2011 – June

2011-06-05 – Boat search

Well, one would think that in these depressed economic times, brokers/salespeople would jump when a prospective buyer appeared on the scene. Not just a prospective buyer but one who is ready willing and able. My Buyer Broker has sent off queries to a few other brokers for more information and photos on a few boats that I am interested in.

Now if I were in sales, I would get as much information as I could lay my hands on as quickly as possible to the prospective buyer. Sounds simple and logical. We do live in a competitive and capitalistic market after all and when there are a fairly large number of choices for the same product, I would think that the agent who gave the best service would probably become the favoured person to deal with. Such an agent would be at a decided advantage!!

Not so!! it appears that in the used boat market, the agents seem think that it’s ok to provide average (to poor) service and that the buyers will somehow just come to them, like manna from heaven, and buy from them. And for this level of expertise and service, they charge the poor hapless sellers a comission of 10% of the final selling price!!!

Of course, I’m not in sales, so my expectations as a simple consumer are obviously totally unrealistic!!!!

All I asked was for each of the selling brokers to complete an identical spreadsheet – where they simply had to click and choose Y or N for a number of questions with a bit of extra information needed occasionally. A 10-20 minute process at most!! But no, it seems even that is too difficult a task for the 1000s of dollars commission they stand to earn!

So, we wait for information Can’t make a rational decision without as many of the facts as are available.

Well, that’s my rant and rave for the moment.

2011-06-09 Boat search saga continues

Still haven’t heard anything from the listing brokers of the 4 boats I am interested in!!

Here is a direct quote from by own broker “Well Lance, it does not look as if we are going to get any spreadsheets back.  Quite frankly, it does not surprise me.  We have a bunch of lazy yacht brokers here in the states.”

This is unbelievable

2011-06-11 What a response!!

Wow, what a great response I have received from the guys on the Bayliner Owner’ Club forum to my first post at http://www.baylinerownersclub.org/forum/showthread.php?t=60609

I have been silently following the various threads since I joined in December 2010 and there is a great deal of useful information by a number of very knowledgeable and helpful members.

This forum is a  really strong one with enough accumulated knowledge to solve any problem that a Bayliner boat owner may encounter. It really validates my decision to restrict my search to Bayliners only

2011-06-18 Last Time – First Time

Last Time – First Time

What does that mean? Well, a long time ago I came across a little expression which I just love and have, by and large, tried to live according to the doctrine. The full expression is this:

When is the Last Time You Did Something For The First Time?

Think about it carefully!!

So, anyway, last Thursday I did something that I have never done before. In all my years of boating!! Not because I didn’t want to. Not because I was unable to. In fact there was no particular reason that I hadn’t done it before. It had simply never occurred to me!!! I have never, ever needed to:)

So what was it that I did that was so momentous?

Well, I guess to some of you, it would really appear rather mundane and routine, but to me it was quite a big thing.

For the first time in my 30 odd years of sailing boats of various sizes including my current sailboat which is a 30 ft sailboat, I actually took the boat out of the marina and brought it back again – all alone!!! Up until this time I have always had my wonderful wife with me assisting with the various dock-lines etc.

Sounds simple, I know. But, in landlubber’s terms, it’s like learning to drive a car in the backyard and then going out onto the road alone for the first time!

So, Probably not much to write home about but ask yourself

“WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU DID SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME?”

2011-06-22 Longest night – shortest day

Last night was the longest night and yesterday the shortest day of the year. It’s a date I always look forward to as a marker that we are on our way to summer!! Don’t worry that the coldest days of winter are yet to arrive!!

Speaking of winter, we will be “enjoying” 5 winters in a row!! This winter in NZ, then winter in the Bahamas then back to NZ for winter ’12, then back to the Bahamas/Caribbean for the winter cruising season and then back to NZ winter of ’13. Whew!!!

Of course, from here on it’s “downhill” to our great adventure The boat search is progressing well and we have had most of the estate agents through the house and we’ll soon be listing it.

The sale of our sailboat is pretty stagnant  – few inquiries in an almost non-existent market!! Oh well, we keep hoping and know that the right buyer is out there

2011-06-25 The wheels are in motion!

Well, this is it!! The boat has been chosen The initial offer is ready and all things being equal will be submitted soon – just requires some preliminary inquiries to the listing broker and seller and then the paper work will be sent through and we’ll wait upon the counter offer.

Let the games begin

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Just dreamin’ ……………………