What is the best way to sell a boat?

Brian Manthe · Post by **Brian Manthe** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:27 pm

I am wondering what you have found to be the best way to sell your boat. I'm having a hard time marketing it and getting a lot of people to look at it. I live in So. Oregon where bass fishing isn't that popular, so I am going to probably rely on someone in No. cal to buy it. Which websites, or magazines would be best. Or is there any good consignment shops close to Medford, Or.?

Thanks,

Slippy · Post by **Slippy** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:28 pm

craig's list

Gator · Post by **Gator** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:34 pm

Post it in our classifieds for one. We have quite a viewership.

Craigslist would be second.

Then think about eBay motors. Set your reserve at something you would accept then hope it goes above - only drawback to this is that if it doesn't sell, you still have to pay eBay fees.

Mitch · Post by **Mitch** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:45 pm

Where ever you post it, be sure to put a pic with the post. A GOOD ONE. not one from across the street, but one that shows as much as you can. I find the best to be from the front quarter showing the whole boat. Good luck, I've sold 3 on WesternBass

MikeSouza · Post by **MikeSouza** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:07 pm

try boattrader.com

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:12 pm

Price it for near free -- and take the loss as a given ..............

troutnut · Post by **troutnut** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:36 pm

Shoot a ton of pictures, host them on Photobucket or another website. Put a link to the photos in the ad. Take pics of every storage area, pics of side view and front/rear should be taken from a low vantage point, (which means LIE ON THE GROUND AND SHOOT THE PICS.) It makes the boat look leaner and faster.

Always put at least 1 photo in the ad, and put link to the rest of pics in the ad. I won't even look at a Craigslist ad if it doesn't have a picture. I hate Ebay, too many scammers.

Be honest in your ad. If boat is dependable, quick starting, low maintance, easy to drive, quiet, relaxing, make sure you put that in the ad. Make sure you have a price in the ad. Put in the last service date in web ad. Remember, most guys have to get the approval of the war department first, and the JUICIER you can make the steak look in the ad, the more likely you will sell the wife on the boat.

Put an email adress, home and cell # in the ad and put Pacific time so some turkey from Texas doesn't call at 5am.

I would put an ad on this site, CL, fishsniffer has free private party boat ads, bassboatcentral.com has a for sale section, and if all else fails, pick a nice weekend, go up to Shasta, Oroville, or some other really busy marina/launch, get one of those picinic shades you can park your boat under, HIRE THE MISTY GIRLS or a couple of other beauties for the day to detail your boat at the launch/marina and cut them in on the profit and put really big for sale signs on it!

Never show your boat at your house or where you store your boat. It invites thieves. Meet them at local grocery store parking lot, Walmart, or nearby marina. Get them in the boat and on the water as fast as you can. MAKE SURE MR. No Balls brings his wife so she can GIVE him permission to buy it. Make her drive the boat!

I would also make up some color FOR SALE flyers to hand out. I would trailer the boat everywhere I go, with my phone # and area code in LARGE easy to read #'s .

If you are marketing it to guys in No. Cal, Meet them at Shasta for a test drive/showing. I drove to Las Vegas from the bay area to buy my boat, once for the test drive and gave him a deposit, then made another trip back a couple of weeks later to pick it up.

I use these techinques to sell my cars, I put lots of miles on my vehicles and get rid of one every year. I buy them all on CL Bay area. email me if you need help.

Mike Phua · Post by **Mike Phua** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:51 pm

Definitely the best way to get the most exposure is to post it on Boattraderonline.com. Take alot of pictures. Close-ups of the dash the interior. Profile of the sides, pics of the trailer, etc. Aside from just your local traffic it will definitely draw more attention from out of state buyers as well if it shows well through detailed pics. Hope this helps. The more pics the better. MP

JT-Madera · Post by **JT-Madera** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:03 am

Please post the PRICE on the ad.....I hate it when someone says to call for a price...dumbest thing I ever heard...if you think your price is too high then why are you asking so much....all the talking in the world can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.....be honest in the ad..if there are any defects, tell the guy before he drives 6hrs to see it...My son-in-law and I drove down to Havasu to see a boat and the proseat didn't work, the front graph wouldn't bottom lock and there were two big stress cracks in the back corners...these might sound like little things...but if you are tired from just driving 6-7 hrs..it might kill a deal....

p.s. I sold my last Ranger in two weeks, to the first guy who came down to see it...on this website.....and I sold it at the advertised price...this is the first place I would use...

JT