Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Case Studies
There is no magic formula for calculating what price your boat might fetch in Australia,
and certainly none for predicting the future behavior of the market. I can, however, provide
several case studies for a range of boats that sold in 2013 to 2014. The following boats are
all well-equipped (if not luxuriously appointed) offshore cruisers that sold to local sailors.
All were presented in perfect working order (with the exception of the Wauquiz Amphitrite
which had some systems seize up during its long wait for a buyer). The prize for a quick
sale among our cohort went to a 2001 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 43: the new owner slapped
down his payment before this vessel even reached Australia! (Apologies, but the owner
does not wish to disclose details other than to say the boat listed in the AUD$150 to
$200,000 range). Another vessel, a 2003 Beneteau 423, listed for AUD$160,000 and sold
for $150,000 within six weeks of arrival. During that time, it hosted three prospective buy-
ers before eventually going to a Queensland sailor planning on coastal sailing.
Our sloop, a 1981 Dufour 35, listed for AUD$70,000 and sold for AUD$60,000 within six
weeks of arrival, plus an additional $2500 for the Parasailor, negotiated separately. Two
serious parties came to view her in this time. The new owner is an Australian planning on
coastal cruising in Queensland.
Another older vessel, a 1975 Wauquiz Amphitrite 43 ketch, was listed ambitiously at
AUD$120,000 and waited six months before eventually selling for AUD$73,000. This ves-
sel is a solid build but needed new rigging and other improvements. The new owners plan
to cruise locally and hope to someday cruise overseas.
A 1989 steel Reincke 42 listed for AUD$80,000 and sold within six weeks for
AUD$74,000. Three serious parties came to view the boat. The owner stripped the boat of
extras such as a Parasailor and SCUBA tanks to sell separately. The decade-old rigging was
a cause for concern but did not ultimately hinder the sale. The new owner intends to use the
vessel as a liveaboard in Queensland.
For all of us, the process was similar. After viewing the vessel, serious buyers paid a 10%
deposit and arranged for haul-out and survey (paid by the prospective buyer) as well as a
brief sea trial. As long as everything checked out, the rest of the payment was made and the
importation / sales process went through in roughly ten days. This process was greatly
smoothed by the services of our broker, who took a 10% fee for her work. Other cruisers
report handling the work themselves without complaint.
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