In a message dated 1/7/03 2:33:48 PM Eastern Standard Time, 89Vista43@comcast.net writes: << On the contrary, an '87 model Vista, which is virtually identical to my '89, with about $20,000.00 less in equipment and priced within $2000.00 of my asking price was sold by a local broker after being listed on Yachtworld less than a month. >> Hi Jim, In my experience (yes, I was a yacht broker) if you are serious about selling your boat you need a "shotgun" approach. Selling boats is a full time profession and not an easy one. Be prepared to put in some overtime. 1) Do your research and do some soul searching about the true value of your possession and how little you would ultimately accept to get rid of it. Look at your mortgage and base it upon that. Don't include any upgrades or decoration. 2) Negotiate a deal with a very good broker in your area to advertise your boat in national magazines and most importantly 'Yachtworld'. 3) This deal should allow you to advertise and sell your boat privately without paying brokerage fees if the buyer came to you directly and not through the broker's efforts. 4) You and the broker agree to an advertised price - he will actually be trying to sell it at that price to cover his commission, you can remove that in your price to your buyers. 5) You put ads in all local papers, yacht clubs, marine store bulletin boards and MOST IMPORTANTLY - remember - at the same price as the broker has it listed but with your telephone number. Other brokers will find your ad and call you. Refer them to your broker. Only deal with legitimate private buyers. 6) Take truly good pictures (look at Yachtworld) of your boat after it has been emptied, cleaned and polished and put them on a private website and on BoatTrader. Use a wide angle lens and flash where necessary. Do not allow any personal effects in the pictures. Take a lot of interior shots and some exterior shots - none with people in them. Semi-cloudy day. Edit the photos to remove your boat's name and hailing port. 7) Put together a truly comprehensive list of equipment, hours, modifications, upgrades and standard equipment and add it to your ads. Have it ready to give, fax or email to prospects along with some pictures and a link to more. 8) Make copies of your last survey and be prepared to give them to prospective buyers. 9) Make yourself available day, night and weekends for any and all prospective buyers to view the boat. Do not give "boat rides". 10) If an offer is made, write up something on paper to the effect that the deal is subject to survey, sea-trial and financing. 10% deposit is due upon signing the offer. The deal is 30 days from signature for a closing date. You and the buyer can make this less if financing is not part of the picture. Put the deposit in the bank. You can write a check if it needs to be returned. The deposit is to protect you for damage to the boat during survey, haulout and sea trial. YOU should be there during survey, haulout and sea trial to handle the boat and answer questions from the surveyor and the buyer. This also covers you for any insurance liability. 11) There will be adjustments after survey - you should have added an amount to cover them. Do not get involved in pre-purchase repairs. Sell the boat at a lower price if you have to and make the repairs the Buyer's responsibility. 12) Do not go blindly by the Surveyor's recommendations on price or severity. You do some checking around with boatyards to get the boat fixed or estimates. Do not renegotiate on-the-spot. You always have to review and get back to them or you need to check with your wife (or broker). 13) Some clowns will always try some grandstanding at the closing. This is not the time to renegotiate. That time is after the survey and a few days before the closing after you both have had time to review the survey and get estimates. Be prepared to spend a lot of time on the phone renegotiating prior to closing. 14) Keep your mouth shut and smile a lot at the closing. The bank will handle the paperwork and it is all be geared to getting the most money out of the buyer. Know in advance the dollars you expect to walk away with and be sure you get them before anyone leaves the table. It is good to have a checklist. 15) Take the poor slob that bought your boat out for a stiff drink. He'll need it. That 10% you saved is beginning to pretty good now isn't it? Al Johnson 34' Marine Trader "Angelina"