How to sell a sailboat? 8 steps

When selling a sailboat, it is critical to understand the value of the sailboat and the speed at which the market will buy it; the longer the sailboat stays on the market, the less room the seller can negotiate and the easier it is for the buyer to drive down the price. This guide provides steps and advice on selling a sailboat and you can refer to the guide we have provided to sell your sailboat.

Detailed inspection of sailboat for sale

Most owners know their sailboats well, however, if the sailboat has not been used for a long time, it is important to carry out a detailed inspection to ensure that everything is in order before selling. Minor improvements and repairing damage are key to selling a sailboat at a high price, and if the sailboat needs major upgrades, such as an upgraded engine, it can be afforded to the new owner and the selling price reduced accordingly.

When inspecting a sailboat, look for leaks on the top and bottom of the boat, check for malfunctioning electronics, and make sure the boat is equipped with the necessary safety equipment. If the sailboat is not in good shape, consider repainting it; a clean, good condition sailboat is more likely to be sold successfully and for a high price.

Research and price similar sailboats

In any market, comparing your sailboat to other similar sailboats on the market is an effective way to set a fair price for your sailboat. Generally speaking, unless the sailboat you are selling is an expensive sailboat worth more than a million dollars or you need additional assistance, there is a big reason not to use a broker. All you need to do is conduct a simple search to find out what other boats similar to your sailboat are selling for.

The size and age of a sailboat are key factors in determining its market value, and if you are not under pressure to sell your sailboat in a hurry and want to sell it for the highest possible price, then you can set a price based on your own judgment of the value of your sailboat. But no matter what you set the asking price at, buyers will be looking for ways to undercut the price during the buying and negotiating process.

Clean your sailboat

The condition of your sailboat is a great indicator of whether it has been properly maintained. A sailboat that is clean on the outside and tidy on the inside, odds are, means that the owner has taken good care of it. Even if the sailboat has not been well taken care of before, it is important to at least clean it up before selling it so that it has a better chance of selling because no one wants to buy a dirty boat. A clean sailboat makes a good impression on the buyer and helps boost the selling price.

When cleaning a sailboat, you can start by cleaning the galley, removing clutter and personal items from the galley, cleaning the interior, using cleaning wipes and stain removers to remove mold and mildew that has grown in the galley, and using degreaser to remove grease and black mold from the stove. After cleaning the galley, move on to cleaning the deck and cockpit, wetting the deck and cockpit with a power hose, followed by scrubbing with a deck brush with marine soap with bleach, and using a stain remover for tough stains that are hard to scrub.

Take quality photos and videos

Taking quality photos and videos is crucial to selling your sailboat. You don't need an expensive camera with a specialized lens to take them, just a smartphone with a wide-angle feature. Using the wide angle, take detailed pictures of the sailboat when the sun is shining, you can add a couple of pictures of yourself on the sailboat, plus a short 2-to-5-minute video that includes the inside and outside areas of the sailboat. If you can't use the wide angle to take pictures, a regular clean shot with good lighting will work, but make sure the sailboat is clean and tidy.

Promoting and selling

The most important thing when selling a sailboat is to let everyone know that the sailboat is for sale. Most buyers prefer to buy sailboats locally to save on shipping costs, and you can let people around you know that you are selling your sailboat by posting a for-sale notice at the marina where it is docked and posting a message on the marina club's bulletin board. Or you can post the information on some sailboat trading platforms to attract more potential buyers.

Negotiate price

During the process of selling a sailboat, most buyers negotiate the price. At this point, sellers are faced with two choices: do they stick to the set price or do they negotiate aggressively with the buyers to close the deal? Sellers need to be knowledgeable about their own situation and take into account a number of factors when making a negotiation decision, such as the state of demand in the sailboat market, their own financial needs, and the age of the sailboat. At the same time, it is important to be truthful about the problems of the sailboat to avoid the buyer asking for a price reduction due to the discovery of undisclosed problems.

Closing the deal

Completing all the processes for the sale of a sailboat usually takes about 7 days, during which a lot of paperwork is involved. If there is a broker to help, then the whole process becomes easy and standardized. However, without the help of a broker, the seller will need to be on his or her own and prepare the boat's certificate of ownership, registration documents, bill of sale and a host of other relevant documents to ensure that the transaction goes smoothly.