Australia - Pacific Crossing Notes: A Sailor's Guide to the Coconut Milk Run - page 454

low the asking price. That's the time to consider taking the deal, possibly stripping down
extras to sell separately on eBay (or its popular equivalent, gumtree.com.au).
So how much might your boat sell for? The “Case Studies” section of this chapter, below,
lists five concrete examples as a starting point. I recommend following website listings
over an extended period of time to see how boats similar to yours price and move. The fu-
ture is impossible to predict, and no market is immune in today's economy. Although
Australia has managed a smoother ride through recent years than many other countries,
their high-riding dollar has lost a little of its brilliance in recent times.
When it comes down to details, one thing many buyers focus on is the age of the rig. In
the state of Queensland, for example, insurance companies will not cover boats with rigs
more than a decade old for anything but third-party liability. If your rig is aging, it may
well pay off to get new rigging before your Pacific crossing. That way, you'll benefit from
the investment yourself and find selling easier.
Buyers also pay attention to engine hours and boat draft. Boats with drafts over six-feet
strike out with many potential buyers; long keels, on the other hand, are fairly popular.
Boats wired for the Australian standard of 220 volts are preferred over 110, though that
shouldn't be a deal-breaker. Sailors here will do their homework, too, looking for models
that have proven themselves over the years. And if your schedule is flexible, it may help
sweeten the deal to offer to deliver the boat yourself. We were based out of Brisbane and
our offer to deliver to Cairns gave us the edge over other boats the buyer was considering.
Good presentation helps a sale, too. Months before arriving in Australia, we spent a few
busy days taking sales photos. In order to make the boat look as spacious and attractive as
possible, we shifted huge amounts of gear from cockpit to forepeak and back again. Upon
arriving in Australia, we spent several weeks making the boat picco bello before showing
it - that meant rebedding hatches, touching up varnish work, and scrubbing the deck.
Watch for details that hit the eye, like worn upholstery or rusty spots. The trick is to make
sure your boat gets its official valuation done before you make any improvements (more
below).