for sale are like the ones Paul talks of that sit in his marina. Hardly ever used or visited and basically unloved. Often showing signs of neglect and poor or no maintenance. Times get tough so the boat goes up for sale. I was lucky in the end as I ended up with Beatrice, a 1996 pretty much immaculate example with FSH, so to speak. She wasn’t cheap but, my opinion, worth it. I have spent a few thousand since having a repaint, new carpets, solar panels etc and I don’t think I have wasted my money. So, in my humble opinion, as long as a boat is conventional design, comes from a reputable hull builder, a professional fit out (not B&Q kitchen units etc), decent engine etc, the value is then down to the boats condition and just how appealing she looks. It’s not unlike a house really excepts location isn’t an issue. Like all the property programmes on tv, if your house is dirty, cluttered and generally unkempt, you will have trouble selling it. A lick of paint, everything tidy and minimalist, coffee on and flowers in the room, it will sell much more easily. 

So, if you find a boat you really like, it fits the criteria above, buy it. If you then look after it and even improve it, you will not ever loose too much. But, I bet you won’t find that boat very easily as good boats are harder to find than you think despite there being more for sale than usual. 

Just to finish, I was told to avoid Chinese built boats and that Liverpool boats were mass produced but please don’t rant and rave at me. I was just given advice. Mind you, a 2004 Chinese boat tree boats along from me looks more like a 1996 boat and mine looks the 2004 boat!

Hope this might help in some way 

Best of luck

Rob

IanL said

I’ll keep watching your blog – hope that you get your Lovely Lisa (either new or refurbished) soon.

Ian

Thanks Ian

IanL said

rob99fla said
Hi. I agree with Pearly. When I was looking for my boat just over two years ago, I saw loads of rubbish. I think many boats for sale are like the ones Paul talks of that sit in his marina. Hardly ever used or visited and basically unloved. Often showing signs of neglect and poor or no maintenance. Times get tough so the boat goes up for sale. I was lucky in the end as I ended up with Beatrice, a 1996 pretty much immaculate example with FSH, so to speak. She wasn’t cheap but, my opinion, worth it. I have spent a few thousand since having a repaint, new carpets, solar panels etc and I don’t think I have wasted my money. So, in my humble opinion, as long as a boat is conventional design, comes from a reputable hull builder, a professional fit out (not B&Q kitchen units etc), decent engine etc, the value is then down to the boats condition and just how appealing she looks. It’s not unlike a house really excepts location isn’t an issue. Like all the property programmes on tv, if your house is dirty, cluttered and generally unkempt, you will have trouble selling it. A lick of paint, everything tidy and minimalist, coffee on and flowers in the room, it will sell much more easily. 

So, if you find a boat you really like, it fits the criteria above, buy it. If you then look after it and even improve it, you will not ever loose too much. But, I bet you won’t find that boat very easily as good boats are harder to find than you think despite there being more for sale than usual. 

Just to finish, I was told to avoid Chinese built boats and that Liverpool boats were mass produced but please don’t rant and rave at me. I was just given advice. Mind you, a 2004 Chinese boat tree boats along from me looks more like a 1996 boat and mine looks the 2004 boat!

Hope this might help in some way 

Best of luck

Rob

 

Cheers Rob. I had heard that Liverpool Boats aren’t so good, an maybe explains why seem to be the cheapest on offer. I didn’t know that there are Chinese boats on the cut though! Intrigued by that…

Your advice will help me narrow down the search. I should find my “Beatrice” eventually, and as I’m not in a hurry, I can take my time.

Ian

Hi Ian

Try searching for East-West Marine. There are lots of forum discussions on these boats. Something I didn’t know was the 44 foot length fits inside a standard container and a 12mm bottom plate to helps reduce ballast. I was looking at one a couple of years back but glad I didn’t buy. Best thing is to keep looking at loads of boats. You could try Rugby Boats who have a good reputation for decent quality boats and excellent quality service. 

Best of luck

Rob

I think a lot of the second hand price comes down to the quality of the original fit out. Our boat was a bit neglected when we bought her, leaking sinks and radiators, lots of battle scars and a poor bilge drainage system leaving a permanent five inches of water in the engine room. Added to the fact that it was a bit grubby inside and wasn’t shown in its best light by the broker (lots of info missing from the details) and it wasn’t surprising the asking price wasn’t going to get achieved. 

Look below the surface though and what we got was 12 year old ex show winning boat built to a high standard using materials that you will now only see on top spec boats eg solid iroko floors, solid oak cabin sides, corian worktops, double glazing, cocoon wrapped engine and many more things. There is no way I would do a like for like swap with a cheaper brand new boat. Indeed i would think that now we have done a bit of work LJ is worth about the same as a couple of year old cheaper boat. 

Hi Ian

Good luck with your boat search. The advice given to me was to look at as many boats as possible and when you see the one you want, you’ll know. That actually does work!

I bought my boat on 5th Aug and new that was the boat I wanted the moment I looked in the front door.

One thing you must not do is buy a boat without a survey and a BSS being done by surveyors of your choice.

The boat I bought was well cared for above the water line, but unfortunately the same could not be said about below the water line. Although the boat had a valid BSS, I still had another one done, which the boat failed!

So, it doesn’t mean that because the boat looks in good condition that the bits you don’t see are also in equally good condition.

Also, be prepared to see a lot of rubbish at ridiculous prices.

All the best

Monz